From the Writer's Desk - Mid-September Check In

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by.  It's hard to believe that next week it will be officially fall, never mind that Pumpkin Spice, Carmel Apple, and Apple Cider everything are out and about.  Along with Halloween decorations. This is my favorite season.  I finished Write by Karen Peterson and am reading The Write Type by her.  I've adapted some of her exercises to my own use.  I may go back and follow the exercises exactly, but I'm not sure at this point.

I had hesitated to add dailies to my bullet journal, because I have a day job Monday through Friday with a schedule that doesn't change.  But, recently I started adding them along with my weeklies, so that I can keep track of my writing time better and any other tasks I want to get done.  I don't add a time line, because at the moment I don't see the need.

My weekly goal is to spend 7 hours on writing or writing related tasks.

The first week of September - 4th - 10th -- I wrote sentences for 2 hours, people watched for 1.5 hours, and worked on my website for 8 hours.

The 2nd week of September -- 11th -- 17th -- I wrote for 4 hours, researched a variety of things for 7 hours, and worked on my website for 8 hours.

So, for both weeks, I met my goal! Which makes me really happy.

I'm going to continue with my daily tracking, because I have to check in with myself daily on whether I made a goal or not. If not, what did I do and why.  There were a couple of days when nothing got done because I was either taking care of family or self-care was more important.

 

Every morning after I complete my Miracle Morning Routine, I set a goal for the day. Most of the time it is to write 1 hour on Behind the Masque, because I want it finished and I keep missing my self imposed deadlines.  I also write down my mood at that moment.  And a reward. Right now, I'm on a stitching kick, so that is my reward if I make my goal. Although, honestly, I may stitch even if I don't make my goal.  Then at night I write down what I actually did, my mood, and where I was. The section under that is what I read for the day.   You can see on this day, I did write, but not on what I wanted to, so I didn't make my goal, but it does count on my tracker.

My goal this week is to write 7 hours on either Marked or Behind the Masque.  I also want to read for 30 minutes a day and to go through one box stacked in my office.  My big goal is to have my house completely de-cluttered by Halloween.

What are your goals for the week? What do you want to accomplish this week? This Season?

Blessings,
Simone.

Book Report - Goal Update and What I'm Reading Now

It's about half-way through the year, which still really doesn't seem possible. There are 3 days left in June. Sunday, not even a full week away, R leaves for Orlando for the month. When they get back it'll be time for College Orientation. That also doesn't seem possible, mostly though because I don't feel old enough to actually have a college student.

At the beginning of 2017 I set a series of Goals, things I wanted to accomplish this year. One of them was to read 26 books. 20 whatever, 3 Non-Fiction, 3 Classics. At the half-way point it stands to reason that I should have read approximately 13 books. I haven't. I've read 5.

I finished:

I have enjoyed every book I've read so far this year.


I'm in the process of reading:




I'm about two-thirds of the way finished with this. I'm learning a ton. It points out the good things about writing by the seat of your pants and how to take your stories to the next level.

 I've just started this, but I'm enjoying it.
































I have several books I want to read this year, plus I keep adding more. There are three or four self-improvement books I want to read this year in addition to my ever-growing to-be-read pile.

 I completely disconnected my cable, so that will give me time to read. Hopefully, I'll be finished with the books I'm reading now by the end of July and I can start on something else. I have books by Rick Reed, Charlie Cochet, and Rhys Ford to read.


I'm curious to know what everyone is reading, as there really aren't enough books to read.

Blessings,
Simone.