Posts tagged with 'Goals'

Goal Setting

  • Posted on March 30, 2010 at 6:37 am

What on earth am I doing here?
There is no theme and no particular goal in this blog and I know that I need one.

I have a book of poetic forms. It’s called “An Exaltation of Forms.” It is nothing so famous as “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” but it is a steady and reliable tome that makes an entertaining and educational read and covers the gamut of formal poetry. There are fifty-two chapters, which tells me that I could work out a one year program. That could be good.

I could work in sync with GrayCub on her 101/1001 project. She’s focusing her personal studies and financial situation, so it can’t be perfectly congruent, but she’s got about a year left and that does line up nicely.

I’ll begin my official check-ins on Thursday, April 1. No fooling!
Keep up with us, OK?

Well that was boring.

  • Posted on February 26, 2010 at 7:54 pm

OK. I think I’m done with this stack of old people and even one old short story. It seems that I type faster that I think I do, but it was still D-U-double-L, boring. Of course, it doesn’t help that I added the side project “Finish tagging all old blog posts” to the list. *headdesk*

Know, what I’m gonna go do now?

File all of this old hard copy and, because I love dead trees, print hard copy of the new drafts, and file all of that. Then wait for Khor & Gray’s guests to show so I can have the wee one all to myself for a couple of hours. Muah haa haa!

To Do Today:

  • Posted on February 26, 2010 at 5:27 pm

Today I’m going to start the transcription process for all of the poetry that has built up over the past 6 months in my office. For unknown reasons my poetic work happens in two very different way: at the computer in Word ‘03, or in pen/pencil on paper either in my journal or my day planner. I’ve also been know to use whatever notebook, receipt, or bit of flesh is handy at the time and this had resulting in a filing system for my hard copy poetry that bears some resemblance to a dry compost heap.

As your reward for my hard work (how does that add up again?) I’ll post some of my favorite lines of the day as I stumble into them.

Dialogue From Off Stage

  • Posted on November 12, 2009 at 8:37 am

Today’s Starting Word Count: 13,253
Today’s Word Count Goal: 30,400
Today’s Nano Average Goal: 20,000
Word Count at the time of Writing: 14,053 (Track)
Current Funds Raised: $0.00 (Donate)

”Has she stopped yet? Is it time?”
“Well … she’s still talking, but at least in her version of the story you exist now. At least, I THINK it’s you. Do you, by any chance, have a very hairy brother?”
/moan “Ooh, no. She isn’t talking about that is she? So mich for my dignified, heroic entrance.”
“Well, it could be worse. At this rate I’m going to come out looking like a baddy and Mischa will be a side-show act!”

Well, maybe is someone thought what I’m doing was worthwhile I’d be a little more dedicated.

NanoWriMo 2009

  • Posted on November 2, 2009 at 7:50 pm

Today’s Starting Word Count: 1706
Today’s Word Count Goal: 4200
Today’s Nano Average Goal: 3333
Current Funds Raised: $0.00 (Donate)

Alrighty. Look back a few short posts. See that bit from a year ago about The Black Mother’s Curse? Well I’m going to take another run at that story. Since I’m moving this month and the stress level is going to be something wretched, my personal goal is 75,000 by Dec 21 instead of the traditional 50,000 by Dec 1. Wish me luck!

One Thousand Fifty-one. Well Begun.

  • Posted on November 3, 2008 at 1:42 am

Bits of advice from an inexperienced Nano: choose between the Halloween party and starting Nano ASAP on the first. The Halloween hangover will not leave you at your most creative or productive. Also, if you write using a pen name, be sure to do your fundraising with your real name. If you aren’t careful about that your friends and family will have no idea who is hitting them up for money!

I’ve written my first thousand words. I know that it doesn’t seem like much of a mile marker, but there are days when I can hardly force myself to write 100 words. I write poetry where I feel justified in stopping before I reach 50 words. I’m out of practice with prose, thanks to laziness, tech writing, and a stretch of poetic outlet. 1000 word feels like a real accomplishment!

I’m currently working on an expositive prologue written from the perspective of the antagonist. Call it ”Why I Went Bad” by Naughty McMeanie-Pants. I’m setting up the inciting incident, the Black Mother laying her curse, and attempting to do so in such a way that the reader sees this fantastic, over-powered, over-blown, vain, wicked, self-centered beast as a victim right up to the moment when she shreds the only scrap of moral fiber she had left. I’m hoping to get in another five pages before I call it a night.

Research, Prewriting, & Outlining

  • Posted on October 3, 2008 at 11:49 am

28 days, 13 hours, 9 minutes, and 3 seconds left until NaNoWriMo Begins!
My Nano Page

So the process has begun. I’ve spent the last week researching the cultures, climate, landscape, and mythology of the Siberian Steppe and the PIE peoples so I have a good setting base. I’m written a little bit of character background, but nothing that will go into the novel. That would be cheating!

As for my outline; I want to scream! The story I want to tell isn’t a fairytale rework, but the outline keeps saying, “Ohhh, lets go this direction. You already have a talking animal, so why not do the ‘Since you rescued me, I’ll help you solve your quest puzzle,’ thing? It’s a classic!” No no no, don’t want to!

Feeling Like Myself

  • Posted on April 10, 2008 at 5:21 am

It’s been a rough few months. I had to take some personal time and now I’m making plans to get back into the swing of my life as I believe my life should be. School will be starting soon! Last year went a bit clumsily, but this year will be different.

Summer
–Fiction Workshop
–Immigration & Ethnicity in American History
–History of Nuclear Weapons

Fall (If I Get What I Want)
–Language Theory
–Magazine Writing
–Theory and Practice of History
–British Isles to 1714
–Beginning Spanish

This always makes me feel hopeful and giddy.

New Features!

  • Posted on January 14, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Faithful Readers, please check out the top of the screen. You will notice two new menu options: “Poetry” and “Stories.” I’ll give you three guesses what you will find if you click those links!

The first two do not count.

It isn’t much for now. The Poetry page is active, and the Story page will be active be the end of this week. One new poem and story for you to enjoy each month. Perhaps if I start making money here, there will be more to read more often. Who knows?

Oh! It’s the 14th! I’ve submitted a total of eight poems to two different publications today, so wish me luck. The first batch went to Poetry Revolt, a new publication for non-traditional poems. The second batch went to The Copper Nickel, UCDHSC’s really fabulous literary journal. I recommend stopping and checking them out and buying the latest issue if you have a chance.

Goals For 2008

  • Posted on January 14, 2008 at 1:48 pm

*Places the left hand on a copy of “Writer’s Market” and holds up the right*

I hereby promise to:

  • Write every day. Blogs and journals don’t count!
  • Submit something new for publication on the 14th and 28th of every month.
  • Resubmit my rejections to the next publisher on The List within a month of getting them back.
  • Write for you children at least once each week.

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