101 Things--Update!

I haven't blogged about my list of 101 things in several months. It seems almost cliche to talk about goals in the first week of January, but here I am.

Obviously, I knocked several things off the list in November. I published His Good Opinion and started work on my next novel, the as-yet untitled Colonel Fitzwilliam story. I began reworking that story on Sunday, and I can't wait to see how it turns out--and what it ends up being called. (Offer your suggestions in the comments!)

This month, I want to finish off the organization category. I think that'll set me up in a much better position to tackle some of the FiNancy goals in February and March. Oh, this is just so boring boring boring, but these domestic things are a part of life too, aren't they?

In a more fun vein, I'm knocking off Shakespeare's plays right and left. I've been listening to them on my way to and from work, and I'm really enjoying it. I've also begun another fun reading challenge, which I'll share with y'all next Thursday.

What kind of goals do you have for the year? Are you going to spread them out over 12 months, or will you try to do everything at once?



His Good Opinion can be purchased in e-book format from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, and Amazon FR. The paperback is available from Amazon.

Funny Thing About Goals...

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, 6/12/05

I'm sure you've heard the clichés: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."  "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." Classic sayings, designed to get us off our duff and out there trying new things.


I'm hear to tell you, they work. Last month I set the goal of accomplishing a few of the FiNancy tasks on my 101 list. I... didn't accomplish any of them, I don't think.


However! I am pleased to announce that by midnight tomorrow, I will finish my pre-critique draft. Until I get notes back from my readers, I am done. Finito. At an end. And boy, does that feel good!


I'm also starting to look forward to the goals I'd like to reach with my published novel--sales levels, ways I want to use that money, things along those lines. I don't have anything concrete yet, but those are the thoughts going through my mind.


So if I seem insanely driven, this is why. I constantly have a list of goals hanging in front of me, and I know that if I don't keep moving, I won't accomplish any of them.


Which brings me to the obvious question: What goals have you set for yourself? When do you want to finish your current progress? What kind of success would you like to see? Separate your dreams out into ones that are small and accomplishable in the short term, dreams that will take a bit more work and luck, and the shoot-for-the-moon type dreams.


You can do it!

101 Things: July Update

When I posted my list of 101 things, I said I would blog once a month with results. That day is today.

July was a very busy month. Jessica Melendez and I launched IndieJane.org on the 11th. Indie Jane is a website by and for indie authors of Jane Austen fiction. We're creating a community of writers who are connected to the larger community of Jane Austen fans.

For Indie Jane, I checked #1 off my list: Join/start a writing group.

Despite my constant need for caffeine (if you've ever wondered why everyone doesn't start a website, it's because it's hard work), I also chose the month of July to go without soda. Even though there are still five days left in July, I'm calling this one a win right now. I've got all of you watching me--I'd feel guilty if I caved when I'd come so close.

Also, as I mentioned here, I am far, far closer to knowing what my move to England will look like. I've spent time since that blog post thinking about it, and my target date is February 2, 2014. I sat down last Sunday and created a month by month calendar, detailing what I need to do in my writing career so I can afford to quit my job by then. It's a scary list, but it's doable.

This is the first time in months that I've actually achieved anything on the list, and I know it was largely because I had my blog friends keeping me accountable. So what am I going to do in August? August is FiNancy month. I'll tackle two of the financial goals: not making extraneous purchases and no eating out.

A reminder regarding Indie Jane:

We've got two giveaways open right now, and another opening tomorrow. Enter by midnight to win a copy of Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton. The Kindle drawing will be open until August 11. Another giveaway featuring an Austenesque writer's prize pack will go live tomorrow. It's a big month for us; swing by and take a look!

A Different Kind of List

About a year and a half ago, I started the Day Zero Project. The idea is simple: Create a list of 101 things you'd like to accomplish in the next 1001 days... and then do it. I blogged on my list for a few months, but I was never very faithful about it, even though I did keep the list in mind.

I decided this week to bring the list over here. I just don't have time to maintain two blogs, on top of work and writing. My tentative plan is to do a 101 Things blog post on the last Monday of the month, to recap what I've accomplished.

I started on February 2, 2010, and my last day is October 30, 2012. I am almost exactly halfway through my 1001 days. I've finished 18 items and started another 23. That's not quite half, but I still have time.

Do you have a similar list? What kind of items would you put on yours?

Legend:
plain text--not started
italics--in progress
purple bold--complete

Writing

1. Join/start a writing group

2. Spend at least 70 hours a month writing, or 60 in February (3/31)

3. Keep a writer's notebook every day for a full month (0/30)
4. Do a writing prompt from creativewritingprompts.com every day for a month (0/30)
5. Read five books on the Regency period (2/5)

6. Finish His Good Opinion

7. Begin another fiction work

8. Write 100K in NaNo
9. Read a book on professional blogging

10. Start a writing blog

11. Read five books on writing/publishing (0/5)

12. Self-publish His Good Opinion

Health

13. Lose 25 pounds
14. No fast food for a month

15. Buy a bike--and use it

16. Walk to Rivendell
17. Exercise at least two days a week for two months (0/8)
18. Sleep eight hours minimum every night for two separate weeks (0/7)  (0/7)

19. Go to the dentist

20. Give up soda for three separate months (1/3)
21. Try pilates at least once a week for two months (0/2)
22. Use my pedometer again
23. Use My Fitness Plan to keep track of diet and exercise
24. Take vitamins daily for one month six times (0/6)

25. Order something healthy 6 times (0/6)
26. Take one day off from the internet each month (16/31)

Beauty

27. Take care with my appearance every day for two separate weeks (7/7) (0/7)
28. Get a mani/pedi
29. Get a LBD

Cooking

30. Make a custom recipe book

31. Attend a cake decorating class
32. Try at least one new recipe a month (3/31)
33. Bake a loaf of bread
34. Trade out all my most used spices for Penzey's
35. Try five new dessert recipes (0/5)
36. Learn how to make a soufflé

Fun and Relaxation

37. Spend six rainy days watching films in my PJs (1/6)
38. Have one lazy Monday each month (17/31)
39. Have a traditional picnic in a park
40. Go ice skating
41. Go to the zoo
42. Buy myself flowers
43. Finish a 1000+ piece jigsaw puzzle

Arts and Crafts

44. Finish afghan
45. Finish senior year scrapbook
46. Finish baby book

47. Get my NaNo prints framed

Personal and Spiritual Development

48. Don't complain about anything for a week
49. Identify 101 things that make me happy (0/101)
50. Create a list of ten flaws I have
51. Create a list of twenty things I like about myself
52. Journal every day for a month (0/30)
53. Write down one thing I'm thankful for every day for a month (0/30)
54. Blog about something positive every Wednesday for two months (0/8)
55. Memorize 101 new Bible verses (0/101)
56. Read through all the Psalms, noting each name used for God

Travel

57. Go on a random day trip to someplace I don't usually go
58. Go hiking three times each summer (3/9)
59. Spend three days in Portland as a tourist (1/3)
60. Take a road trip
61. Go to Disneyland

Financial

62. Build an emergency fund

63. Pay off my credit card

64. Pay off Mom and Dad
65. Pay off Dr. Lewis
66. Make no extraneous purchases for one month
67. Shop for a week of groceries using only coupons or sales four times (0/4)
68. Save money by not going out to eat for a whole month
69. Save as much spare change as I can, not touching it until the 1001 days are complete
70. Track daily expenses for three months (0/3)

Learning

71. Learn Italian
72. Learn Elvish (Sindarin)
73. Watch ten documentaries (1/10)
74. Try something I might be terrible at

Reading

75. Read The Hobbit again

76. Complete current reading project
77. Read half of Shakespeare's plays
78. Read all six of Austen's major works (5/6)

Organization

79. Get an iPhone

80. Sort through all my papers; bin/shred the ones I don't need, file the ones I do

81. Change our phone/internet service

82. Backup my computer--flash drive or external hard drive

83. Be to work early every day for two separate weeks (0/5) (0/5)
84. Throw out or donate clothes that no longer fit or are worn out

85. Set up my home office

Do unto others

86. Pay for the person in line behind me
87. Send a letter to a friend once a month (1/31)
88. Send someone a care package
89. Finish sending Christmas cards
90. Have ten dinner parties (0/10)
91. Have five tea parties (2/5)
92. Convert to entirely reusable shopping bags

93. Randomly give flowers to three people (1/3)

94. Send someone an encouragement card

England

95. Get my passport

96. Take a trip to England
97. Take high tea in England
98. Decide details regarding my move to England

Meta-tasks

99. Donate $5 to charity for every task I don't at least start
100. Blog the results of this list
101. Evaluate after 1001 days are over: Was this good/fun/profitable?