#ROW80 Final Check-in 3/20/19

Oh, wow, I was actually able to post on a Wednesday! Holy crap!

Just kidding. It’s Tuesday. I wanted to get a jump on it. Since I hardly updated this round, I wanted to at least do the final check-in.

As you probably know, I am recovering from my foot surgery. This Friday will be 3 weeks, halfway through. It’s been feeling like forever, and I can’t wait to walk again. The pain isn’t too bad, but today I had to take some motrin because it was a bit worse than the past few days. It fluctuates.

The surgery more or less killed the quarter/round for me, but I was able to get a fair amount done and I am very happy that I got anything done at all. I’ve been working, but I’ve also been very tired—more so than usual. So that effected things as well.

Here’s the rundown:

~Loosely plot Immortal I kind of abandoned the How to Think Sideways stuff for the time being. I pretty much know the set up and the main plot. But not much else which is not necessarily a bad thing as I like to have mystery.
~Book ads for Gain with Pain, Reaper Girl, and Fey Touched. Put together a tracking system. Up to April on ads. Been getting some sales from the ads and newsletter swaps. I think I’m up to 30 sales this month, whereas I’d be in a huge slump at this time of the year. So, win.
~Start manifestation journal (first entry: 1/5/19)
~Put together modified Kanban board for Q1 Abandoned the Kanban journal and will be repurposing it after I’m walking again. I’m not spending much time in my bedroom (except to sleep) so I haven’t updated it at all. Will be starting with a Kanban board as soon as I can use my office again.
~Purchase Energy Oracle deck. Started strong but petered out toward the end. They aren’t feeling the same as Tarot cards, which is not a bad thing, but it’s an adjustment.
~Progress on Oubliette or finish ~1,103 words. I’m calling that progress.
~Do All The Things related to TDP Anthology (to be released sometime in Q1) ~Yes! The anthology, Love Shines Through: A Fractured World Anthology, is out now! Grab a copy here. My story, Of Poison and Promises, is a f/f story about best friends who become something more while fighting for their lives.
~Begin rewrite of Survivor. Continue working on it on Sundays. ~Never happened, but I am very close to starting.
~Catch up up on ARCs:
Go Manifest Yourself
Cure for Chaos
The Ones Who Left ~Still reading
Hell’s Hinges
Queen Takes Camelot
Alpha Legacy 1-5
~My Fair Millennial books 1 & 2 ~Started #2
~Take Sundays off work when possible ~Tried really hard to do this. Mostly worked, though, or worked a half day.
~Start back on MyFitnessPal. Log food 5x a week minimum. ~Nope, didn’t log beyond the first few days. I did lose those 8 pounds though.
~Water 5x a week 

Accountability partner: This worked out very well for me. I’m big on accountability.  My partner is really nice and talking to her every week was fun. 🙂 I missed a few Fridays due to my surgery, but as of last week we are back at it. I vote we continue this for sure. 😀

So I think I did okay, all things considered. Will definitely be back for Round 2/Q2.

Final chocolate consumption report: Chocolate cupcakes, Andes Mints, Oreos, hot chocolate, chocolate “mug” cakes, chocolate chip cookies, mini Junior Mints, Regular-sized Junior Mints, Hersey’s minis…is that enough? 😉

#ROW80 Check-in 2/3/19

It’s been a busy few days. I’ve been trying to carve out time for writing, and I did manage a bit, but I want to write daily again, even if it’s 100 words.

Hubby and I saw Bohemian Rhapsody today! I’ve always been a fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury (and now Adam Lambert), so I really wanted to see it. And it was AMAZING. My mind is still racing from it all. I highly recommend it. (I might do a movie review at some point so I can properly talk about it and not just “it’s AMAZING” and  “the music rocked!” and “I love Freddie and Queen!”

Ahem.

Ankle report: Weaning process not working. Lots of pain. I find out on Tuesday what the next step will be.

I also have an idea for a romantic suspense novel (a first for me) so I am going to try to do some loose plotting on that as well.

~Loosely plot Immortal Faeborn ~Starting this week. Running it through Holly Lisle’s How to Think Sideways method.
~Book ads for Gain with Pain, Reaper Girl, and Fey Touched. Put together a tracking system. Finished booking February ads. I am also toying with the idea of newsletter swaps (mentions of books, NOT lists which is illegal)
~Start manifestation journal (first entry: 1/5/19)
~Put together modified Kanban board for Q1 ~Turned it into a journal instead; also added a section for Tarot readings. Been keeping it updated.
~Purchase Energy Oracle deck. Pulling but not journaling.
~Progress on Oubliette or finish ~1,103 words
~Do All The Things related to TDP Anthology (to be released sometime in Q1)~Turned in copyedited story to author on 2/1. My deadline to send mine for formatting is 2/15.
~Begin rewrite of Survivor. Continue working on it on Sundays.
~Catch up up on ARCs:
Go Manifest Yourself
Cure for Chaos
The Ones Who Left
Hell’s Hinges
Queen Takes Camelot ~Started
Alpha Legacy 1-5
~Take Sundays off work when possible ~Took today and most of Saturday off!
~Start back on MyFitnessPal. Log food 5x a week minimum. Nope, but I have lost 8 pounds so that’s a win.
~Water 5x a week 

Chocolate consumption report: Andes mints, Ho-Ho’s, S’mores hot chocolate.

So how’s it going with you?

2017 Year-End Review and 2018 Goals

Time has been flying! Holy cow! It’s almost 2018 already, and and and —

Okay, I’m a bit early. I don’t expect much to change drastically in 3 days, so here we are.

So how did I do?

~Release 1 book (besides Ever Touched) ~NOT DONE, although I got a new cover for In Flames and put Reaper Girl into KDP Select. 
~Publish Ever Touched (set for May release)~DONE! 
~Start revision of Pirouette/Death Dancer ~NOT DONE, but had an interesting idea the other day about Alisia’s lineage. 
~Finish Covenant ~NOT DONE, but it’s at 24k now. Wanted to hit 30k before the new year, but I’m not sure that’s possible now. 😦 
~Start Elysium ~NOT DONE. At all.
~Finish and release Fireborn ~DONE. Rewrote it and submitted it to TDP for publication next year.
~Outline book #1 in Fey Touched spin-off series ~NOT DONE. May toy with this next year.
~Get on a consistent, simple exercise plan and STICK WITH IT ~NOPE. 
~Eat healthier/Gluten-free ~NOT DONE.  😦 Well, made the attempt, anyway…
~Get back into darkroom when hands are better ~NOT DONE.
~Add in a second writing session twice a week (8 minutes)~NOT DONE. Have been fighting pain and exhaustion.
~Try to write more short fiction ~DONE! Fireborn (55k) and When She Sleeps (projected 60k) 
~Continue with FYFB class (so behind right now!)~NOPE. Downloaded everything that’s available that I haven’t gotten to.
~Start working on Survivor Rewrite outline again ~DONE! Not finished due to wrist issues.

This year has been roughly for me physically. I have been exhausted more, and the trigeminal neuralgia flared up again so we’ve been trying to find the right combination of meds to control the pain. So far, we haven’t been very successful.

I was also laid off from my job in August, so there’s been some upheaval there. I have been working on my freelancing/virtual assistant business to try to bring in more money. Things are kind of up in the air, and it has been wreaking havoc on my productivity.

I have decided to buckle down and make things happen in 2018!

Goals:

~2nd round of edits/release secret project (early 2018)
~Revise and release Fireborn
~Get serious about exercise and DO SOMETHING
~Take pictures regularly (once a month, 1 a day for x amount of days, etc)
~Get moving with dictation again
~Progress on Covenant
~Progress on When She Sleeps
~Start Survivor Rewrite for reals this time
~Do something with Death Dancer/Pirouette
~Get better with planning
~Start writing every day again, even if it’s 100 words
~Figure out Reaper Girl #3, Faeborn

I’ve written roughly 80k this year, which is down from last year. Would like to hit 100k and more in 2018.

#ROW80 Final Check-in 3/19/17

I’ve decided to do my final check-in today because I have a really busy week coming up and I am bound to forget! So, without further adieu, here it is!

~Finish Ever Touched 2nd round edits ~DONE and turned in March 1st!
~Finalize Ever Touched cover art ~In progress. Cover created, just waiting on feedback.
~Start on a blurb ~DONE! Still more work needed, but it’s a start.
~After Ever Touched is finished, start Fireborn revision ~NOT DONE. Have been thinking about this, though. 
~Add 5k to Covenant (using 8 minute writing if possible) ~NOT DONE. Issues with sleep due to eczema and general stress has killed my energy. I did write 1,349 words on it a few days ago, though, and plan on continuing with it.
~Continue FYFB class (I’m so horribly behind now, it’s not even funny!) ~NOT DONE. Once things calm down, it’s the first thing on my priority list.
~Eat healthier/lose 5 pounds ~KINDA SORTA. Lost about 3 pounds total. Trying to eat healthier.
~Restart transferring Survivor Rewrite outline to Scrivener ~NOT DONE. Just plain ran out of time.
~Exercise: housewalking 3x per week ~DONE ONLY ONCE. Really need to get serious about this in the next round.
~Water – 1 glass 5 days per week ~DONE!
~Chocolate consumption reports of course! ~DONE!

So I won some and I lost some. Not a bad round considering all the health crap I had to deal with. I’m okay with it. 🙂

Final chocolate consumption report: Triple chocolate cake last night for my early birthday party, chocolate brownie topped with chocolate ice cream and hot fudge recently, chocolate pudding, hot chocolate. The chocolate is strong in this one. 😉

How did you do?

#ROW80 Check-in 3/12/17

It’s ROW80 time again!

I’ve been mostly brain dead. I think I really needed a break, I think. Come April I’ll be doing Ever Touched’s final copyedits, and getting it ready for release. So I’m taking time now to rest and relax and do things I won’t be able to do later (Guild Wars, for an example). I’ve wanted to write a little, but nothing’s really setting me on fire at the moment.

Daylight Saving Time is kicking my butt. #abolishDST

So, the rundown:

Ever Touched cover – In progress. Waiting on feedback.

Blurb – Also in progress.

Water – Every day except one.

Guild Wars – Finally completed the mission that was giving me fits. Working on the next. It’s much more challenging. I’ve been logging a lot of time in there as of late.

Weight – Not really sure, as I haven’t weighed myself this week.

Eczema/psoriasis – Not bad this week at all. Of course, I’ve been taking cold showers, which sucks, but keeps the itching down. Actually, I had a rough night last night with my feet itching again. Seriously?!

Exercise – Other than cleaning, nothing. Bad Erin, no cookie!

Chocolate consumption: Gluten free brownies, hot chocolate, Snickerdoodles (not chocolate, but there you have it). Chocolate cupcakes!

 

#ROW80 Check-in 3/5/17

Annnnnnnnd it’s ROW80 time again!

I skipped last week because I’d fallen behind on my proofreading, but never fear, I turned it in on time! I did notice that my main character’s eye color changed twice, so that needed to be fixed. She’s in both book 1 and book 2, but as a secondary character. Her original introduction was in book 1…which I wrote back in 2012. So, yeah, memory lapse. It was very subtle, but I didn’t want to break continuity.

So that’s off my plate. I get a bit of a breather until April 1st, when the copyedits hit my inbox.

Here’s the rundown of where I stand with everything else:

Water – Every day except one.

Weight – Ugh, gained 3 pounds. It may have been the paczki I’ve been eating. Maybe.

Cover for Ever Touched – Basically finished, except I need to still do the print cover, and I can’t do that until I have a blurb and page count.

FYFB class – Still on hold. I’d like to start it sometime this month if possible.

Guild Wars – Been logging lots of hours on it. It’s been fun and challenging.

Eczema/psoriasis – I backslid a bit on Thursday. Took my shower and upped the heat a bit as I didn’t want to be cold, and my hands got so itchy I couldn’t stand it. I slept with my ice pack in my hands the whole night. It worked, and they seem to be better. No more hot showers for me!

Exercise – Housewalked a bit yesterday, yay!

Fireborn revision/Covenant/Oubliette – Been doing some serious thinking about each. I’d like to get some work done on at least one of them before the end of the round. Question is, which one?

Chocolate consumption: Chocolate wafer bars, white fudged covered pretzels, chocolate mug cake, and….I think that’s it?

How are you doing this week?

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in 2/19/17

It’s ROW80 time!

I’ve been doing pretty well, actually. I finished Ever Touched (tweaks+escape scene+rewriting the climax) and I’m gearing up to proofread it. It’s due March 1st, so I should be okay (she says, hoping that doesn’t jink her!).

As for everything else, here’s the rundown:

Water – Every day!

Exercise – I took a walk with the hubby yesterday. The weather was AMAZING. Feels like spring!

Guild Wars – Been doing more of this than I want to admit, LOL. It’s been fun, and a good stress release.

FYFB class – On hold till I turn in Ever Touched.

Weight – Lost another pound!

Eczema/psoriasis – Doing better! My feet are pretty much cured. My hands still itch, but not nearly as bad as they were. I’m still sleeping at night. I also found out from my primary care doctor that it’s actually not eczema/psoriasis but an eczema that looks like psoriasis. Yeah, slight distinction, but not any different treatment-wise (if you recall, I was sleep deprived + overwhelmed at that first appointment so I wasn’t sure of the specifics).

Other projects – Been trying to formulate a plan for after Ever Touched. There’s really so much I want to work on, and it’s killing me that I have to choose (I do better with 1 or 2 main projects, as opposed to more). So that’s been happening. I’m going to stick with shorter projects and/or nearly finished projects b/c my goal is to get more stuff out there quickly. That’s been the plan for about 6 months now, and I’d hoped to release a second novel/novella this year. Still possible if I get my act together (and that’s actually part of the FYFB class, mindset and productivity.)

Chocolate consumption: hot chocolate, chocolate hearts, devil’s food/marshmallow cookies. I am currently addicted to apple bars. Which sucks for the chocolate thing, but there you have it. My mother-in-law gave me a box to try, and the rest is history. 😉

So that’s it for me! How about you?

 

#ROW80 Check-in 2/12/17

Here I am with another #ROW80 Check-in.

Things have been going pretty well for me. I’m sleeping still, and while I’ve had a fibro flare this week, I’m feeling okay. It was questionable for awhile, because the flare up happened in my neck (new location) and it needed motrin for a few days. Today it’s okay. Hopefully it will stay okay!

Here’s the run down:

Ever Touched – Very close to be being done! I rewrote the climax three times! I couldn’t get it right! I think it’s okay now, but regardless, I am done rewriting! If my editor feels it needs more work, then I’ll do it. But I need to move on! I have one scene to write that I forgot (oops!) and a few small tweaks to do. And of course the final proofread. Still on track to make my March 1st deadline. We are getting SO close! I can’t even believe it!

Oubliette – Just finished writing 1,122 words. I promised myself something different, and Oubliette’s been calling to me, so there it is. 🙂

Water – Made all 5 days this week!

Exercise – Nada. I really, seriously need to start something.

FYFB class – Still on hold till after I turn Ever Touched in.

Weight – Still at 1 pound lost.

Guild Wars – I played it a lot this weekend. I finished two quests that have been so tough to finish, so I feel good about that. 🙂

Chocolate consumption: chocolate pudding, chocolate/caramel covered pretzel, gluten-free mini brownies, mug cake…I think that’s it. I think I’m falling down on the job here. Must eat moar chocolate.

#ROW80 Check-in 2/5/17

It’s Sunday, and you know what that means — ROW80! It’s also Superbowl Sunday, which I never participate in b/c I no get football at all, and the one time I went to a party, all I did was sit there and pretend to be interested when I was really confused. And I ate too much.

So, pass.

How am I doing on my goals?

Ever Touched – I am about 20 pages away from being done. However, this doesn’t count the climax I am rewriting and struggling with. My editor said there weren’t high enough stakes, which I completely agree with, so I’ve been dithering on how to raise the stakes yet keep the actions that are happening. So that’s a thing.

Oubliette -This is a 7-year-old novel that I began as a result of family drama, but isn’t about that at all. It’s actually more of a supernatural thriller, I guess. Both main characters intrigue me so much, and for some reason, it has been calling to me. I left it at 12k and have plot cards written up. I did more plotting this week and would like to write a bit on it soon (today maybe?).

Exercise – Nada, unless you count Walmart shopping and bathroom cleaning today.Been so tired lately.

Water – For the most part. I think I missed one day this week.

Eczema/psoriasis – Sleeping much, much better! No change in lesions since last check-in, and being in a hot grocery store stirred up the itching again. But I think overall I’m doing better.

FYFB class – Nothing until I finish Ever Touched.

Fireborn revision – Thinking about this. Not sure if I want to extend it or not, or how to fix it. I am considering running it through Holly Lisle’s How to Revise Your Novel work. Still need a better grasp on how to write mysteries.

Weight – Lost 1 pound!

Guild Wars – Still addicted, but have lowered my usage considerably (she says as she plans another run tonight during the Superbowl, lol).

Chocolate consumption: Hmmmm. Oreos, chocolate caramel thingies, mini-brownies (gluten free!), hot chocolate, 2 breakfast bars (gluten free). I think that’s it?

How are you doing with your goals?

#ROW80 Check-in 1/29/17

I’m back! I’ve been very busy and sleep deprived.

I finally saw the dermatologist who diagnosed it as both eczema and psoriasis. He gave me a super-strength steroid cream which is helping tremendously and an antihistamine to take at night for itching and sleep. And told me to moisturize constantly which I’ve been doing faithfully.

As a result, I have had 4 good nights of sleep! And my feet hardly itch during the day! My hands are still itchy at times (especially when exposed to heat) but not as much. The lesions (I HATE that word, but it is the actual terminology they use) look better, too. So I think *knocks cyber-wood* I may be on the mend!

Except that the dermatologist mentioned that this is a transition to what may be a worse condition. 😦 So I guess time will tell. Bu at least I am feeling better. I am grateful for that.

I’ve been busy with another editing job that came through, and I just turned that in a few days ago (early!). Ever Touched is 75% done. I had to rewrite a few scenes, and I know I’ll need to rewrite a few more. But so far it’s been fairly easy.

And…Guild Wars. OMG I have probably logged at least 6 hours this weekend. It has been a struggle to disengage myself and get my work done. I have to be vigilant. So I’ve been limiting my time. We’ll see if it works.

One of the members of the accountability group for the FYFB class said gaming is actually a very good destressor. And I agree with her, because where else can you legally kill people and monsters? That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

How is everything else going? :laughs:

FYFB class – Nothing, and I anticipate there won’t be until I finish Ever Touched. It is self=paced, so I am not losing anything by waiting. I am still meeting with the group each week though.

Exercise – Nope. Still adjusting. I have been trying to stand and stretch on a timer, however, like always. That’s my #1 goal once things calm down.

Fireborn revision – I’ve been doing some thinking about this and after discussing it with TDP, I may be expanding it a bit. I think overall the mystery is a bit rushed (trying to stay within 20k, which was what episode 1 was) and I have been researching how to write mysteries b/c I realized I have no idea how to properly do it. Several of my books have had mysteries in them, but they weren’t the primary storyline. So that’s happening.

Survivor outline – I am considering writing up plot cards instead of using Scrivener, primarily b/c they’d be portable, and I am considering working on Survivor on the fly. Or devouting Sundays to it again. Still pondering.

Weight – I honestly haven’t weighed myself in quite awhile so I really don’t know how I’m doing. I can tell you that my appetite has been less since I was sick recently, and hasn’t really fully returned. Which is great for weight loss, but it worrisome in the long term. So I will need to weigh myself and see where exactly I’m at.

Water – 5x a week for the most part. I may have missed one last week.

Ever Touched cover art – Stock art has been purchased and my #1 priority after I turn Ever Touched in is to work on the cover.

Chocolate consumption: Ultimate chocolate sandwiches, Oreos, chocolate/caramel cover pretzels, chocolate mini brownies, hot chocolate. I have a TON of gluten-free snacks that I got for Christmas that I am working my way through, and most of them aren’t chocolate. I’m sure I’ll get back to my chocolate-addicted ways soon. 😉