GREAT job!
Kathy,2015
- Health issue that affected focus and concentration (2+ year struggle), resolved via surgery in May.
- 2nd health issue arose due to surgery for previous health issue (oh, joy!) Oh!!! I am SO sorry!
- Despite second health issue, wrote 1 book That is an awesome accomplishment!
- Found an awesome editor through one of Savvy classes GREAT!
- Focus and concentration greatly improved as months progressed
- Discovered a plotting method that I was able to grasp and utilize
- Searched for answers for 2nd health issue
- Replaced office chair with a most awesome recliner
- Received Treadmill Desk for Birthday How wonderful!!!!
- Made Diet changes GREAT!!!
- Lost 30 pounds (whoot!) GREAT!!!
- Grew quite reclusive
- Enjoyed hubby and pets (had no idea I felt so bad that I lost that enjoyment)
2016
- Working on health issue, slow going, but search paid off and have positive guidance and direction Wonderful! That is always a plus when you feel more in control of your health issues!
- Polishing book written in 2015 That is GREAT!
- Participating in Irene’s Mentoring Group and am looking forward to accountability and guidance You will certainly get both!
- Visiting with dear friend first few days of the year, great way to start year
- Spending more time with butt in chair and writing
- Looking forward to setting realist goals for 2016 One of the most important measures of success in your writing is to set realistic and measurable goals. Look for that mini-lesson next week in our lessons.
- Connecting with most awesome writers through mentorship group (I’ve so missed and appreciate the interaction) I am SO glad!
- Starting Writing Diary and Yay Me Journey I hope you really enjoy that.
So here goes....
2015
Started my Twitter and FB presence for Jenna Penrose, Writer Wonderful!
Revised my third book (Running Hot) and submitted to the Savvy pitchfest and PitMad. This is GREAT!
Accepted representation by an agent This is a big feat! I am SO glad for you!
Had to withdraw from the RWA conference because of family issues Sorry about that. Hopefully you can apply again this year.
Sent Running Hot out on submission to publishers (no news, yet) I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Intended to start revisions on book #4
DayJob eats a lot of my time It does, doesn't it! One step forward....just keep going in small increments...
Kids are challenging
Many nights so stressed I don't want to write
Joined cheapo gym, but sporadic attendance
Completed book #5 in NaNoWriMo Congratulations!!!!
Joined a group of writers to create "Romance on the Rocks" social media presence
2016
Got a fitness tracker. Goal of 10,000 steps/day (for starters) GREAT!!!!
In February will add a gym goal Wonderful!
Joined Pintrest: will work to integrate
Will revise/freshen website GREAT!!
Trying my hand at a thriller proposal/project--it's due in Feb. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out.
Will revise book #4
Maybe try summer NaNoWriMo We will have one running in our group. Stay tuned....
Weekly support with other writers online
Attend "Tuesday Night Writes" at least 2x a month
I'm going to force myself to be optimistic and say that 2016 is the year I contract a book. Optimism can be a choice that we make and a mindset we can all learn to make our own. It can be hard at first, but it is possible.
November NaNoWriMo GREAT!!!
I think I'll use a 3 ring binder for "Go Me!" and put some of the nice rejections I've received. (They really did say nice stuff even if they didn't buy.) I'm also going to put the "Think Positive" message from the chat on Weds. GREAT!
Writers' Journal: probably a simple Composition book. I tend to drag one with me everywhere. (I have to flesh this out a bit more, since it's not part of my normal habits.) Good for you! I use the same! And it works.
Originally, I was going to take the option of not posting because the questions seemed so difficult to entertain. But then, why else did I sign up again if not to get the benefits of participation.
2015 - I started off in a good writing place - despite personal challenges GREAT!
- Rededicated myself to writing classes GREAT!
- Participated in Savvy Bootcamp; didn't finish, but came up with an idea for a novella related to my multi-year on-and-off again WIP (Yay!) That can go into your Yay Me! File
- Enrolled in Irene's Writer's Block class and was invited to join her Mentor group GREAT!
- Purchased a writing desk and set out to make office more user friendly That is wonderful!
- Joined gym in July with hubby - little participation since August
- Spent 2 long weekends at Walt Disney World (we're Annual Passholders & FL residents) Nice!
- Through everything we went through, hubby and I stuck together. That should go in your Yay me! file too! That is wonderful! I am SO SO glad for you both!
2016 - A whole new world
- The company I worked for began the merger with its former competition - pressure and the fear of the unknown increased tension (I'd been there 12 years)
- All of our family lives in RI or MA, and after a lengthy battle, my dad passed on Valentine's Day. The misery was deepened by a harrowing drive up and back in severe wintery conditions, and was also a badly-timed expense I am SO SORRY for your loss! And yes the bad driving would make it a lot worse.
- The next month, under similar conditions, hubby drove up alone to RI as his brother was in ICU Oh wow! Not too much of a break for you huh? I am SO sorry!!
- Health issues: I began experiencing debilitating migraines, also fractured my toe later in the year, and have had bouts of bursitis in my hips OUCH!!! I have been there with all of these. I feel for you. Self-care is the recipe for you!
- Learned in September, that my position was being eliminated as of the end of the year - despite having been told it would not. That is sad!
- My aunt, who had been like a second mother when I was younger, passed unexpectedly in September. Due to financial concerns, we did not make the trip. I am SO sorry. That can be so sad.
- Throughout the year, both my MIL and BIL have experienced significant health issues - but we know we cannot hop in the car & drive 1200 miles every time something happens.
- Admittedly - I lost my focus when it came to writing, my health, AND my weight. Oh it happens.
- At end of year, I found myself unemployed for the first time in a long time - but fortunately with 3 months of severance. That is a blessing.
- Hubby and I spent a lot of time together during the days between Christmas and New Year's, but it felt strange and scary. That can be difficult.
WRITING JOURNAL
- After much thought, I rejoined Irene's mentor group. Boy, do I ever need it. No brooding over what I didn't do. Yay!!!!!!
- It's already the 11th of January, and I have not progressed beyond a rudimentary resume - Perfection and paralysis analysis at their worst. Every morning I say I'm going to start, but....You will get there
- The job loss is not all gloom, though... I have felt better about myself and no longer have the stress of being at a place I'd come to despise. Maybe I can find something that doesn't suck the life out of me - and won't pay too much less than what I was making Oh Alisa!!! It sounds like you had to leave that job anyways!
- I've spent many of the last few days decluttering drawers, closets, cupboards (some on my own, and some with hubby's help). It's amazing how much stuff we had, but had never used since at least the time we've been in FL (almost 16 years). It is so freeing. And the office is organized and truly now only contains items I need and/or love. This is a WIN for me, because projects like this always seemed too overwhelming.
- I do admit - I am an all or nothing type of person - and now have to tamp down the need to totally finish decluttering before doing ANYTHING else. Instead of a little at a time.(going thru files, folders, emails, etc.) GREAT
- I had so many pens, sticky pads, etc., I could have opened an Office Supply store All writers do....
- Bursitis is finally clearing up & I'm hoping to get back to the gym in the next couple of weeks - Can't use lack of time as an excuse. Might even force myself to go w/o hubby GREAT!
- Need to create a plans for health, weight, spending, writing and reading - AND job search GREAT!
- Need to put up sayings that inspire ME in the office GREAT!
I have not completed a book, yet. And though I like the idea of a writing journal, I'm still not quite sure what I would use it for. Need some help on this one, coach. I will be talking about that with you during our coaching call.
YAY ME! FILE See notes below
- Thoughts from the chats? Inspirational sayings, ideas? Progress or lack of and why? Ideas for future WIP's and things to research later? Feelings from the day's writing?
- Am I on the right path? I'm a visual person, and sometimes don't immediately grasp "ideas." Yes sure, that would work. Put anything that you need to remember or to understand. I use my writing journal for so many reasons. I will discuss this during our live chat this week.
- This one truly has me at a loss.
- I have not completed a WIP. I don't have clients, editors, reviews, photos, etc.
- Maybe this is something to hope for after I've finally written "The End"
EXACTLY, Alisa! All of us are working through this on different schedules. Always post, you teach or inspire the rest of us every single time. Nicely done!
I am also on "delay" and will get mine up ASAP
E Gads. Is it possible to be in the same place two years in a row? I keep a yearly planner so it wasn't difficult to go back and see what I did and what I didn't.
I'll spare everyone the details but it was a year of family drama, crisis and my own health probems that simple ran me to the ground and I dropped out of the class at the end of October. I just couldn't keep up and I was exhausted with life as it was. One ER trip after another. Oh Caren. Yes, you could be. I know I sometimes spent a few years in the same place, but then there was a BIG movement in my writing life. I expect that for you. I am SO deeply sorry for all of your grief. I know first hand how hard that can be. Please know that you are in my prayers.
Anyway, I did manage 3 contests and won first place in one of them. GREAT! Put that in your Yay Me! file! I was so focused on other things that I never told anyone. I did enter the Golden Heart contest but accidently sent in the rough and not the edited novel. Oh that is such a heartbreak! I am SO SO sorry!
I was more that embarrassed, but now I look back and think, well no wonder I didn't win.
So, for 2016 I started off in December. I didn't want to fall on my face January 1st. GREAT! I always start in December too!
I decided on writing and health goals. I think I have my family, friends and spiritual goals nailed down a bit too tight.
But I am working on times to write. GREAT! My schedule is dicey because of doctors and family, but I have decided to carry around a notebook for those times. GREAT! I'm also working on keeping things simple. That is best! Everything in our house is in sheer chaos and I think my husband may be a bit of a hoarder, so I will need to work from my office and stay focused.GREAT! Just work in your office!
For a diary, I am using the lower part of my franklin covey 1 page compact. It's not a lot of room, but it keeps it all in one place. You may want to get a bigger one in time. I will talk to you about that at a later date.
My yay me file will be kept in a 3 ring binder where I am keeping this classroom. GREAT!!! I've organized this binder by months so that I will be able to go back to contests I've entered, class notes and yay me happenings.
Hopefully this will simplfy and organize my files once and for all.
Oh by the way, I have to mention my favorite highlighting tool. OH!!! what a GREAT tip!!! I will definitely get one!
It's Pentel Art 8 color automatic pencil assorted accent clip color. It's $11 on Amazon. It's 8 colors in one retractable pencil and used to advertised as a bible highlighter so it is still in Christian bookstores.
What I love about it is that I can hightlight things as I read them. The pencil is light so it doesn't smother your type and with 8 colors you have plenty to choose from. The only catch is do not let your children play with them. My son destroyed several of mine by playing with them. You have to follow the simple directions to keep it from snaping the leads.
Anyway, just thought I'd pass that on.
See you guys tomorrow!
Caren
Hi Caren,
Many writers have different seasons. And it looks like you were in a season of writing where there is so much going on in your life. Try and make sure not to beat yourself up. Many writers are at the same place for years, and then all of a sudden they have an opening in their writing lives that they never thought possible. I am SURE you will hit that soon. Just keep positive.
I have added a lot of my comments above. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Take care,
Irene
. As does Cait and Luis moving in across the street from us in August, and announcing an upcoming baby in September. Pregnancy has been complicated but she's hanging in there, still carrying one of the twins and now she's into 3rd trimester and baby is due early spring. Another yay.. 
I'm exhausted and inspired by what all you have been through and are doing Lisa! But I love your last sentence! God was super generous once I asked for help. Isn't that the truth. It makes me wonder why I always ask Him last.Inspired by Caren's magical multicolor pencil, I see myself working my way across the arcs of the writing rainbow, headed towards Irene's favorite (and mine): violet.
So let's say I started 2015 in a field of orange poppies. By the end I was hugging life-size yellow sunflowers. Here's how it played out:
Family and relationships
Financial
- Start of 2015: Focused on daughter Cait's upcoming wedding
- Start of 2016:Wedding was fantastic (in May) but a little bittersweet because my husband's heart valve started really failing in February and had to be replaced. He put it off until after the wedding but the only dance he could do was the father-daughter sway. Surgery in June went well, he recovered over the summer and by October he was good as new. So: this goes in my yay file
Reputation
- Start of 2015: Huge problems due to conflict between how much I'd recovered (from TBI's at work) and how much more I needed to recover in order to do my job. For a while I wasn't paid, then I was at a lower salary, and when the wedding came we had to borrow money from our 18 year old daughter to make final payments! Sigh.
- Start of 2016: Money issues worked out with my job. They didn't take me back but did give me a disability retirement that allows me to stay home full time and take care of myself, my kids, and explore other career options. We paid back said daughter with interest by summer and by the end of the year were caught up again on all bills and had paid off a few. Hallelujah! Another yay.
Audience
- Start of 2015: I didn't actively work on this last year, and didn't really think I had one.
- Start of 2016: At our end of the year CT RWA holiday party a few people came up to me to say I'd done a really great job on our NaNo group (a separate one from Boot camp, we got 2nd nationally) and they finished their book or met their goals because of the communal spirit. The president asked me to run crit group and PRO grop because she could rely on me, etc. I felt like I wasn't flying under the radar and now I have to live up to expectations, which is (mostly) a good thing.
Charity and volunteer work
- Start of 2015: I was struggling with my blog, which has a decent-sized audience but has an evolving focus that makes it hard to get a keep a core readership.
- Start of 2016: I went all-in on my most consistent audience, which is injured vets looking for info on head injury recovery. In October I did a 30-day, 30-post series that nearly slayed me about my struggles with cognitive restructuring. It was frightening because--basically--the best way to help your brain recover is to believe wholeheartedly that there's nothing actually wrong with it except dysfunctional pathways which can be reworked. And I expected to be attacked by those thinking I was saying their brain injuries weren't "real" but psychological. But those who disagreed largely stayed silent, letting me have my opinion. And over time I think this will become a powerful treatment for some people. It's not easy, mind you, but it's great to feel in control and I did make a lot of significant progress in cognitive and speech therapy, which is unusual this late in the game (my head injuries were 3, 5 and 7 years ago). So I think the risk paid off, and I'm proud I made myself vulnerable despite my fears. That's important for writers, and I also wrote more blog posts in October than in the prior 18 months combined. So that boosted my confidence too. I decided for 2016 to go visual and I stared a my_365 instagram project that's been really fun and made social media more fun than pressure so far. I get new followers every day, which is fun, and I learn a lot from others' posts. I also went to a scrapbooking crop last weekend where I took the dive into multimedia art journals, which I've been really drawn to. For Caitlin's bridal shower I drew 100 personalized name Zentangles and it gave me confidence to develop a doodling, zentangley art style that's relaxing and invigorating simultaneously. It all seems an auspicious start to the year
Writing vision
- Start of 2015: I'm not sure I'd call it volunteer work, but Mark and I were starting the process of becoming foster parents
- Start of 2016: We've had our foster son Hunter (he's 16) for 10 months now and I really love the guy. We were foster parents way-back-when, which is how we adopted 4 kids in addition to our 4 biological kids but we were recruited by this really lovely guy named Pat O'Brien from Wendy's Wonderful Kids and once we spent time with Hunter it was impossible to let go. There are lots of issues (he's autistic, has psychotic episodes, has significant developmental delays and a very messy family situation) but none of them outweigh how much he tries to do good and be good--his inherent sweetness. I do spend an awful lot of time with social workers, psychiatrists, case workers, lawyers, special ed personnel, therapists and mentors (plus doing Legos) but this hasn't felt like a sacrifice. We're all just trying to help him, and that teamwork makes it all a lot easier.
Spirituality.
- Start of 2015: I had a vision of revising all my WIP's and submitting them last year. It was a lovely vision.
- Start of 2016: I submitted to two contests, and finaled in one. I went to RWA and got two full requests that I did not send yet. I entered the Emily and finaled (I finaled last year too) and I finished a new MS in December in YA, which I haven't written in awhile. My vision for this year is to focus on one project at a time and work on it until completion rather than working on five (at this point) that each need significant revisions. So I'm working on the one I have the full requests on, and I submitted that one to the Golden Hearts (my first). Like Caren, it was a bit of a rush at the end and my synopsis is really short so this is not my best effort, but I went with "done is better than perfect" and submitted anyway. Another way I'm being brave ;-).
- Start of 2015: Part of the "MindChange" project I began for myself last year was asking God for clarity.
- Start of 2016: He provided some, in the phrase "wherever you are is where you should be." Those words centered me, so that I've stopped spinning so much and thinking "what am I supposed to be doing now?" By the end of the year I'd dug deep into my writing process and outlined a Story Bible format that organized what before had been a mishmash of ideas and guidelines into a road map. I chose the Get Things Done program for my productivity and have a daily journal to track my plan and my accomplishments each day. I have a writer's journal by my bed, I met my goal of reading 120 books on the GoodReads challenge, I met my blog post minimums, and I got a VivoFit to track steps so I average 10,000 or more daily each week. I took a class that helped my NaNo book be more focused (Suzanne Johnson's Quilting a Story class, recommended by Tina or Kathleen, I think ;-)) and I worked hard in Irene's class to learn more about how to overcome writing hurdles. Most importantly, I have been writing a minimum of 1000k/day for about 4 months now and it's really settled my anxiety and sleep. The blog project proved to me I could get a post done even if it was 11pm, if I really wanted to. And I did, and I really do want to write at least 1k a day (that's the minimum that feels like progress), whether it's new writing or a re-written scene and it's no longer "if" I'll write in the course of a busy day, it's "when." God was super generous once I asked for help ;-).
