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 Round 3

It’s that time again. I’ve been so busy, I have’t been able to do any updates for awhile. The round officially ends on 9/22, next week, but per my usual tradition I am posting my final check-in early. (Weekdays are really hard for me to update these days).

So, the round went pretty well. I got a lot done. I have been battling the trigeminal neuralgia pain and have been trying to get a handle on it, so that affected things somewhat. But despite that I am still happy for what I did get done.

Here is the rundown:

~Continue with Fireborn rewrite. DONE! I’m at 47k of a projected 60k. On track to finish for deadline. 
~Finish secret project. It is currently almost half done. NOT DONE, but damn close! I have one more section to write.
~Continue participating in Camp Nano. I have two projects I am flip-flopping between, Oubliette and When She Sleeps. Should keep me busy! DONE. I worked on both books. I finished with a total of 12k which made my goal of 10k. Final stats: When She Sleeps, 5,700 words total. Oubliette, 20k (added 8k).
~Start plotting Survivor into Scrivener (Survivor is my Nano project). NOT DONE. Ran out of time yet again.
~One glass of water 5x a week. DONE mostly. I may have missed a few here and there, but I’ve been consistent for the most part. 
~Continue with FYFB class. DONE and NOT DONE. Class was being switched over into a new program so I had to download everything I hadn’t watched or worked on. I got that part done, but nothing else, regrettably. 
~Continue with chocolate consumption reports DONE!

Chocolate consumption: chocolate cannolis, chocolate cupcakes, mint cookies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, marble cake. 🙂

I believe that is it. See you next round!

#ROW80 Check-in 8/30/17

It’s that time again!

I am still dealing with eye pain. The increased dosage of my medication is helping a bit, but I’m still experiencing breakthrough pain pretty often. I am hoping things settle soon.

Also been doing a lot of writing!

Here is the rundown:

Fireborn Rewrite – up to 39k now (3,661 words written since last check-in)

Secret project – Up to 20k now (915 words written since last check-in).

Water – Almost every day

Survivor outline transfer – Didn’t do it last week as planned. Will try to do ASAP before the end of the round.

FYFB class – Haven’t had the time to watch videos or do workbooks, alas.

Chocolate consumption: Chocolate mini donuts, chocolate ice cream, Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters. Not enough!

#ROW80 Check-in 8/23/17

It’s #ROW time again!

I’ve been pretty busy, to be honest. Writing. Trying to deal with eye pain. My neurologist appointment is on Friday, thankfully.

I changed up this blog, as I do periodically. I think it’s pretty and functional. 🙂

Hubby and I went camping this past weekend. It was great! Perfect weather, no mosquitoes, and I slept like a baby! I wish all trips were this great.

Here’s the rundown:

Fireborn Rewrite – Up to 35k now (3,435 words since last check-in!)

Secret project – Up to 19k (1,552 words written since the last check-in! Almost finished with the first draft!)

Water – Mostly every day.

FYFB class – I downloaded the rest of the videos and workbooks. Now, to find the time to watch them and complete the workbooks!

Survivor outline transfer – I’m planning on doing this today.

Chocolate consumption: chocolate mini ice cream sandwiches, chocolate-caramel thingies, s’mores at camping last weekend. Not a lot. I am falling down on the job! Need more chocolate!

 

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in 8/16/17 – Back again

I’m baaaaaack!

A lot has happened since I last posted. I’ve been so busy, it’s not even funny. And the hubby and I are going camping this weekend. And summer’s almost over!

Eye pain has been completely unbearable, so I have been forcing myself to take computer breaks. I am seeing the neurologist next week and I hope we can get me a dosage of meds that works!

Okay. so here’s the rundown:

Secret project – 2,334 new words since I last posted! I’m closer to finishing the first draft!

Fireborn Rewrite – Up to 32k now (10,215 new words written since last check-in! Mama mia!)

Water – Most days drink one glass, a few days managed two!

Camp Nano – Finished with 12,542 words! (Goal was 10k!)

FYFB class – Apparently it is being rolled into a new program so I have to download everything I haven’t watched yet as I cannot afford the new program (even with a deep discount). So that’s going to have to be a priority.

Survivor Outline transfer – Nada, but hope to at least start it before the round ends!

Chocolate consumption: Chocolate Devotion ice cream sundae at Cold Stone Creamery today (and it is divine!), hot chocolate, chocolate donuts/donut holes, Twix bars, GF Breakfast bars, GF chocolate animal crackers, Twix minis… is that enough??

How’s everyone? Catch me up!

 

#ROW80 Check-in 7/23/17

It’s that time again!

Well, I’ve been doing a lot of writing and a lot of thinking about what comes next after Camp Nano. I’d like to finish my secret project and release it and also get back to Covenant because it’s a third done and I think I can get the rest done if I really push it. When She Sleeps was also supposed to be written quickly, so I will probably continue with that. And then there’s Fireborn. So lots of options, and truthfully, I’m not really sure what to focus on. We have another week in this month so I don’t have to decide right now, thankfully!

Fey Touched, book #1. A Queen fleeing from her people. A Hunter searching the stream of time. Forbidden love.

Just a reminder that my debut novel, Fey Touched, is on sale for FREE on Amazon today. Today is the last day, so get it before the price goes up tomorrow!

This promotion by the way has gone very, very well. I got a ton of downloads and even some sales of the other two books which is excellent. My royalties this month, while not huge, will cover the cost of advertising so that’s a win!

Here’s the rundown on the rest:

Secret project – Nada, but hope to get some words in this coming week.

Fireborn Rewrite – On hold till after Camp Nano ends.

Camp Nano – Up to 8k! My goal is 10k, so I should make it. (1,733 words written since last check-in).

Water – Mostly every day.

FYFB class – On hold till after Camp Nano as well.

Survivor outline transfer – That’s a no. Hopefully I can start soon!

Chocolate consumption – Gluten-free Chocolate Animal crackers (I’ve eaten almost the entire box in 2 days! They are soooo good!), hot chocolate, chocolate birthday cake (mother-in-law), Mackinac Island fudge ice cream, fudge stripes cookies, Twix bars, and Gluten-free breakfast bars at like midnight last night because I was hungry. Think that’s enough? Maybe.

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in 7/19/17

It’s been awhile. I’ve been camping, and writing, and dealing with eye pain, still.

Yep, new dose is not working. I am taking 600mg of Motrin every morning which does help take the edge off. But once it wears off, I’m hurting again. And I am not willing to take so much Motrin every day, so I usually end up dealing with it or taking a painkiller. Le sigh. My next appointment is August 25th. I will discussing this situation with my neurologist.

Let’s see, what have I done?

Secret project – 1,812 words written since the last check-in. Been focused on Camp Nano. Once that’s over, I’ll get more done. I do have a cover and a title! Will be revealing it soon.

Camp Nano – 3,711 words written since last post. (When She Sleeps = 2,110 words, Oubliette – 1,601 words.) Total for Camp as of today is about 6k. 4k to go!

Fireborn Rewrite – This is on hold until after Camp, but I have been thinking about it and trying to figure out ways to expand it.

FYFB class – Nada

Water – Yes, have been consistently drinking water almost every day each week.

Survivor outline transfer – Have not started yet.

Chocolate consumption: Oh man. While camping, I had a truly decadent chocolate ice cream thing called “Chocolate Devotion” at Cold Stone Creamery. I about died! Let’s see…Sugar free Oreos, Twix ice cream bars, hot chocolate, chocolate cupcake (1), s’smores.

#ROW80 Round 3 Goals

Round 3 already! But the year just started! Time is FLYING.

I’m going to stick with my less goals, less stress idea for this round. I have a lot coming up — Fey Touched’s free promo the 21st through the 23rd, increased TN pain despite an increased dosage of my medication, and job stress. So, without further adieu, here are my goals:

~Continue with Fireborn rewrite.
~Finish secret project. It is currently almost half done.
~Continue participating in Camp Nano. I have two projects I am flip-flopping between, Oubliette and When She Sleeps. Should keep me busy!
~Start plotting Survivor into Scrivener (Survivor is my Nano project).
~One glass of water 5x a week.
~Continue with FYFB class
~Continue with chocolate consumption reports

And that’s it for me. I may add an exercise goal to this at some point.

 

#ROW80 Round 2 Final Check-in

Hi, and we are here for #ROW80 again! I’m wrapping this up early because next week my husband and I will be going camping, and I will be packing and prepping and busy.

So, let’s see how I did:

~Publish Ever Touched on May 1st (on track to complete as of right now) <–DONE! So excited about this even now, a month later! 
~Add 10k to Covenant <–NOT DONE. I wrote 1,069 words though, 9k short of the goal. Just never got any momentum going. 😦 
~Start formulating a plan for Fireborn (looks like a rewrite as of right now)<–DONE. It’s definitely a rewrite, and an expansion, and I’m 20 pages in (of 40 pages). Those were pure revising, though. Have started writing a new scene.
~Drink a glass of water 5x a week <–DONE!
~Start working on FYFB class once things settle down<–NOT DONE. This also did not get off the ground. Thought about it. Will try to make this a priority in the next round.

Other things of note:

~Been building up my editing business and have secured a few new clients.
~Have written 13k of a projected 30k on my secret project
~Have loosely outlined a new novel, When She Sleeps, and have decided to make this a trilogy. Will be one of my projects for Camp Nano.
~Have made the decision to put Fey Touched in KDP Select. Its free promo days are July 21st-23rd. Been booking lots and lots of promotions.
~Been fighting a major increase of TN pain and that has really messed with my productivity and motivation. I have an appt with my neurologist on the 27th to discuss upping my medication dosage. Cross fingers that this helps!

Chocolate consumption: GF Chocolate-chocolate chip cookies, Twix ice cream bars, chocolate cake, hot chocolate. Not a lot. Need to step it up, because we all know that chocolate makes everything better, am I right?

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in June 11th

Here we are again! I’ve been on vacation this week, and I started out being fairly productive, and then things took a nose dive in the latter part of the week due to TN pain. It’s been pretty bad, some of it topping at a level 10 (on the Pain scale) and it’s been miserable. 😦 I will be calling my neuro tomorrow to see if he can up my dosage of my medication before I see him in September.

So, here’s the rundown:

Fireborn – Up to page 20 of 40, wrote 250 new words.

Water – Every day except one.

Secret project – Up to 11k now.

Guild Wars – Lots and lots of this. Trying to distract myself from the pain. 😦

Covenant – Nada.

FYFB class – Nada.

Promotion for Fey Touched – Nothing new this week.

Chocolate consumption: Twix ice cream bars, hot chocolate, skinny cow dreamy clusters. Not a lot this week. Need to eat more!