Monday, July 16, 2012

Keeping on Target

Hi, all!

Well, we're half way through July, so I've been going through my list of goals I set out for myself this year. The funny thing is when I looked at my goals that I had blogged about in January (see HERE), I realized I didn't actually have many goals. LOL

But here's a recap:

1) Kick the caffeine habit--CHECK
With the help of that organic herbal coffee Teeccino, I've cut my caffeine intake by half to sometimes none at all. And I feel great.

2) Write less but more often--
Eh. Ok, I can't check that one. I ended up doing that Fast Draft class and actually have been writing more for shorter periods of times and also cranking out a lot more words in the time. Long story short: I'm writing much more than I have.

3) Learn Dragon software and effectively use it--CHECK
I actually learned it and wrote a synopsis with it, which made it so much easier to get down on paper!

**Now, in May I made a new list of writing goals that I shared with my critique partners.
(It took me that long to get motivated I guess. )
But here's what I came up with:

1) Finish Write Man for Kate first draft CHECK
BUT still need to do revision hell...

2) Start Christmas novella (must be done before July 10th) CHECK

3) Read two craft books
Reading Margie Lawson packets and Save the Cat now...

4) Start new single title book with "angel" in the title by August
(not August yet) ;)

5) Read 50 fiction books
Read 30 so far!

Not bad, huh?
For someone who couldn't get their act together until later on in the year, I've really managed to accomplish a lot so far. :-)
But I wouldn't know that unless I made this list and could go back and look at it like this.

How about you? Are you a list maker too?
Have you made any personal goals for the New Year?
How are they coming along?

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Congrats on all you've accomplished already this year! And Yay that you're writing more and not less. :)

One of my main goals this year was to slow down and become more organized/focused. I was trying to cram too much into the day before work. It's coming along...

Jaime Wright said...

Wow! You've accomplished a lot! Love the list of goals. I may have to try that.

Maria Zannini said...

You are smokin'!

How are you liking Dragon? Was it easy to train it to understand you?

I'm still on the fence about it.

Connie Keller said...

Yay!! Congrats!!

I'm a list maker too.

Shakespeare costumes for my Shakespeareans. Check.

Refinish kitchen cabinets. (Should finish this week.)

Send sequel to betas. Check.

Finish editing short story. Almost check.

Go on vacation. (Just a couple more weeks.) :)

Liz Mays said...

I'm a list maker, but I break big ones into lots of little ones so that I feel more accomplished. lol

Unknown said...

I really need to make a list.
Congrats to you for following through!

Anne Gallagher said...

Wow that's fantastic! And a kitchen remodel to boot! I am so impressed.

I've done a few things, but my reading list is way down. Too many books, so little time.

I'm back to the blogs today.

Jessica Lemmon said...

That's awesome, Jennifer! I would LOVE to make some writing goals...as soon as I can think straight. The whirlwind of landing an agent, having more than one interested publisher, and daydreaming of my future has derailed me. But that's okay, right? ;)

CJ Kennedy said...

Dealing with my folks and nursing homes, has put my goals on the back burner.

Linda G. said...

You are killing that To Do list! Good for you. :)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Wow, you're gonna run outta list before you run out of year! Good for you. Guess you'll have to finish out the year by treating yourself to a vacation.

Jessica R. Patch said...

You are so on it! Did Dragon translate everything over onto paper without mess ups? The one on my phone app never gets it right.

I love lists and make them often. I've met my goals and have started a new book. My goal to finish first draft is Sept. 2nd. :)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Good job! I really want to try that Dragon software, I'm just not sure how quickly I'd get used to it.

I'm more of a weekly goal maker, except when it comes to my stories. Then I try to at least plan when I want to finish them, and then I set up a word count goal to make it happen!

Linda Kage said...

Looks like you're doing good to me! How is SAVE THE CAT. I want to read that one.

Nancy said...

You truly know how to move right along. Great job. My goal was to get some meaning in my life. I've been spending time on my promises and notes and just quiet time with God. It has been wonderful. Other that that, I just hoped to keep up with my growing family and with God's help, I will be able to continue to do that.

I have also done some small private devotions, too.

Sarita Leone said...

Love it that you are keeping to all your goals. Way to go!

I am still chugging along on the plan I laid out for myself at the beginning of the year. It would be easy to quit but I won't do it. I will get to January with a big check next to this project!!

Shelley Munro said...

You're doing really well. I don't think I could cut out caffeine.
Did you have to train the dragon software? My Kiwi accent might be a problem, and I wondered how you went at the start.

Terri Tiffany said...

You impress me with your goals! Wow. I have one major one--finish the rough draft of my current WIP by August 22--the day I move:) Not sure I will make it!

Margo Kelly said...

WOW! Totally impressed. :)

Gabrielle Meyer said...

Great list. I'm not a list maker - but I should be and I should put it on my blog or some other place where more than my eyes see it!

I did try to make a word count goal for the summer, but I'm finding it very difficult to do. My husband has a landscaping business and he works 12-14 hour days, plus my babies are two year old twin boys, so I think my word count goal was probably unrealistic! I'll have to reorganize my goals for this winter!

LTM said...

Hey! Look at you rockin on with the goal accomplishments. I've never heard of Teechino! Interesting... And my writing has been tough w/the kids out of school but it's happening!

Cheers, Jen! :o)

Kristin Rae said...

Look at you go!! And I think writing more can't be a bad thing, even if it's a bit different than you originally planned.

I'm horrible at sticking to goals (how many years have I been trying to lose weight???), but I did say I was going to query this year and I'm right in the middle of it, so there's that. I'm also reading Save the Cat! I've heard great things, but so far I keep getting distracted haha.

Good luck with the rest of your goals this year!

Diane Craver said...

You did awesome, Jennifer! I took a class given by Maggie Lawson here in Cincinnati. You've motivated me. I have been a slacker about writing goals. I've been using my seasonal scoring job and babysitting for grandson for excuses. But do have good news about getting rights back for two books so will be reissuing them in ebook and print.

Cheryl Klarich said...

I need to try that coffee substitute!
Great job on accomplishing so much--totally inspiring.

Bless you!

Sandra Cox said...

No lists this year...