Hello everyone,
First, let me point you to a post I wrote on Thursday about JuNoWriMo. You probably know what it means, but go check it out ;)
I’m gonna try a new format for my check-in. Let’s see if it’s better.
Goals:
- Organize my new home and my new schedule. This is going slow since last week, when we actually did a ton of work. Most of the necessary stuff is organized, so the not-so-necessary stuff are being left for when we’re up to it, or have spare time. This week we were able to buy our cars, so now I’ll have more time for myself (since I don’t have to drive hubby to and from work) and will be able to organize my schedule, which includes gym and exercise! (see below).
- Once my life is normal again (or almost), find a gym and exercise 3 times per week. Still not organized enough so I have that much free time. I know I should prioritize exercise more, but it’s hard to do knowing I could be writing instead. And, I have been searching and nothing really gets to me. Pilates is way too expensive and there’s nothing else I really want to do … but I found a gym with some nice-sounding exercises, so I might give it a try.
- Participate on Crafting the Sensual Novella Workshop from April 9th to May 6th. This is going well. I haven’t turned in all assignments cause I’m not writing any novella now and have none to share, but I’m paying close attention to what’s been done and I’m commenting on assignments when I can.
- Finish revising my novel, DESTINY GIFT. Still working on this. I finished revising what I had written before, but, because I changed a few things on the beginning of the story, I need to write a couple (more like 10 or 12) new scenes in the middle. Monday and Tuesday, I revised. Wednesday and Thursday, I wrote new scenes. Friday was busy with life stuff, so no writing =(
- Start a new novel or novella and get as far as I can with it. Only after I finish revising DESTINY GIFT, which has been hard since many ideas are floating in my head and begging for time.
- In June, participate of the JuNoWriMo (probably with the novel or novella mentioned on the line above). It’s not June yet ;)
- Read 5 books each month (year total = 60). Accordingly to GoodReads, I’m on track.
- Social network: blog at least once a week (not counting #ROW80 checkins), comment on blogs every other day, and tweet a little everyday. All done. This is never hard to accomplish =P
It’s been hard to focus on only one thing to write/revise. My mind is everywhere and since I went back to writing last week, I’ve been changing my mind constantly about what to write next. It seems I’m unable to settle on one thing. And I need to. I feel that, if I want to be serious about this writing thing, I need to be able to choose one story and stick with it until the end. I know there will be times when I change directions. I’ve stopped in the middle of manuscripts before, with 40k+ words, many times actually, but I want to avoid that. I know it’ll be impossible to avoid it 100%, but I want to stick with the things I start!
Anyway, on happier notes, this Friday hubby and I completed 8 years of a very happy marriage! And we’re able to buy our cars (nice gifts, uh?). Things are settling at our house. Still trying to organize our new routine, but we haven’t been here for a whole month yet, so I’m guessing that’s normal.
This next week I have an appointment with USCIS (applying for my SSN) and I have another appointment with the Brazilian Consulate (also for the SSN) and both are around 50 minutes from here, so, I’m betting I’ll have more non-writing days than I would like.
Let’s see what happens ;)
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Have a great week everyone!
Cheers,
Happy anniversary!
Hope the gym works out for you. I’ve had a gym membership for years and once I made it a habit to go several times a week, it just became a normal part of my routine.
Still might sign up for June. Just want to get through the Challenge first.
Happy anniversary! According to some random (very pink!) website I found via Google, the 8th wedding anniversary was traditionally about gifting pottery or bronze, but in modern times is about gifting linen or lace. I think pottery or bronze sounds so much neater than linen or lace.
& it’s nice to see you’re doing so well with all your goals — I really like your check-in posts. I think that’s a really neat blogging idea, a quick way to keep everyone up on what’s up in your life. & super good luck in June, though it’s not here yet. I’m spending my entire summer noveling, so if you wanna come around to some online writers’ hangouts in June, just let me know!
Why is Pilates so expensive? I’ve been interested as well but didn’t sign up because of the high cost.
You’re doing great for still getting settled in and dealing with the errands of transitioning back into the U.S. I’m considering JuNoWriMo. It will depend on where I am with my other projects. Thanks for introducing me to it.
Have a great week, Juliana! You’ll find your groove. And Happy Anniversary! That’s fabulous for y’all. We are celebrating 19 years for us (makes me sound really old, right?).
Happy Anniversary!! Meetings for your ssn, that’s pretty exciting. Hopefully your mind can wander to your characters and plot during your travel time. You are juggling a lot and doing really well, so hold on to that and keep moving forward.
Happy anniversary!
Fabulous week Juliana. I love your edit/write ratio :) Wishing you all the best for the upcoming week.
I hope you don’t have to have that SSN for the DMV! That’s been a nightmare I’m sure. Hopefully next week will lend itself to getting more organized. Every one gets the case of the “shinies” Just make sure you start the WIPs that you really love and you’ll be less likely to abandon them later. And even if you still get an idea that’s burning into your soul, just write the basics down and go back to the WIP you love. If the shiny is as great as it feels, it’ll be just as great when you’re able to get back to it. Congrats on the 8 years. Have a great week!
Good luck getting your routine down. I don’t envy you at all for having to deal with all the sitting, waiting, filling out paperwork for your SSN. And all those other documents…new licenses, new health insurance cards, finding a new family doctor, dentist, etc.
But…once it’s done…it’s done! When I get a new idea that I cannot work on right away, I take a new one subject notebook and write down all my ideas and thoughts so I won’t forget them for later. You probably already do that, but thought I’d share. I feel better knowing that the idea is written down and I won’t forget any of the great details I dreamed up.
Have a wonderful week…and congrats on getting your car!