Goals week of March 2!

Hi everyone, I thought I would post early since I'm in prep/clean-up mode this weekend. I belong to an online group called Book in a Week which has a group blitz-writing week every month. My posted goal is 30 pages, so I'm putting that here, too. I'm going to do blog posts in advance for several blogs which include:

Grow Organic which documents our organic growing experiment this year
Queen of Socks in preparation for hosting a blog book tour stop
Blog Book Tours in an attempt to up the traffic over there for future tour stops
The Joy of Living Creatively, Eric Maisel's world blog in which I'm a guest blogger

I'm still working on the Blog Book Tours Guide which has now morphed into a FAQ format.

I have got to get a handle on this blog writing. I'm always behind. I can't even imagine trying to crank out an eLetter every week like some people do. But I'd like to, so this is good practice.

I have a big chore I need to focus on. Have to move all my writing files to another computer, so I'm sending them to webmail until I can download that mail onto the other computer.

And I'll report daily starting on Monday.

Exercise, who knows? Weather is due to go winter again. I sure feel it when I don't exercise. I am so sore I can hardly move in the morning. Just read a good book about exercise, health and the brain called Spark. I highly recommend it. Speaking of reading lists, mine is way too long and yours is way too short. :) I have half a dozen books to add, but I feel like a total list hog!

Also, gotta knit mice for the Kitty Knits blog book tour stop on March 14th!

What's everyone else planning?

Who won chocolate in February?? Who was closest to meeting goals?

Hooray!

Lisa's New Goal

I got notes back from the last revision of my book. The response was very positive. I have some minor polishing to do and then it's D-O-N-E. 

So my goal is, do that, ASAP.

Meaning Statement

I will write to change the world.

I will achieve this in 2008 with three major projects:

• Syndicated weekly column for rural newspapers


• Childrens book series about organic farming


• A novel entitled, Ghost Town (synopsis to follow)

These projects will focus on environmental and sustainability issues, creativity, and fostering mutuality and understanding through communication and kindness.

I will also blog about these issues.

I will share with and support my writing colleagues in ways that further their writing goals. Two major focuses here are Blog Book Tours and Story Circle Network participation.

I will write daily! I will try to follow a goals list. Repeat after me..... I need chocolate. Give me brownies.

Lisa's Goals for...uh...what day is this?

M'kay. My goals, they are limited. I want to write at least four blog posts this week. I have had this blog since January 2005 and have really let it go recently (I blame my novel).

I just finished one. UPDATE: Okay, I just finished another one. Neither of these are heavy writing exercises; they are more about linking to articles that I found enjoyable/scary/informative.

Also, I have to do something about the frightening clothing pile on my papadam chair. It's scary.

Otherwise, I am waiting to get feedback from my agent (I still feel weird whenever I write that!) on the latest draft/polish of my book. I actually think it might be done this time. Or close to it.

And of course I will continue my semi-obsessive program of exercise...

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that I have decided I really must start cooking, at least a little. I love good food, and I do eat well, for the most part. But being single, being a person who likes lunch and gets home way too late for elaborate dinners...I've just never really gotten into cooking.

Well, when I was up in the Bay Area visiting Dana, I bought this very fancy enamel/cast iron panini pan at a Sonoma winery. It's good for grilling things too. I'd been meaning to get some cast iron cookware because the few times I do cook, I have these non-stick pans that are starting to make me paranoid - they are getting scratched, and I've heard that whatever it is they use to make things not stick, it's not really so good for you.

My experiment worked pretty well, I have to say. I had red snapper that I marinated in olive oil and white wine, with a little salt and fresh basil. I cooked asparagus and shitake mushrooms and onions as well. The fish stuck some to the pan but that might be because even though it's supposed to be pre-seasoned, I gather that it still takes a while for the pans to break in. Also, it's fragile fish. 

Anyway, I just bought some Lodge cast iron cookware on Amazon - made in the USA and very reasonably priced. A 10" skillet and a 5 quart Dutch Oven. The lid to the oven also fits the skillet. 

I still won't have much time to cook during the week (and I still need to get some decent cookbooks, especially Asian, because that's what I like to eat) but I am practicing for my future life as a full-time writer, doncha know! ;)

Requesting a Sabbatical

Dear N. Sisters,

I'm going to need a little time off, I fear. Hopefully I can just be inactive for a while.

Yours in nagosity,

E.

Dana's Goals for Thursday

1. Walk to West Portal in the morning
2. Get a short post written during work break

that's it for tomorrow - I'm driving to Humboldt (I'm not paying for my gas) to
visit my ex, get all his tax docs (we're still filing together) and figure out his schedule C
paperwork, pick up stuff to ebay (we're sharing the profits) in the next few weeks, watch some
zombie movies, get all tax receipts added up for input into Turbo Tax, and work on Lilith. Brian is putting together some music for me as a 'soundtrack' for my writing. The drive there and back is really gorgeous, although tomorrow night I won't be seeing much scenery.

Dana-Wednesday Sans Goals

We got word that Dave's grandmother had a heart attack, so we drove to Fresno, spent several hours there, then drove back. So my only goal is catching up on email and my goals!

Dana's Tuesday Goals

1. Pretend the post I put up on my blog this morning went up last night. (OH yeah, I'm good at the self-delusion!)

2. Yoga class Did this...excellent yoga class and I felt SO much more relaxed and optimistic!

3. Pull out tax receipts, make sure they're organized and total numbers in all categories. (well...i pulled 'em all out, they are organized, but I didn't total them. That will happen this weekend)

4. Nag Brian for his tax numbers. (Will get them this weekend)

5. Any creative writing a bonus. (No bonus)

Dani - Wednesday's goals

I'm going to try the daily system this week. Okay, so maybe it doesn't quite work for me.

1. Maisel blogger proposal - almost done
2. Two blog posts - done
3. Plan Smart Alex articles to write this week - in process
4. Research notes on two books to review - continues
5. Clean kitchen floor!
6. To-do list for the rest of the week
7. Set up new blog for a friend - go see
8. Help with new Lifewriters listserv (co-mod) - ongoing and busy right now
9. Write intro for that
10. Set up blog for iconography commission

Gotta go look at carryover from last week. My memory is like a steel sieve. :)

Okay, everyone. Goals! Wild goals. Even if you can't reach them, don't forget to practice making them. Inertia and lethargy are creativity sucks. Not to mention depression. If Mary Higgins Clark can squeeze in two hours of writing before the kids wake up and she has to go to work, well... look where it got her. Dripping in jewels and a nice new hubby in twilight.

Elizabeth's Wednesday Goal

Finish chapter 24.

Elizabeth's Tuesday Goal

At least half of chapter 24, which is almost entirely new material.

Half the text isn't written but half the work is done—needed a lot of research on the customs of Candlemas in 16th century Italy and the weather on February 2, 1566, in Ferrara. Wrote the first part of the new section and roughed in the rest.

Straight From Hel: Checking Out the Library

Just noticed this at Helen Ginger's site... good news for fiction writers:

Straight From Hel: Checking Out the Library

I'm also testing the Blog This! function.

Dana's Monday Goals

I think the daily format is less intimidating for me this week. I'm still in shock over Dave losing his job and a lot of my energy is going into figuring out our financial situation without retreating to a corner and rocking back and forth a lot. Most of my goals this week are exercise/tax oriented as stuff just has to get done. I needs the refund and the exercise will keep me sane! Well...stop me from reducing my sanity level even more. So...

1. Post my goals for Monday (HAHAHAHAH! Done!)
2. Get a walk in and do some TRX. (Walked from home to West Portal, so halfway there...AND did my TRX when I got home.)
3. Check both bank balances and see exactly what's there, what's coming in and what checks still have to clear. (Did that. I feel somewhat calmer now that I've stared impending doom in the face)
4. Write a short post for my other blogs. Lisa is in town tonight, but I think I might just be able to get something written while we're sipping wine and watching DEXTER. (didn't get it done, but did get it done this morning (Tuesday). And it's a longer post.)

Elizabeth's Monday Goal

Chapter 21. One new scene and a lot of cutting and tidying up.

---

Chapter 21 finished. Also chapters 22 and 23, which needed just polishing and editing.

Dana's Goals for Feb. 10th-17th

She sold thirteen books! Congratulations - sell, Mel, sell!
Okily dokily, I'm gonna list them in the daily format so I can actually keep track of what goals I keep and what goals I DON'T keep.. I've shrunk the font a bit 'cause it was just taking up WAY too much room...

Sunday, Feb. 10th -
1. Finish post for blog (Done!) and work on intro post for Zhana's blogbooktour stop (and done!)
2. put in time on LILITH (two hours, approximately 600-700 words. Not sure 'cause I'm working on a section I've been working on. I expect to have killed my prologue character tomorrow night)
3. Hour walk on the beach (Oh wait, already did that!)
4. Half hour of some other exercise/stretches (45 minutes of fencing with Dave)

Monday, 2/11
1. Either walk to West Portal Station in the a.m. or walk on the beach after work (walked to West Portal Station - 40 minutes uphill) And UPDATE: I also walked home from West Portal because the L train was nowhere in sight. 40 minutes DOWNhill...
2. Finish intro post for Zhana's blogbooktour stop, email her copy for approval (Did this, emailed it. Bwahahahahahah!!!! I'm a day ahead of schedule!)
3. Hour on LILITH (make that an hour and 20 minutes. 540 words, character not quite dead yet, but close!)

Tuesday, 2/12
1. Yoga class at lunch (Done. It was a toughie, though)
2. Darwin Day activities after work, so home late. Any writing at home a bonus. (no bonus for Dana last night. We got home at 8:50, had to take care of the kids, the mess and eat something...crashed and burned.)

Wednesday, 2/13
1. Either walk to West Portal Station in the a.m. or walk on the beach after work. (walked 40 minutes on the beach with Boska)
2. TRX (20 minutes worth of 20 reps per exercise. Ow.)
3. Hour on LILITH, post Zhana's interview for Thursday (Zhana's interview posted, stay tuned for the rest!)

Thursday, 2/14
1. Yoga at lunch (unless big meeting interferes with it) (Waaaah!!! No yoga because of the meeting. So I walked up and down California, a very long and steep hill near the office).
2. Valentine's Day - going out to dinner, home late with probable wine consumption.
3. Take Alpha on the Muni and at least make notes on LILITH or work on blog post (didn't remember the Alpha 'cause I was distracted by a big pile of cat barf on some clothes. I'm gonna try and write a small post later today. And the post didn't happen because I realized I didn't want to detract from Zhana's interview on the same day it was posted!)

Friday, 2/15
1. Either walk to West Portal Station in the a.m. or walk on the beach after work (managed to get out the door early enough to walk. Whoo hoo! Also went to yoga and then ended up walking 20 minutes to dave's work as I forgot my keys)
2. TRX (Ain't happening. Yoga instead!)
3. Hour on Lilith (depending on what time Lisa hits town) Not to play the 'my boyfriend lost his job and we're suddenly in deep shit' card, but that's what happened this afternoon around 5:00. So... no writing. I did, however, pack for tomorrow and put together my presentation materials for my SinSacto presentation tomorrow.

Saturday, 2/16
Sisters In Crime Sacramento - guest speaker. Sell lots of books!
Rest of the day is hang out with sister and cousins and boyfriend in Sacramento and spend
night there. All accomplished. Sold 13 books total)

SUnday, 2/17
Wine tasting, drive home. Work on Lilith depending on what time we get home. Wine was tasted, home was reached, no writing was done.

Sunday's Child

Hi I'm here! Middle of a blizzard out here on the High Plains. I've spent a good part of the week clearing out files on my computer, sorting through shoeboxes full of ideas. I mean... gag, you can definitely have too much fodder. I have about 30 weeks of writing from Book in a Week alone... most of which I've never even dared re-read. I swear I'm going to purge all that stuff. And clean my kitchen today as well. I need some serious focus here!

Did a little yoga last week, but not enough. And that only because my back has been aching. I'm about ready to give up on this thryoid medicine. Blech. I have more zits now than I did my teens!

Okay, so today. I . Will. Focus. Make up my daily writing list for the next week and post it here. Will also post my meaning statement which I have now shortened about as much as I can. That's what's been taking so long.

So I do have a question for you all. Do you use a PC or a Mac? What about graphics programs? Does anyone use Publisher? I'm gearing up for a major change here.

Hey and I wanna see where you all write. Here's my writing room the one and only time it was cleaned up, which was when? It's so bad now, I can't even use it! My goal soon will be to clear off the dining room table and move my projects back to where they belong. Aiiiieeeeee.

The big hold-up is that I want to put a hardwood floor in here and maybe a bay window with a window seat. But I have to wait until it's warmer. Don't I? Queen of Procrastination is at it again.

Elizabeth's Sunday

Goal for today is to pull chapter 20 into shape. I have one scene to write from scratch and the chapter needs to be reorganized a bit.

---

Chapter 20 is finito. Moved the new scene to chapter 21 because there just wasn't room for it. A big hunk of chapter 21 is coming out and the new scene will slip in there sweet as silk.

Saturday chez Elizabeth

Okay, my goal for today is to finish my rewriting of that one big scene, and then pick up all the bits and pieces that refer to the old version, up to the point where I stopped (most recently) at chapter 20. Thank God for search features!

I also need to work hard on feeling better. I've been eating too much sweet stuff and other unhealthy comfort food. I've also been skipping my walks. Although today isn't a good day to try to resume a walking regimen, as we're supposed to have big ol' thunderstorms all day.

---

Finished the new scene and fixed all the bits and pieces. Am now ready to move forward with chapter 20, where I was before. Feeling a little better. No sweets. No walk, but the promised thunderstorms showed up with a vengeance.

Elizabeth Returns

Okay, I'm back—I haven't done anything all week (well, anything to do with my writing), so I'm going to start fresh today. I'm going to go all baby-steps and post just one day's goal. Sufficient unto the day, and so forth.

Anyway. Today my goal is to re-revise some scattered material to remove a duplicate poison flask I'd introduced—the plot is quite, quite complicated enough without it, and I am getting bogged down. This calls for rewriting one major scene and making a number of small deletions/corrections. I will post this evening with the fruits of my labors.

---

Well, I worked on it. I fixed one small scene and started the major one. I'm just happy that I got something done.

MEGA NAG!!!

Where is everyone? I'm talkin' to myself here!

Dani, c'mon, start posting!

Total Nag Sissy here.... I haven't finished anything, and certainly not what was on my list. Urg. Maybe the daily check-in and nagging is a better idea. I dunno. I feel way more scattered than usual, and usual was bad enough!

Lisa!

Happy Birthday tooooooooo yoooooooouu! A Nag Cake just for you!

Aww!!! Thank you sooo much! This is really shaping up to be one of my better birthdays ever!!!

Dani February 10-16

Yes, we are allowed to bump posts up by shooting the date forward. Again that's under "Post Options" lower left in your create post window. Teehee. Second bump coming up. Revised, updated, and carryover goals from last week.

1. A new "meaning statement" for my writing ... about half-way there and will post this week for your perusal.
2. Six more 500-word articles for my syndicated column to give to my editor. Have also tentatively found a name for the column. Smart Alex.
3. A 2008 Must-do list - Done after much moodling - might revise.
4. A 2008 Wanna-do list (both related to writing, of course) - Done after even more moodling.
5. Finish the stinkin' Blog Book Tour Guide... so I don't have to type that AGAIN!
6. Since someone asked what I write, I thought I'd examine my list and prioritize my annual goals with some crisp descriptions. Still working on this. Maybe we could have a book synopsis challenge? I'd like to know a bit more about yours, too.
7. Start a new blog for a church commission and a new blog post daily

Daily:
Monday - finish reading books and meaning statement. Blog post.
Tuesday - out of town so probably nada
Wednesday - work on Guide and BP
Thursday - Smart Alex columns and BP
Friday - character studies for Ghost Town and BP
Saturday - open and BP
Sunday - open and catch-up and BP

And check off and/or report results at least every other day. And if I lose, I knit you something or send chocolate. And if I win, you send me beach glass and/or chocolate. Is Elizabeth our winner last week? E. don't you dare dumb down for anyone! You are entirely too inspiring for me. What's your fave color? And fave food treat?

Oh, yeah and yoga daily. Walking only if the temp is over 40 degrees and I don't get lost in a mud bog. Will report back on that also. Total bomb last week.... but try, try again. Many I sure feel lousy when I don't move enough.

Elizabeth's Goals, Week of Feb. 11-16

I shall quietly draw a curtain over the end of last week. I did get a fair amount done. Just not everything.

For this coming week: work through chapter 25. I'm not going to break it down by days because I seem to be working in fits and starts and getting ahead of my day goals and then behind. I have new scenes in chapter 20 and 24, and chapter 23 is a whole new chapter in itself. So it'll be about half-and-half, revising and new writing.

I'll check back in here next Saturday evening with the results.

Lisa's Not Goals

The Draft Is Done. It is emailed to the Nicest Agent in the World. I just hit "send." It's done.

As for my weekly goals...uh, do I hafta? 

Okay, I'll do the rest of the day:

I'm going to evict the cat from my lap and clean up my incredibly messy house. I'm going to stop at the pet store and buy kitty supplies. Then I'm going to my early birthday dinner! Wine! Yuppie food! 

Then I'm gonna come home and watch TV.

Rest of the week: exercise. Make to the office more or less on time. Drive up north for a continuation of my birthday celebration.

I know...no chocolate for me!

Nag, nag, nag

Make your final push today, and then post your week's results! You folks who paced are ahead of the game on all counts! We admire you greatly. :)

Don't forget to post your goals for the coming week.... carryovers are fine. We'll nag on old goals as well as new.

Dani

Poem for writers

From Blaize Clement's blog today:

WRITER If you look inside your heart
it’s paved with ink
as you pick up your pen
words begin to flow....

Click here for the rest of this lovely poem by Bonny Conway.

Elizabeth's Goals Week of Feb. 3-9

Since I zipped through those first eleven chapters so quickly, I thought I'd rewrite my goals and repost them in a more standard Sunday-to-Saturday format.

Sunday, February 3: chapter 12 (new scene) (Wrote most of the new scene and revised the rest of the chapter. It still needs some polishing and a few tweaks.)

Monday, February 4: chapter 12 (Finished chapter twelve. Worked through chapters 13-14 and 15-16, so I'm a couple of days ahead of myself. Probably a good thing, because I have a lot of new stuff in chapters 17-18-19 and they're pivotal to a huge shift in the story. Also took a good walk with Jim and the doggies.)

Tuesday, February 5: chapters 13-14 (Made a first pass through chapters 17-18-19 and drafted the new material. It's pretty rough, but it's a start. No walk.)

Wednesday, February 6: chapters 15-16 (Chapters 17 and 18 completed. Added yet more new material to chapter 19, which will mean cutting something else. No walk. Absolutely have to walk on Thursday.)

Thursday, February 7: chapter 17 (new scene) (Not such a good day. Did fiddle around with the new scene in chapter 19 but didn't accomplish much. Coping with non-writing-related stressors. At least I'm ahead of my schedule so I get another chance on Friday.)

Friday, February 8: chapter 18-19 (new scene)

Saturday, February 9: chapter 19

Plus: a good brisk half-hour walk every day.

Happy nagging, everyone!

My eyes! My eyes!

I had to make my type bigger. I confess, that teeny-tiny type was giving me a headache.

Okay, so what did everybody else do yesterday? C'mon, speak up, don't be shy.

Dana here, weighing in with my orange color today. Yesterday I:
did an hour yoga class at lunch; wrote a post for my blog; worked on Lilith. Didn't get a lot done on Lilith as I was obsessing over how to describe one particular thing; and spent time reading the Describer's Dictionary (didn't help) and grebbling about how I couldn't describe for s&$t when I'm writing in third person. Spent most of my after-work hours cleaning up as described in my post!

Dani here - I spend way too much time moodling and giving out free advice instead of working my goals. No walking either since it's all snow and mud around here. But no yoga either. No good excuse there. I haven't even done my stinkin' laundry! And no chocolate. I'm miserable. That's about the size of it. Blech. Oh, and the stupid thyroid pills are making me break out in a major way. I paid how much for this diagnosis and treatment?? And I'm still tired. Hey! No Whining wasn't on MY list! Heheh.

Awww, Dani, I'm sorry you're feeling down. Is there anything we can do to help? I sure do wish you'd write that "meaning statement" thingie, and if you did, maybe it would give you some direction. Is it supposed to be long or just a logline sort of thing? Inquiring minds want to know! ~ Elizabeth

All Purpose Nag

Okay, what's everybody accomplished today? Or for that matter, yesterday? Your friendly neighborhood Naggerina wants to know!

oooh, da pressure of da nagging! It hoits my wittle head! Okay, not really. Ahem. Today I have been at work since 7:45 and will be here till 6:00 and have accomplished some web surfing, catching up on reading Wombat entries for the Amazon contest (I'm trying to be better about reading stuff written by people in my writing groups), and taking chinese herbs to battle this bug. Last night I wrote on LILITH for about a half hour before feeling too crappy to do anything but hold my cats and watch 28 WEEKS LATER. Does research count, btw? I did research landmarks I'm using...

You wonderful nag, I adore you! I haven't done squat this week except moodle about blog book tours and post a lot at that yahoo group... I swear I have to do that meaning statement and the annual list. But, yeah, I think moodling counts for something and it's a good thing to do when you feel awful. So is that Dana talking about there? We better start signing our names! Hey listen, I'm going to have three things on my list this year and will name them so I don't have to keep repeating.

Syndicated column

Newmacdonald children's series

Ghost town novel

Okay, I'm committed now. Let's have a cuppa and feel good about it. Chinese herbs anyone?

Dani (who probably should be committed;)

Thanks for the cuppa! Chinese herbs, yum. (Paging Lisa--she probably knows just which Chinese herb is which.) Anyway, let's all be committed together. That will be one happening psych ward. A ghost town novel? Sounds fabulous. Do tell all, omitting no detail. Your friendly herbal nag, Elizabeth.

Bryn's "goals"?

I'm in here in good faith, but you'll probably find that I'm useless. I'm not a very good nag--even my husband says I don't nag him enough--and I'm not really a procrastinator.

So...I guess I'll just list what I'm doing this week.

1. Doing a walk through of ALL OF FLESH, to find any other sprucing up I need to do before I send it to NB, assuming he does in fact ask to see the MS ;o)

2. Plowing forward on the first draft of LIE, LAY, LAIN, about a hundred lousy words at a time.

3. Working on my deputy novella to get it ready to add to the list of on-going short fiction submissions. (Which still stands at 12 stories out, 12 stories being perpetually rejected. *sigh)

4. Starting a little research about the Civil War in preparation for doing some notes on BLOODY BENDERS. Bought a copy of the People's History of the Civil War which I'll start reading this week.

5. Doing a critique on the first three chapters of a novel for an AW acquaintance.

So, there I am. Now, uh, stop frittering your time away.

My goals for...January 29th-February...er... 10th

Well, one of them is to figure out how to stay awake past 9:00pm. I'm currently nodding off at my computer!

ANYway...

1. Write on my novel every night I don't have a commitment which keeps me out past the witching hour (9pm in my case. I'm not setting a word count, I'm setting a time commitment of 1-2 hours on weeknights and 2-4 hours on weekends. My word count is very erratic - it ebbs and it flows. So realistically the commitment to sit my butt down in a chair and write is more likely to be kept. So far I have not met this time frame. I've sat down to write every night I've been home, but definitely have not managed an hour or two every time. I'm still falling asleep partway through it. Will probably revise this goal a bit.

2. I'm stealing Dani's half hour of yoga a day on the days I don't have my yoga class. And I'm adding TRX or tae-bo three times a week to that. Walking is part of my every day life, so I'll just assume I'll keep doing that. I've managed yoga breathing every day, as well as neck release and shoulder opener at the wall poses, but that's it 'cause I pinched a nerve in my neck Thursday after my yoga class (oh sad irony) and it's still hurting pretty badly. Feh.

3. Posting on my blog(s) three times a week minimum. Doing better at this one. I think I'm up to date...

4. No whining about lack of time! No whining period! Definitely haven't been whining, even with the sore shoulder and neck. Yay for me! I'm going to rewrite my goals in daily calendar format, but wanted to give an update on this one.

That's enough for now...

Making meaning

I get Eric Maisel's weekly creativity newsletter which is mostly full of creative insight and inspiration. You can sign up for it here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/creativitynewsletter/

It's just a typical yahoo group, only not interactive. This week he discusses the issue of "making meaning" that's addressed in The Van Gogh Blues. Worth a read.

Happy Sunday! You're all getting lots of writing done during that silly ol' Super Bowl, right?

Dani

Happy Birthday Pilgrim

It was Dana's birthday yesterday and I told her I'd get The Duke to sing the song to her. Here he is getting ready:

Actually, I emailed this to her yesterday, and I either scared the hell out of her and she's still hiding, or she had way too much fun celebrating. Hope it's the latter although I admit that painting is way too scary to be on the side of a public building. Urg.

Hello from Elizabeth

As I wrote to Dani in an email, I've rather fallen off my writing horse in the past few months and I need a few good nags to spur me on and get me back in the saddle. Heh. All right, no more equine humor.

I am revising a historical mystery manuscript set in 16th century Ferrara and based on the Robert Browning poem "My Last Duchess." This morning I decided that because this is a Leap Month, I'd take the leap and commit to finish my beloved albatross by the end of February. I even have a day-by-day schedule. In brief, though, I want to have chapters 1-12 revised and polished by next Thursday night. That's a little more than a third of the book. Later chapters are going to need a lot more work.

Hello from Elizabeth on Saturday afternoon! So far I've worked through seven chapters and am beginning chapter eight. So I'm well ahead of schedule, and a good thing, too, since I have a lot of work to do on the latter part of the book. Thanks for nagging!

And hello again, at about five o'clock my time. Have finished chapters 1-11 and uploaded them to LN. Am now going to go out to dinner with my husband as a reward.


So nag away, and I'll do the same. Thanks for inviting me!

In Which I Attempt To Post Goals...

Howdy. Lisa here.

Hi Lisa. So here I'm demonstrating using "my" color to respond within your post rather than hitting the comment button below. That's okay, too, but I find since the comments don't appear on the same page as the original post, that they often get overlooked. You can't miss this response though! LOL.

I may have spoken too soon about understanding how to get around in Blogger. I've never actually tried changing the color/font, and I swear, I don't see the option in the menu bar where the other options are. Where might it be? For example, I see the "bold" option, and I actually know how to do that in HTML, which is what I've just done here.

I wrote some of this stuff in a comment below, but I gather I am supposed to post it instead, to increase the goal-worthiness.

Where I'm at: I have been working on a novel the last couple of years, and I just signed with an agent, a really great guy at a really great agency. The thrill of this has not nearly worn off. I've been writing for a long time and up till now have felt like my efforts to achieve any kind of professional goals have been mostly just banging my head against the wall. I gotta say, it feels great to stop with the head-banging. Getting this kind of validation has been an incredible boost to my ego and to my mood, like I've solved a puzzle that's been frustrating me for years. What a marvelous insight! Get beyond the next logical step for instant incentive. It's so true that you can keep writing ad nauseum, but somewhere along the line, if you want to be a published author, something compelling better happen. I'm at that deadlock point myself. Terminal writing/partial revision/not quite ready to submit. Blech.

I can't imagine what getting published would feel like!

Goal-wise...I'm working on rewrites for said agent. I've already done a ton of them (which was what got me signed). Now I'm pretty much on the last leg. So I'm going over things that I've been over many, many times. And what the agent...uh, that would be my agent (this will take some getting used to) is encouraging me to do is...

Take my time. Think about it. Be patient. Don't rush.

So, right now, I'm spending more time thinking about the book...and, weirdly, not thinking about the book...than I am typing words on a screen.

I'm trying not to give myself any arbitrary deadlines, though if truth be told, I'd like to wrap this up by Chinese New Year (February 7). I'll be working on it this weekend, mostly trying to read a few sections with fresh eyes to see if the revisions I've already done have fixed the problems. You mean 2008? That's not very far off!

Nope. It's not. But I've done, well, let's just say "many" revisions, and my agent (blush!) thinks I'm close. We've also both agreed that I will keep at it till it's right, so if I have to do another one after this, I'm prepared. Kinda.

After I'm done with this book, I have no freakin' clue what I'll be writing next. I've been told to try and not commit too deeply till we get some feedback from publishers. I have a couple of ideas that I'm pondering in a casual sort of way. I have a half-finished novel, the third book of a trilogy that I wrote for fun, and I think I'll finish that, for fun. Why not?

I have a blog which I started four years ago that could use some attention, and I'd like to go back to that. It's mostly posts about current events in China, along with political commentary and musings about writing. I'd like to get back to a couple of posts a week, something I'd managed to do for about two years straight but which I just have not been able to focus on during this last six months working on the book. Have I mentioned that I am a person who obsessively focuses on a project? Well, I am. This is majorly important if you want to have a good blog book tour like Dana just had. It makes such a difference to have a blog that's popular to begin with. Now go look at this site I just stumbled upon for a new author who just joined the Cozy Mystery listserv. Beth Groundwater. She has a nice website and a blog link that goes to a well-written blog that actually matches her website. Very attractive. She's on her way to having a good tour. And she desperately needs one. Her amazon rating is dreadful. I checked at Title Z. Dana's rating is way higher.

As soon as I've handed this in (well, emailed it), I will get back to blogging. I'm a little torn though as I think I might need to do a different blog with an author's name or something - my blogger blog is a little obscure. I guess the most logical thing to do would be to set up a namespace like Dana has and link my blog to that.

Otherwise I want to maintain my somewhat obsessive program of exercise. I do an hour upper body weight session, an hour lower body weight session, two additional hour-long cardio sessions (with abs) and an hour yoga class per week, plus walkies. I don't seem to need nagging to do this any more as it's become a habit. I am happy to nag those who need a little push. All this exercise has helped me more than I can possibly say, and I enjoy spreading the Gospel of Movement to others. My problem is that Movement often becomes a procrastination technique. Har! Oh let's do some more yoga. Let's take another walk. It's good for me. And now gardening season is on its way, which includes 1/4 acre of raised bed organic vegetable plantings as research for Ghost Town. Oy!


Maybe it is procrastination but for me it's an absolute necessity. The older I get the more I need exercise. I've also noticed I tend to problem-solve when I exercise.

Now if I could just figure out a way to make a living without my day job, that would be productive!

Okay, I don't usually hijack someone else's post to this degree, but just wanted to demonstrate how it works. Is it easier to "converse" this way? Maybe we could leave our weekly goals posts off-limits to commentary?

I don't have a problem either way. I like commenting and am used to doing so - I think you can have a good conversation in comments.

As for weekly goal-posting, I guess you can expect more of a status report from me. My goals are a little amorphous right now, aside from the finishing this round of revisions by 2/7.

Where I know I'll need a kick in the...goal-posts is when it's time for me to start a new project. Once I get going I pretty much go - I think it's some variation of "an object in motion remains in motion, an object at rest remains at rest."

One thing I'd love to know more about is what your books - the ones you are writing - are about. I know Elizabeth, Maire and Dana's books - I'd love to hear about Dani and Ann's. And anyone else who might be here I haven't met yet.

A Thought about Updating Goal Posts

For what it's worth, it seemed to me that editing one's weekly goal post to note one's progress kind of got lost because the goal post was way down the page with other posts above it. However, I have burrowed around in the "Help" section and come up with a way to move a post to the top when one updates it.

When you update the post with your accomplishments for the day (and of course you've had accomplishments with all this high-powered nagging), click the "Post Options" link in the lower left corner of the taupe-y frame. You will see boxes filled in with the original date and time of your post. Just change the date and time to whatever date and time it is when you're updating (it's important to make sure your "AM" or "PM" is separated from the time by a space) and click "Publish Post." Presto, your updated post jumps to the top of the page, and everyone will see your additions.

Does this sound like a good idea, Dani, Ann and all?

Blogger tips

Okay, I think the issue with not being able to do everything I do in the dashboard is a matter of "permissions". I've changed everyone to "administrator" status and you should be able to add to your reading list, add links to the blogroll, etc.

So just a quick tour of how the dashboard works. If you click on that link, you'll either get your blogger list in which case you have to click on Nag Sisters, or you'll go right to a page that looks like a file with folders that say Posting, Settings, Template at the left.... also "view blog". If you click on the first, you'll get more little folder tabs beneath that. Click on them. They're pretty self-explanatory. Then back up to Settings. Do the same there. And so one, until you have a sense of the features. So you're working in two tiers. Major file folders and sub-categories beneath each. Make sense?

Second aspect to notice is held within the "create" window.... where I am now. You see icons above that allow you to change Font Size and Color. Now I can't get back to default... oh, well. This will give me a chance to pick my fave. What about pink? The issue here is being able to read the color on a white background as well as the dark blue it finally ends up on.

Anyway, I blather on. The second thing to notice is the little green link icon that looks a bit like bulls horns if you squint. This allows me to add a live link under a word or phrase. Like this. Blog Book Tours. Now you can click on that and get the url without having to see that ugly http/etc. mess.

Finally, you can also add a picture by clicking on the little photo in the toolbar above. The LEFT one with the blue sky. Don't click on the right one which is for video and will screw up your post. Also, keep in mind that if you want to add a photo, it must be quite small/low res or it'll never upload to blogger. I usually use under 100 KB. Anyway, you just have to try it and step through the process. You'll see that Ann and I have sort of a "look" that's kind of historic. That's because she writes a historic mystery series set in c. 1880's Leadville, Colorado and we met through Women Writing the West. Well, at least in person. We virtually met as members of Book in a Week online writing group. So here's a picture... I'll choose a right placement to demonstrate. (Oh, and I have to hold down my CTRL key to turn off the pop-up blocker first.) Click browse and that takes you into wherever you keep photos. I got this one from My Pictures. This is the medium size choice. It's my Alphasmart Neo. I don't go anywhere without Alphie. Okay, so pictures are good. Feel free to add some life to your posts. :)

Okay, so another thing I'm thinking is that we could all pick a color to use as ours so that when we post or add comments to someone else's posts, we'll immediately recognize the poster. Let me demonstrate below.

The News? What News?

I didn't add the "Elizabeth's Reading List" in the sidebar. I haven't even found the "template" section yet. I'll delete it if I can figure out how to get to it.

Edited to add: On the "Dashboard" under "Manage" I have only "Posts" and "Settings" links... not a "Template" link as it shows in the Help file. I suspect there's some sort of permission that I don't have, since I can't access the template section.

How to post goals

So what seems to work for me is to submit my goals every Sunday for the following week.

I put something like this in the subject line:
Dani's goals Feb. X - Feb. Z

Then I write a little blurb but it's also useful to break it down by days so you can plop in your actual results for your peeeeeeeeeers to peruuuuuuuuuuuuuse. And either cheer or snicker behind your back. Or to your face. No behind your back. ;)

Monday -
Tuesday -
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -
Total -

Don't try to cut and paste - it won't work, I already tried.

Then day-by-day, I try to post results because it helps me see where I'm sliding. You can go into your prior posts by finding your dashboard, and then selecting edit on any given post. I also like to respond to other people within their posts in a different color, rather than use the comment selection. If you scroll down, you can see how Ann and I have done that.

At the end of each month, the bestest wins! And should get treats. I thought we could set it up that the treat giver volunteers, and then is absolved from future giving until everyone has participated. Will that work? Think little special things, like chocolate. Or a special pen. Just because it's nice to be loved when we do good things.

What else? Oh, we have reading lists that I think you all can add to. Go into "template" and click on your edit button. Also, you can add to the blog roll. If you have problems just let me know.
My email is quoe2@earthlink.net .

Okay, write away! Feel free to post your goals for this week if you haven't already!