Monday, 13 January 2014
Goals: 2014+
Today I thought I'd talk about this year's goals, and changes I've made to my "Goals" approach in general. You will see if you check out my Goals page that it no longer has a year attached. While I have listed a fair few goals, some of which I don't intend to accomplish this year, there are many more goals that aren't listed. But I thought I'd leave it how it is until I've achieved some of what's on there. :)
In the last two years, I think I've tried to achieve too much. In 2011, I managed to achieve every single goal I had set myself (and there were many). In 2012 I had less success, while still achieving many things. Last year was the "worst" yet, even if I did get two new novels written, as well some other goals achieved. But last year in particular taught me that what had worked well in 2011 wasn't working anymore. I guess I burned myself out. And I knew a change was in order.
As I've mentioned previously, 2014 will be a year of revision. During June and November, my traditional main writing months, I plan to write new stuff, but only to add to existing manuscripts that aren't finished. I have a few novels that aren't far off being finished, but some of them have been languishing in "unfinished land" for literally years now. So I want to knock those off. But the main focus of 2014 will be my attempt to get at least two of my novels revised, hopefully to the point that they can be sent out to beta readers.
For now, I am nearly done revising my novella, and when that's done I'll start reading through my first novel draft to be revised. True, I haven't decided which one to work on first, but I'll make that choice and then I'll use March (NaNoEdMo month) to revise whatever title I chose.
Obviously you guys will come along for the ride, if you so choose, and see how well I stick to 2014's resolution-style goal-setting. :P
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
IWSG #2 ~ picking a D-day
Here I am for my second round as an IWSG member. It still feels strange to say that I am a member since I spent so long visiting other people's posts on these days but never participating myself. One thing I learned in all that visiting was that everybody seemed to always have something new to say - something I hadn't seen before, or at least hadn't seen on anyone else's blog during that round of visits.
I guess if all of you can do it, I can as well! :)
I mentioned in last month's post that I am scared to self-publish. I'm still scared, of course, and probably always will be, but it is going to happen. I will make it happen. And that's just the thing - when you self-publish, YOU make it happen. Sometimes you can pay other people to help you make it happen, and of course you can employ the assistance of betas and CPs to help make it happen. But really in the end it comes down to you and what you're willing to give.
The book cover creation, editing, polishing and formatting for various platforms isn't what worries me. The thing that worries me most is the picking of a date. One particular date that will become D-day for my book. Or L-day, I guess (launch). None of my novels are ready for D-day, and I've been saying that for years (it's getting old). I've seen other authors pick a D-day before their book is ready, which has forced them to get their butt in gear in a big way. But I could never do that.
I must be READY, you see - and my book must be perfect (which I know it will never be). Only then could I possibly dare to take the plunge and pick THE DATE.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
New Year's reading resolutions ~ blog hop
Today I'm excited to be participating in
Rachel Firasek's New Year's Reading Resolutions Blog Hop.
So without further ado, here I go!
Rachel Firasek's New Year's Reading Resolutions Blog Hop.
So without further ado, here I go!
2013 reads - my top 5
Species Imperative (Books 1-3) - Julie E. Czerneda
The War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells
Open Minds (Mindjack #1) - Susan Kaye Quinn
Bitter Like Orange Peel - Jessica Bell
True Grit - Charles Portis
2014 reading goals
In 2014:
- I'm going to aim to read 40 books, which is a bit more than I aimed to read this year - but this year I read 49, while reading at a leisurely pace. I never aim to push myself when it comes to numbers of books to read in a year. I just like to make sure I am always reading something, and with the size of my TBR list that's never a problem
- Also, looking back on 2013's reads, I realised I read quite a few that I just felt "meh" about. I'd like to read more mindblowing books in 2014. So I'll see how I go with that when the year's up. ;)
Check out the other blog hop posts, and then enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Happy New Year everyone!
It's nearing the end of my first day of 2014, and what have I got to show for it? Well, so far today I have:
I'm sure I did other things, but I'm in a bit of a holiday haze right now so those other things are escaping my thoughts.
- eaten a big and delicious breakfast at a friend's place following NYE celebrations last night;
- finished re-watching all the Harry Potter movies, and become suitably depressed as a result;
- taken my cats for a walk - or rather, been taken for a walk by my cats; it's a thing with them (yes, my cats are weirdos);
- eaten really bad take-out for dinner;
- thought about the fact that after this week I'm back at work!
I'm sure I did other things, but I'm in a bit of a holiday haze right now so those other things are escaping my thoughts.
I hope you all had a great New Year's Eve. Probably the highlight for me was when the Bon Jovi DVD reached a live version of "Always" and we all started dancing around my friend's kitchen and singing to each other about how we will love each other, aaaaalways.
It's been an uncharacteristically cool Christmas and New Year's around here, even if our friends in the Eastern States are sweltering. I have to say it's a really special treat when temps only reach, say, 25 celsius at this time of year.
I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!
Anyway, I guess I just wanted to put up a simple post without any pictures (because I have none at the ready to put up), just to say Happy New Year to all of you - and let's make 2014 a great one!
I think I'm going to go and set my yearly GoodReads goal, at least if the widget is available yet.
Labels:
2014,
Cats,
Food,
HARRY POTTER,
Holidays,
JK Rowling,
New Year's Eve,
Weather
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