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Another week done

English: University of Ballarat's offical logo

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So that is another week done.

 

Achievements this week

* All assignments are up to date.

* I have met the targets I set myself in the earlier post.

* I have worked on finding promotional materials, though this I will not be finalising until I have a completed wip.

* Caught up with friends that I hadn’t spent much time with, this is still ongoing as there is one who I haven’t seen in many months

* I am reading the books recommended to me by Lori, though I am still waiting on the arrival of 5 or 6

 

Side note I am looking into doing the Advanced Diploma of Library/Information Services through the University of Ballarat. I will placing my application in the mail in the morning and then waiting to hear if I am successful in gaining entry to the course, I will be doing it on a part-time basis so it will take about 3-4 years.

http://guerin.ballarat.edu.au/ProgramFinder/displayProgram.jsp?ID=138

I have looked at this course many times and disregarded it telling myself I couldn’t get in, I couldn’t do it. Never once did I give myself the permission to try to change my life and try to do something other than sit in a call centre and disconnect services or change plans. I love books, I love learning, I love helping people this course encompasses all three.

 

I am a bit worried about the work load but figured as everything I have done in the last 22 days that involves writing, books and knowledge is something I want, something I really want I can handle the work load.

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2012 Time Focused Goals

English: So many words to keep track of!.

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Yearly

  • One WIP completed
  • WIP Submitted to an agent or publisher

 

Monthly

  • 10’000 – 12’000 words
  • or 45 – 50 pages (250 words per page)

 

Weekly

  • 2’500 – 3’000 words
  • or 10 to 15 pages (250 words per page)

 

Daily

  • 400 – 500 words
  • or 1 – 2 pages (250 words per page)

 

 

This is all in addition to completing the assignments set by Lori and my other teachers and lecturers. When I was first writing this I was thinking 7’500 to 8’000 words per month then realised that I was selling myself short. I can write 400 – 500 words a day I just make excuses not to, the rule with this is just get it written. Once the first draft is finished then I do the edits but I can’t edit until I have a draft. Maybe I am being overly optimistic but until I choose to do something with my writing I am always gunna do or gunna be.

I am a realist so I am aware that I am not going to do the minimum 400 words a day for 365 days (366 this year) as there will be occasions that cannot be avoided that I must miss a day but then if I can do 400 why can’t I do more?

This does not include blogging, social media or any assignments

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Time Focused Goals

St. Augustine writing, revising, and re-writin...

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I have been reading blogs from various people, all within the writing industry and all published or soon to be published authors. The one that has prompted me to write this post is Theresa Meyers.

 

http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php?1731-Getting-Out-of-Your-Own-Way-%EF%BF%BDGoal-Setting-for-the-Writer-by-Theresa-Meyers

 

The link above is what I read, it made me think about the goals I had set myself. Now I like the goals I have BUT and it is a big but, it isn’t specific enough nor are they truly pushing me. Don’t get me wrong having those goals written on the 1st has made me do more with my writing and my determination is still burning I just want this dream and Theresa’s words have reminded me of my favourite quote

“Live your dreams, don’t dream your life.”

I am aware that I am late in reading this and I know that’s not a good start but I am still going to be re doing some goals this time with more focus on time frame and getting words onto paper NOW instead of by the end of the year.

 

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Impatience

Physical Fitness

Image by Justin Liew via Flickr

Anyone that has known me more than a day would be well aware that patience is not one of my virtues. For me today is Monday the 16th of January 2012, for Lori and Suzanne Rock it is still Sunday the 15th (although it may now be the early, very early hours of the 16th – I struggle with timezone differences) and today is their day off from setting assignments and posting in the lectures. I am edgy and full of nervous energy and want something new to sink my teeth into, while I am reading The Writer’s Journey this is not as enthralling as reading Lori’s lectures and not as invigorating as the homework she sets.

 

Tomorrow I will be joining one of my local gym’s, so I will have an outlet for my extra energy. This one suits my shifts at work allowing me time for a 45 minute session in the early hours, then jump onto a train to get to work on time and with enough time to grab a cuppa before I log in. It also means I need to buy some new gym clothes, now for me that is difficult as I don’t like clothes shopping. At all. So I will have to actually go and look as well as try on the clothes I need to make sure they fit my jibbly bits and don’t fall off when I am exercising. While this removes my extra energy it also has the added benefit of helping me with my fitness and health and my lovely sister is writing me up a new healthy eating plan :| this will be very interesting as I am a whatever is fast, cheap and easy for lunch type of woman. I also am hoping that I will have a few friends join me for personal training sessions.

 

This is the point I would like to thank a few friends and they know who they are for helping me continue with the fitness and health as well as making sure I stay on course with everything else.

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All caught up

YAY!

I am all caught up including replies to any questions Lori had and I have completed the requirements for the Winter Writing Festival with the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood. 500 words a day plus completing Lori’s assignments.

 

Plus I have just registered for a few more short courses through the Savvy Authors.

Writing Steamy Sex Scenes: How to Leave your readers begging for more with Suzanne Rock

Some Like it Hot: Writing the Erotic Romance with Louisa Bacio

What is Point of View (Includes deep POV) with Terry O’Dell

Beginning WordPress with Pepper O’Neal (yes I am using WordPress but I would like to make sure I am using all the features and find out how to use those I am not aware of)

 

I am amassing a new Wish List for books, I would like to read the books by the ladies mentioned above plus Lori and Jodi. I have also been finding more and more recommendations coming through from the RWAustralia sites, Harlequin site and Goodreads.

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Still chugging along

I have been a little slack in the last few days, I have not blogged and I fell behind in my assignments :(

BUT I am back on track, the last assignment was posted about 12 hours ago and I will be knocking off work shortly so will get into that assignment. I must admit though I am finding that Lori’s assignments are already making me break apart my work and take another look. My character’s are beginning to look, feel and sound real no more of the flat two-dimensional boring reads. I enjoy reading the comments Lori leaves on my work and what the other’s are doing and the comments Lori leaves for them as well. The information I am receiving is coming in bucket loads.

 

I have also chosen to do another savvy authors course “Writing Steamy Sex Scenes: How to Leave your Readers Begging for More” with Suzanne Rock this course looks very interesting and as I want sex scenes in my wip I thought it would be worthwhile to try. This is in addition to the other short courses I have listed that I want to do.

 

I am also still reading Christopher Vogler’s book which I do recommend to anyone wishing to write, it is an excellent reference book.

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New Years Resolutions

It’s been over a week since New Years Day and I set up my resolutions and for the first time my determination is not waning, I still want to complete my WIP. I am really enjoying the classes with Lori Wilde and Jodi Henley though Jodi’s class has come to an end, I have already looked into her other short courses and will be enrolling into them. She has given me a wonderful insight into my characters and taught me to see their motivations. Now I just need the methods to put it together, which I can see I need to do more work on though Lori’s introduction and class has been informative.

 

My to do list is growing though as it has been mentioned that I have no time or as much time as I used to have for my friends so I now need to add them back into my schedule :)