Mystery...Romance...Sci Fi...Humor... The joy of writing fiction - meeting brand new people in places that don't yet exist.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Goals and Resolutions for 2011

I usually write my New Year's goals and resolutions in my Daytimer - and, yes, even with all the techie gadgets in the world, I still like my nice leather bound organizer.  I might share the G&R's with my spouse, who will conveniently forget them, but the only person who really knows the promises I've made to myself is...well, me.

This year I'm going to try something different this year and post a few here.  Maybe the public declaration will give me extra incentive.  For clarification, I consider anything that's an ongoing behavior modification as a resolution and 'get it done and check it off' items as goals.  I don't include goals on this list that are not solely within my own power to make happen (i.e. get published). 

Goals

Finish re-writes/editing on Hunter’s Way (this is my top priority)

Find a crit partner(s) and/or beta readers (need to move beyond the friends and family network)

Start querying Hunter's Way (as soon as it's ready)

Go back to my half finished Sci Fi and start re-working it and/or start the new mystery story I've got bouncing around my head (after Hunter's Way is in the query stage)

Finish reading the Bible.  (This is a left over from 2010 when I decided to read the Bible straight through from cover to cover  - and, no, I'm not cramming for the final exam.  I'm not quite to the end of the Old Testiment so I'll be finishing this one in 2011.)

Lose 25 lbs. (My goal for 2010 was to lose 50 lbs. which I reached back in the fall, but I fell off the wagon and gained back a few so I've got to re-lose those and then move on to my original target.)

Resolutions

Develop a good work schedule for writing, blogging, marketing, etc. and stick to it (this will be a biggie as I adjust to not having a full time job to work around)

Blog M-W-F every week (still trying to find my stride on this)

Read one non-fiction book every two months - something that will stretch my brain (no, I don't count the books of the Bible - that would make it too easy)

Give blood every 8 weeks (I give now but not as regularly as I should)

Use food to alleviate hunger or as part of appropriate social engagements – not as a response to boredom,  frustration, depression, or as a procrastination device (obviously ties to the last goal mentioned)

Use exercise as a response to the above named conditions (this would really help that last goal)


Okay, I think that will do it.  I have a slightly longer personal list but some things are just not 'postable'.

Anyone have a resolution and/or goal they're willing to share?

I'm currently enjoying: Stay Tuned for Murder by Mary Kennedy

Groaner of the Day: (This is a long one but it cracked me up.) There is a monastery where monks have taken a vow of near-silence.  Each day begins with morning worship. The service starts when the head abbot comes in and chants, "Good morning."

The monks chant in reply, "Good morning."

They say not another word until evening vespers, when the head abbot comes in and chants, "Good evening."

The monks all reply in unison, "Good evening." Not another word is spoken until the next morning.

Several years ago one of the monks decided he had to break up the boredom of this routine. The next morning when the head abbot chanted, "Good morning," all the other monks responded, "Good morning", except the one bored monk who chanted, "Good evening."

Quickly, the head abbot sang in reply: "Some-one chanted 'evening'. He must be a stranger."

(admit it - you laughed)

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year's celebration and a healthy, prosperous, and joyful 2011.

19 comments:

Maria Zannini said...

I've given myself a goal of finishing two sequels and a novella. It's the most ambitious writing projects I've ever given myself, so I hope I can pull it off.

We'll see.

Dru said...

We're reading the same book at the same time again ;)

Becky Barton (Robbins) said...

I would love to read for you :) Best of luck to you with your resolutions....I started mine early and I am making a little progress! Give everyone a hug for me!

Becky

Linda Leszczuk said...

Maria - do you work on multiple books at the same time or sequentially? Are the sequels to either Touch of Fire or True Believers? (I hope so.)

Linda Leszczuk said...

Dru - ah, you have Mary's newest, too. Don't forget - we're diet buddies this year.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Becky - thanks for the offer. What genres do you like to read?

Dru said...

I haven't forgotten.

Liz Levine said...

I've never really been one for making New Year's Resolutions as they always seem to get broken. Since I was diagnosed with the double-whammy of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, I've been striving every day to eat better and exercise more and those are ever present and continuing things I struggle with every day.

Happy New Year to you and yours!!

Stacy McKitrick said...

I've been looking for a crit partner. If you like paranormal romance with some suspense (or maybe it's romantic suspense with some paranormal stuff), I'd be willing to share & read your mystery (which I'm assuming is the one you want read). I like mysteries, too.

Finding a partner has been hard for me. It always seems to be one-way (in my favor, but I feel bad then!). I'll be bringing in the first 4 pages of my latest at the next meeting. You can decide then, if you want!

Happy New Year and good luck with your resolutions. I decided a long time ago not to make any, because it just depresses me when I don't fulfill them!

Kimber Leszczuk. said...

I don't think I am making resolutions this year. I have goals that I stick to and personal goals for myself that I have all the time not just based on year end. I think I will keep living by those! LOL :)

Mason Canyon said...

No resolutions just wishing you and your family a wonderful and Happy New Year.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Mary Curry said...

Happy New Year, Linda.

My writing goal is to finish the current book, market it and begin one of my other projects. I'm not sure which one yet, but I need to make some progress this year. I've been stalling this year.

Since RWA is in NYC this year, I'm looking to have a polished draft by then. That's ambitious, but I'm going to aim for it.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Liz - I wish you good luck in the ongoing diet and exercise struggle. I know how hard it can be. Happy New Year to everyone out there.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Stacy - let's talk about this at the January meeting.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Kimber - Some of mine are ongoing as well but I like renewing my commitment at the beginning of each year. Others are specific goals to be accomplished that year. Good luck in staying with yours.

Linda Leszczuk said...

Mason - And a very Happy New Year to you, too. Thanks for being such a steady follower/commenter on my blog. I really appreciate it.

Linda Leszczuk said...

MaryC - I'm rooting for you to make your writing goals. Hopefully we'll both be marketing a finished work this year.

Todd said...

Resolutions ...hmmm
Publish something ... anything. Tech article, cartoon, short story, best-seller. Get a taste of success and build!
In same vein try to finish a book. I really want to see what happens to one of my characters and find out if I am brave (or crazy) enough to use a proposed ending I have in mind.
At home, build on the momentum of our brand new kitchen to tackle some of the other big home projects.
And of course exercise more, eat less and live life!

Linda Leszczuk said...

DO IT! I'd love to see you work on your writing.

But you didn't mention that obvious goal of building on that fantastic IT department you inherited. :-)