17 posts tagged “goals”
Gosh, it's been a while. Got a couple of posts to do today, so lets just get cracking on that goal list:
1) Get at least 1 rejection letter from a publisher for a short story (acceptance letter counts too!)
OK, I'm calling this one and epic fail. Actually researching a publisher and sending something to them has been too much like hard work so far this year. This does not bode well for my dreams of future noveling glory.
2) Finish the last six chapters of Technomancer, my 2005 NaNo
Ah ha, done this one! Finished it last week. In your face Techomancer, no longer can you taunt me with your incompleteness. You're sooo finished. Just have to find time to edit now...
3) Edit 1 novel of choice and actually let someone read it
I've been working on it and 3 chapters of Cold Spell are now available for friends and family to read on this blog, but to be honest I don't think I'm going to get it done by the end of the year, what with NaNoWriMo just around the corner and all my attention currently devoted to new creative outpourings :).
4) Write new text for projectmonkey
Yeah, I've been so bad about this. It's such a little thing. Maybe there's still time!
5) Continue learning to draw manga and put at least 3 original pieces of artwork on my deviantART page
Done this too! I've got my manga face, my seventh sanctum contest entry, and the draft cover I did for Blue Blood. Got some markers for my birthday so I've been trying out doing some stuff by hand as well as digitally. I haven't technically learned to draw manga yet, but I'm keeping at it :)
6) Enter 1 Seventh Sanctum Art Contest (why the hell not, sounds like a laugh!)
Yup, did this, not only that but I got runner up for my Cursed Flute of History Circles! You can check it out on my deviantArt page :)
7) Write and workshop 3 short stories.
I haven't managed to write anything even vaguely resembling a short story except that one mini thing I posted on here months ago. I've got a website for a flash fiction magazine that wants submissions so maybe I could come up with something for that.
8) Read at least 1 fiction novel a month, with the exception of November when I'll be a bit busy
I wish I hadn't failed so badly at this, but it's been so manic with course work and things I just haven't had the time. I'm hoping to have another crack at Making Money before NaNo starts though.
9) Actually read all the course books the OU are going to send me in a couple of weeks
I'm happy to report that I did read all my OU course books, which is why I never managed to read all my regular books, and the course is now over! *phew*. Just got to wait until December for the results now.
10) Finish wedding scrapbook
Well, no, but on the plus side I do have a bit of time now, assuming I don't waste all of it planning novels.
So, that's 4 out of 10 goals completed, and it's October. OK, that's not great, but it's not bad. There's still time. True, I'll have to go back in time to manage the book thing now, but you never know...
Whoops, I didn't do a June round-up. How remiss of me. Well I have been very busy trying to do things on my list, and going to Venice with my lovely hubby for our anniversary. I'll do a quick one now, though I can't remember what was last month and what was this month, so I guess it will be a June/July round-up.
1-3 & 7) The Writing Goals
I edited Chapter 1 of Cold Spell! Yay! Haven't done anything else though. Not that anyone has read it :(. I did start planning the sequel when I was in Venice and I think I've had a break through, so don't be surprised if locations in the new book have a strangely Venisian feel to them. I'm very excited to be taking those characters on another adventure. I don't think Flora is done growing yet. Don't know what that means? Read chapter one then! :P
5&6) The Drawing Goals
I did it! The Cursed Flute of History Circles has been entered into the Seventh Sanctum contest. Check it out: http://www.seventhsanctum.com/contestentry.php?Contnum=12
8) Read a fiction novel a month
No books again. Feeling very bad about it, but I'm swamped with college work. It will just have to wait.
9) Actually read all my OU books
I'm reading them, I'm reading them! I got 93% on my biological psychology assignment :). I'm working on the end of course assessment for Applying Psychology at the moment. It's due in on Tuesday so I'm cutting it pretty close, but I'm not that bothered. I've not really enjoyed the course that much. The reading is interesting but the assessment is really weird. So far I've written 2 letters to fake companies, reflective accounts of using wikis and chat, and 1000 words of a report on autism. I've still go to write a reflection on my feedback for the first assignment (urrg) AND a reflection on the course. All this rubbish is marked! Can you tell how much I hate this reflective crap. Don't you people care what I learned from the course? I would not have done it if I'd known what was involved, that's for sure. Oh well, it's nearly over now and I could use the 15 points.
That's all for now!
Last month wasn't really a great month for my goals. I guess it was more of an exercise in keeping my head above water, but I got through it. Anyway, let's see how badly I did.
1-3 & 7) The Writing Goals
I haven't done anything! No work on Cold Spell, no more planning The Diabloist's Debt, still haven't finished Technomancer or written any short stories. I seriously think I'm going to need to take a year off study to get all these projects done! And I'll have another book to finish/edit after NaNo in November!!
5&6) The Drawing Goals
I have started work on my Seventh Sanctum contest entry. I've done some sketches and outlined a little comic thing to advertise my Cursed Flute of History Circles. I'm thinking of writing a little story about it too. Maybe 1000 words. I'll see if I have a good idea. Still not sure what the curse should be though.
8) Read a fiction novel a month
Failed!!! :(
I'm so upset about this. I just didn't have the time to read a real book last month. I've been up to my eyeballs in OU work and it just wasn't happening. I'll have to try and pick up the pace again this month. *sigh*
9) Actually read all my OU books
At least I'm doing well on this, and it is the most important goal at the moment. As much as I would rather be working on my novels it seems that at the grand age of 26 I've finally mastered the skill they tried to teach me in high school with very little success. Prioritise your time and do fun things when you've finished your work. OK, I've mastered that for most things but I still just can't bear to miss a roleplay session :o).
10) Finish Wedding Scrapbook
Ha ha ha ha. No. Just No.
My list sucks. Who's bright idea was it to have a list? I'm never going to get through this thing! Though maybe the point is in the trying rather than the succeeding. Hmm, that doesn't sound like something Yoda would agree to, but I like the sound of it. Sorry little green dude.
Markie sometimes teases me for spending more time drawing up pretty plans than actually doing the stuff I'm planning. There might be something to this, concidering my blog is mostly a list of my plans and how crap I'm doing at them! But sometimes my plans work out. So a couple of weeks ago I had a complete freak out over everything I had to do and, as I often do, I blogged my escape plan. Whaa haa haa.
I got the assignment in at the last minute, and the last minute is always better than a late minute, so I'm not going to complain. I also got 81% on it. Yay me!
I'm also on top of my OU reading and have managed to survive the week without skimping on the note taking. The new course is a little odd. We're supposed to do online group activities, which is tricky since we're supposed to be able to work in our own time, but there we go. It is the first presentation of a new course. They couldn't have known that getting a bunch of part-time students online at the same time within a 2 day time frame was going to present an issue. </sarcasm>
Now, my problem is that I haven't managed to gain any time back yet, and I'm relying on finishing the assignment early to have time for the seventh sanctum contest. I've got another chapter to read and the assignment to do. I could be cutting it close. Luckily, there's still time after the assignment deadline to work on the picture. Just hope I can find the time!
Poor old scrapbook isn't getting any love, but that was part of the plan. I didn't expect to have any time, and surprise surprise, I didn't. *sigh*. I also haven't read anything. This does mean I'm in serious danger of failing my novel challenge for the year. This seems sad :(. If I let it slip now I'll have no motivation to read anything on any other month! I do still have tonight and tomorrow. Maybe it's not too late...
Yes, as the forth month of the year draws to a close it's time to see how I'm getting on with that list. Can't believe that it has been four months already. I have no clue how I'm going to get through this whole list :o). Oh well, let's see what I have managed to do.
1-3 & 7) The writing goals
I haven't managed to work on any of my writing goals this month. I did start planning 'The Diabolist's Debt'. Not sure why. I'm pretty sure it wasn't on the list. Maybe I'm just getting a head start on NaNo. I do really want to do some more work on 'Cold Spell' though, plus I have the ideas for my short stories. Just need the time to write them!
5&6) The drawing goals
I did miss the seventh sanctum contest this time round, though they have just announced the winners so I'm sure a new contest will be up before long. Hopefully it will be something I can do with only 1 character :o). Maybe I could write a story about them and knock something off goal #7 at the same time.
8) Read at least 1 fiction novel a month
Yesterday I finished 'Wicked'. To say it wasn't what I expected would be an understatement. It is absolutely nothing like I imagined, plus it was a bit racey.
It is a good book but a bit heavy and not exactly uplifting so I'm taking a little break and going back to Pratchett this month before I tackle the sequel.
I am now very interested to see the musical (there's no way it can have as much sex in it, surely?) and also to actually read the Wizard of Oz to see how much of it maps, but that's going to have to wait for a while. Next month I'll be 'Making Money'.
9) Actually read all my OU books
Read Book 3: Exploring the Brain and got sent the book for my new course. Joys. Now I have to read a chapter of the new book every week and a chapter of the other book every two weeks, plus I've got Fred's book too. So here they all are:
Yes, that looks like a thrilling couple of months for me! And I've got an essay to write this week. See what I mean about the time?
10) Finish Wedding Scrapbook
I have finally managed to make a start on this. I've made a page and a half. OK, that doesn't sound like much, but I'm getting there. Maybe I'll take a picture of the pages and upload them. Anyway, I've done a page with the invitations and I've done most of the wedding cake page. I might get another done at the weekend. I've bought loads of stuff for it.
I guess that's all for April. *Sigh*. Hope the list goes down a bit quicker next month.
TTFN!
OK, it isn't technically the end of March, but Jane is visiting and I'm not going to get anything else on the list done between now and Monday, so I might as well see how much progress I've made now. Um, just for a change, I'm only going to write in the goals I've actually made any progress on. The original list is around somewhere if you need reminding on what I'm neglecting.
3. Edit 1 novel of choice and actually let someone read it
I'm still having fun with this, but the going is slow. I haven't had a lot of time, but with OU assignment of doom out of the way hopefully this will pick up a bit of momentum and I'll get a good chunk done before May. What's May, I hear you ask? I'm getting to that!
5. Continue learning to draw manga and put at least 3 original pieces of artwork on my deviantART page
Yes, I now have 1 originial piece of artwork on my deviantART page. Huzzah! And another one within a week or two for sure. This goal is going pretty well.
6. Enter 1 Seventh Sanctum Art Contest
I have decided how I'm going to lay out my Charneldream and the panic vampires pic (in a cunning way that means I don't have to struggle with fiddly things like bodies at this stage in my education) and I decided to make the vampires bald because the hair is what always takes me the longest and there's not much time left! I haven't actually drawn anything other than the headshot of Charneldream, but I've set aside some time next week to work on it. Yay :o)
7. Write and workshop 3 short stories
Well, I had an idea for a short story. It's not really my usual thing, but I might go ahead and write it anyway just for the practice. I suppose it's speculative fiction. We were talking about how sharks don't age and if scientists could use that on us and I got an idea. Yes, there are lots of stories about people living forever, but I think I've come up with a different angle. I also have an idea for a slightly weirder story, but I'm still looking for my take on it. If I actually write them both then that would be 2 down.
8. Read at least 1 fiction novel a month.
This month I read 'Where's My Cow?' as promised. I also finally managed to track down this book , which is No. 2 of one I read a while back, so I read this too. I'm liking this series. It's slightly cheesy boarding school teen horror, and "OMG, twins, how cliche!" but it is nicely creepy and Queenie Chan is a good artist. In some ways it reminds me of my old Point Horror groupie days, but with pictures! Plus there's only 3 in the series so it's not too much of a drain on the old bank account.
OK, it's still a bit of a cheat because it's a manga rather than a novel, but hey, I read something at least! Next month I'm going to read Wicked!
9. Actually read all my OU books
Book 1: From Cells to Consciousness - Read it. Book 2: Beyond Reasonable Doubt - (really really short, but) Read it. This is all good because for some crazy reason I signed up for another course in May. Yes, I did say we would get to May. The new course is Applying Psychology and it's only 15 points. It's a new course and it messed up my plans. I was going to take an extra year to get my degree and do a level 3 30 point course as my last one. Then this one cropped up and I realised I could cut a year off if I did this one this year. I had the choice of starting May or September, my Biological Psychology course has a huge end of course assessment in September so better to avoid the trauma and get this out of the way first. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. No, it's got nothing to do with me wanting to be an ML for NaNo this year...
That's it for this month. I'm not sure that the list is getting smaller quick enough. Maybe I put too many things on it. Oh well, it's still early in the year. Until next time, TTFN!
I finished the headshot of Charneldream I was doing for the Seventh Sanctum art contest, but then I remembered that I don't have a scanner anymore so I can't post it yet. But then I decided to play around with VectorDesigner and I made this. No, it's not Charneldream. You'll know her when I post her. She has pink horns. Seriously!
This was a lot more annoying to do than my Star Kitten avatar, which I hand sketched then coloured in Photoshop, but I think it come out ok. I like the eyes (though I don't think I've uploaded a high enough resolution for them to show up well on here). I have learned that VectorDesigner is a pain, I miss my scanner, and next time I try vector art I'm doing it on Inkscape and I'm using a pen (touchpad was a real bitch). On the plus side, I uploaded it to my deviant art page so it counts as a goal accomplished :o).
Most people who read this blog will by now already know the events following my last post. Anyone who doesn't know, well it's not going to take a genius to figure it out. I did consider doing a whole post about my feelings, experiences and stuff, but I don't really think that's going to do anyone any good. Suffice to say that we're both doing ok and we're looking to the future. Oh, and we got a cat. His name is Darwin.
In the spirit of moving on and getting back to normal, I decided to make my first post (on my first day back at work) the somewhat belated February roundup. So here's how I've been getting on with my goals for the past couple of weeks:
1) Get at least 1 rejection letter from a publisher for a short story (acceptance letter counts too!)
I'll be honest, got nothing on this, so moving swiftly on...
2) Finish the last six chapters of Technomancer, my 2005 NaNo
I think the last six chapter is down to the last four chapters, but as we discussed before the whole thing kind of stalled, so I put it on hold and jumped right on to...
3) Edit 1 novel of choice and actually let someone read it
Got Markie to print out Cold Spell for me and I read it through. There are some definite problems, but so far the editing is going well. Slowly, but well. I spent two days solid and only got through 39 pages, so I get the feeling this is going to be a long project, especially as I've now decided to completely rewrite a character and change is plot. Jack never did gel with me, but I'm feeling pretty confident that this new direction I'm going in with him could really give the book that extra something it needs to pull the whole thing together. Watch this space for more developments and possibly some extracts!
4) Write new text for projectmonkey.me.uk
Still not done that. Not that project monkey seems to be up at the moment...
5) Continue learning to draw manga and put at least 3 original pieces of artwork on my deviantART page
My deviantART page is still empty, however...
6) Enter 1 Seventh Sanctum Art Contest (why the hell not, sounds like a laugh!)
I have got as far as doing a headshot of Charneldream for the Evil and Company contest, so it's a start. I'm not sure if I'll actually enter the contest. I'm thinking more of a single character thing would be more suited to my first try, but I'll post her when I'm finished with her either way, even if I don't manage to do her panic vampire minions at this point.
7) Write and workshop 3 short stories, not counting the one I wrote yesterday. That was last year.
I haven't been on my workshop for a couple of weeks, and editing is taking up most of my creative energy at the moment. I'll get to it though.
8) Read at least 1 fiction novel a month, with the exception of November when I'll be a bit busy
In February I read Thud! OK, I actually finished it in March, but I did finish it, and it's been a challenging month. This month I'm giving myself an easy job and reading "Where's my cow?".
No, I don't think that's cheating...
9) Actually read all the course books the OU are going to send me in a couple of weeks
I did let my reading slip, but I'm back in the game now. I've nearly finished Chapter 3, which I should have finished last week, but never mind. The next chapter is on consciousness, and I'm rather good with that if I do say so myself, so it shouldn't take to long to catch up.
10) Finish wedding scrapbook
Hmm, did I really agree to do that too? OK, I suck. This I have not started yet. At least it's on the list!
That's all for now, folks. TTFN!
This month has been too slow. I'm feeling dejected, unmotivated, blah, whatever. I'm out of practice on the studying and I really want to do well so that's been really draining. I've managed to do some criques for my workshop but I just don't want to write. I've got no drive to work on Technomancer, Steering the Craft is still on my bookshelf and I haven't done any more exercises from it, and I haven't had so much as an idea for a short story. The only thing I feel inspired to do is start editing Cold Spell, so that's what I'm going to do! All this slogging through the last couple of chapters of Technomancer is holding me back! Doesn't it know I've got goals that need achieving? I know I said I would finish it before I looked a Cold Spell, but I think it's important that I keep moving forward on my list. If I lack motivation for something better jump on to something else quick and get back to it later, just keep moving.
So I'm dropping the dead weight. I've had enough drag. I want to soar, so this weekend I'm printing out my book and I'm going to the library to get it spiral bound, then I'm going to scribble all over it to my heart's content, Technomancer be damned! I'm not letting one unfinished manuscript hold up the whole list. *Phew*. I feel much better now :o). I'm off to finish pictures I can use for the cover...
I'll be honest, I'm not feeling very positive about my goals this month. Today is Valentine's Day. That means the month is half gone already and I haven't made much progress. I've written very little (though I've just noticed that Googledocs is all nice and pink today and I want to keep it like this forever!), my bookmark is woefully close to the front cover of Thud, and other than playing around with the Seventh Sanctum generators my manga dream is no closer. I have done rather a lot of OU work, which is sapping most of my time to be honest, and although it is very interesting I'm still getting 'dorsal' and 'ventral' mixed up and I have no idea what the tegmantum or the telencephalon do, however I do know how to spell them! Ah well. I'm going to have one last go at the questions at the end of chapter 2 and then I'm moving on to chapter 3.
I did leave my biology books at home today so I could try and read Thud or do some of Technomancer, though mysterously I seem to be blogging instead. Hmm. Never mind. Next week I'm off somewhere secret doing a secret thing, but it involves a secret drive where there should be time for some not so secret reading :o).
On a more positive note, we get to go for our 12-week scan on Tuesday! Yay! Just can't wait to see Baby Boo :o). Hopefully I'll be back with pictures!
