2013 Goals in Review

Every year I sit down and reflect upon my goals for the year to see what I have accomplished and to figure out where I am going. This year has been pretty momentous in loads of ways. I've had to redo my goals at the mid-point due to signing my first contract. As always goals are flexible. They should be flexible because life happens, different roads become available to trod upon, and if we are too rigid in our thinking, then we won't be able to see the opportunities that are available to us. With that in mind here are my checkpoints at the beginning of 2013:

 

Writing Goals for 2013

*clean and organize office to get ready for the new year CHECK

*finish first draft LHD by end of January CHECK

*revise MINO by mid February. HALF-CHECK: partial is complete, but full was put aside. Will revisit in 2014

*check in with editor by Feb. 1 regarding MINO CHECK

*revise first three chapters of LHD and be ready to query to editor by mid February CHECK

*March: revise and query MAVERICK CHECK

*April: revise and query HPOL DID NOT DO THIS DUE TO OTHER EVENTS

*May: revise and query TYCOO: DID NOT DO THIS DUE TO OTHER EVENTS

*build query list for above three books: CHECK

*go to both readers’ luncheons and participate with Digging Out of Distraction basket CHECK

*brainstorm 2 new category books with CP CHECK

*write 2 new category books CHECK plus wrote one Novella

*Attend the RWA National Conference in Atlanta CHECK

*Attend Moonlight & Magnolias CHECK

*Pitch at both conferences if necessary NOT NECESSARY

*build name bible of all names I've used in my books STILL WORKING ON THIS

*maintain personal blog KIND OF LET THIS SLIDE AFTER SEPTEMBER 14

*add new feature to blog for recipe rut DIDN'T DO IT

*continue to build my brand name via social media, web page, professional presence in writing world CHECK

*coordinate the Linda Howard Award of Excellence for 2013 CHECK

*get a publishing contract CHECK

*continue building professional mentor relationships CHECK

*continue to streamline writing and business of writing with proper schedule STILL FIGURING ALL THIS OUT

*Review digital and e-publishers for submissions ONGOING

*take at least two master classes in craft; one with Margie Lawson CHECK

*judge at least two writing contests CHECK

*set Top 5 Priority List and review every quarter CHECK

*read for fun CHECK: READING AN AVERAGE OF 3-4 BOOKS A WEEK

*continue to analyze published books in my genre CHECK

*continue learning and growing in my craft with online courses and craft books CHECK

*attend chapter meetings which aid in my professional development and in my goal for achieving publication CHECK; AM PRO LIAISON FOR ONE, NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR ANOTHER ONE

*build my new critique partnership: DID NOT GO FORWARD AS PLANNED. HAVE ONE MAIN CP AND THAT WORKS BEST FOR ME

*be courageous, strong, and focused in pursuing my dreams and goals CHECK

In addition to the goals that I had at the beginning of the year, I also added new goals at the mid-point of the year to reflect the sale of THE MAVERICK'S RED HOT REUNION. 

*Write and complete my first novella CHECK; SENT IT IN NOVEMBER
*Brainstorm sequel with CP: CHECK; BLURB AND SYNOPSIS WITH EDITOR AND WAITING FOR FEEDBACK.
*Quarterly check on Website: CHECK; AM GEARING UP FOR SOME MAJOR CHANGES TO THE SITE.
*Continue building CP relationship: CHECK PLUS: CP HAS SOLD!!

I'm pleased with all that I have accomplished this year. Many wonderful things happened and I'm thrilled that I've sold. That shifted a lot of my focus and energy into a new direction. And, looking ahead to 2014, I will have to incorporate what I've learned about myself into building my career as well as managing my time more efficiently. 

What goals did you set this year? Did you accomplish them? Did you veer in a different direction? Do you even set goals? If not, why not?

Think You've Got No Time? Think Again.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say "I'd write a book if only I had the time."

Hmmm. No time? Let me tell you something. If you have thirty minutes a day then you have time. What? You don't have thirty minutes? You're super busy? Hmmmmmmmmmm.... I bet you have a half an hour of time that is just wasted.

Think about it. Do you really use every minute of your day productively? Write down every meaningless task you do and how often you do it and for how long. Dillydallying on the computer? Internet Squirrels to chase? Answering emails first? Volunteering your time versus using your time to write? Answering the phone even if it isn't an emergency?

Okay, here's my story. A lot of people ask me how I do it all and keep it straight. My first answer is "I don't do it all." Check my bathrooms out as well as my floors. House is not spotless and it never will be spotless. I also don't work in what we writers call a Dreaded Day Job. Lots of published authors work DDJs or DNJ's and they have deadlines to meet. So not using my time during the day wisely is just wrong.

Oh, I could use it differently. I could have an immaculate house. I could have tons of social activities during the day to attend. I could volunteer ALL my hours away. I could shop and decorate on a dime. I could have other hobbies. I... well... I don't do it all. If I want to be a career writer, then I have to prioritize. So a perfect house which is perfectly decorated and pursuing all sorts of hobbies just aren't on my agenda.

Housework? I ask for help and if I don't get it, then the house goes to Defcom 102 and we all have to pitch in to clean because no one in my house likes it to get too dirty. Social life? Here I have virtually none--which is a problem because I am very social, BUT I digress. Here's the deal. I like to spend time with people who don't write, too. So I make sure that my evenings are clear. I don't write as much on the weekends, but then I don't have a pesky DDJ/DDN so I am lucky.

And here's another secret. I am scandalously unmoved by the ringing phone. Yes, it's true. I DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE. This is my biggest defense against time sucks. DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE UNLESS IT IS THE SCHOOL, THE HOSPITAL, THE DOCTOR--NOT FOR ANYONE DURING YOUR ALLOTTED WRITING TIME. That includes calls from neighbors who are wondering where you are or friends who want to gab and gab and gab. This doesn't mean that I never talk on the phone, I just plan my phone time around my writing schedule.

I don't answer the phone during my writing time unless it is my daughter's school calling, her, or my hubby. They are the important people. Well, hubby is often sent to voice mail and then I check it during my break (yup--MY BREAK) and see if it is important. Same goes for friends--unless it is a friend in another country--I will answer because of the time difference. But usually I just let the answering machine pick it up--in my case it's voice mail AND I have a phone voice announce out loud  WHO IS CALLING so I know when to let it go to voice mail. I don't even have to get out of my chair to check the caller ID.

Cool right?

I do volunteer, but very sporadically. I help with my daughter's theater group and do some things with my local writing chapters. But I have even backed off the writing volunteer stuff because my daughter is graduating in 2012 and I want to have time with her. Plus senior year is just insane and there are a lot of holes to plug before the big graduation day.

Time is precious. And I spend time with people who are precious to me. So here's another secret: I don't let things like other people's expectations or the phone or the Internet own me. I am in charge of those things. I own my response. I own my time. I own my writing time.

YOUR WRITING TIME: OWN IT OR YOU WILL HAVE BLOWN IT.

Okay. Want one more secret? Use "downtime" productively. For instance, today I had to color my hair (I don't go to the salon unless I'm getting a cut or highlights or both. And that's rare these days). Roots were rearing and I needed to get my blonde going on before I forced my minions AKA my daughter and husband to help me clean this behemoth of a house. No point in sparkling up the bathroom if I throw dye down the sink.

So what's a girl to do while she waits for her blonde to set? Thirty minutes is a long time. Here's what I did while my hair cooked to it's "natural" blonde again.

*tidied up the living room
*cleaned the guest bathroom (company coming tonight for dinner)
*cleaned the kitty litter (must talk to the minions about this--not my turn but it smelled bad)
*loaded the dishwasher
*checked my voicemail
*called my husband to ask for info for the school
*called the school and gave the person info asked for in the voicemail
*emptied the garbage
*played with Tonks
*wiped out my sink so Tonks wouldn't lick errant hair dye particles


That's what I accomplished during the time my hair was becoming blonde again. Thirty minutes is a lot of time. You can write half a page in thirty minutes. You can work on getting the synopsis for your Golden Heart ready for thirty minutes.

Or you can write a blog about time and prep it for the following week so you have time to keep moving forward on your Golden Heart entry--which is exactly what I just did.

How do you spend your free time? Do you own your time? Or does time own you?

Dinner Simmering in the Crockpot While We Work

I love autumn. The colors, the cooler weather, the zing in the air, and the food. This time of year always brings me back to my cookbooks and recipes for the crockpot. First of all, I have a lot going on, the Darling Family is on the go all the time with school, work, and activities. I usually start some massive project in November and this year is no exception. However, as always, the Darling Family expects dinner. Quite frankly, so do I!

A lot of my friends are participating in the NaNoWriMo this year. NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. Writers all over the world like the Romance Magicians, Gwen Hernandez, and Ellen Brickley will write 50,000 words in November. I'm not actively participating because I am taking a screenwriting class with Alexandra Sokoloff. However, I'm sure I'll reach and exceed the 50,000 mark as I'm writing my next book as part of the class.

While writers are hunkering down and plunking away at their computers and laptops, other hardworking people will be getting ready for the holidays and will need a break from figuring out what to cook when they get home. And that is why someone very wise invented the crockpot. The most wondrous creation of all time. I love my crockpot. I use it a lot. And during this next few months I'm sharing my recipes. I also hope to get more recipes from my blog friends.

Today's family favorite crockpot recipe is TACO SOUP.

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 onion chopped (I like to cook it a bit first in the frying pan)
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 envelope ranch dressing mix
1 can kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can hominy (if you can't find hominy then put in another can of corn or beans)
1 can rotel tomatoes with green chilies

Dump all ingredients into a large crockpot (I use a 5 quart). Cook all day on low. Serve with tortilla chips and top with grated cheese and sour cream.

I use low sodium canned products and light sour cream. You can serve over rice as well.

Yummy!

How do you plan your family meals when life gets hectic?