I’m going back to underachieving.
It didn’t take long after adding the new items to my goal list for life to show me that it is still in charge, and more than capable of wreaking havoc. After getting hit hard with a virus (human, not computer), all of my plans were shot. For nearly two weeks. And I’m still not entirely back to normal.
So…
I’m back to simply editing the first draft of this manuscript. The other will have to wait until this one is finished. I’ll still try to get to the pool at least three days a week, but I think that will help every area of my life, including the writing.
As to exactly what my goals will be, I have no clue how to set them for editing. There are a total of nineteen chapters, plus the epilogue. I’ve gone through two chapters already, plan to finish the the rest, and have it ready for beta readers by February first.
There are also the blogs necessary to begin publicizing the book before its April 23 release. I need a total of fourteen and have completed four of them.
So there you have it. My underachiever goals for the rest of the month. But I need some wiggle room because clearly I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow or next week.
***Friday marked the third week in my new Swamp Sludge way of life. Yup. Twenty-one days. Well, twenty-three now. And about a week ago I started using it twice a day, thanks to the larger container I ordered from Amazon.
Gotta say though I like Barlean’s better (and I don’t exactly like that, more like tolerate it). I think I experience more mental alertness when I use that.
The new stuff seems to take the whole freshly mowed lawn experience to a new level. I mean picture a pile of grass clippings mulched down a few times and…that’s what I’m drinking now. Mmm-mmm good. Not! But I’m in it for the long haul. Lucky me. 🙂
Thought I’d throw this in for fun. I love this song. Wish I could sing along with it…but my lips don’t move that fast.
Had to find your Swamp Sludge post first so that I could comment, and all I can say is that I’m very impressed, very, very impressed. You have fortitude, woman! xoxo
Thanks, Jenny. I’m not sure it’s fortitude as much as it is desperation. I don’t like the thought of taking medication and will do anything I have to in order to avoid it. I bit the bullet with the thyroid meds because there really isn’t a natural alternative. But with everything else,…yeah, I’ll do whatever I have to. As long as it doesn’t involve liver and Brussels sprouts. 🙂
Even high achievers need some slack for sickness. Sounds to me like you have plenty of goals: MS ready for beta readers by Feb. 1, 10 more blog posts by Apr 23, etc. Maybe you need a visual way of measuring your progress. Perhaps a wall chart where you get to add another block for every chapter edited, building your tower chapter by chapter for the grand opening on Feb. 1. (Kind of like the thermometer for United Way giving.)
In any case, speak kindly to yourself. You are working hard and making good choices, especially making sure you get to the pool so you are strong for everything else. <3
I’m so sorry that you’ve been sick Kristy. I’ve been busy with my Hubby that I had no idea. I do hope that you are in recovery! You know with everything that we’ve all got going on in our lives, I think it’s smart to re-evaluate from time to time our goals. You’re being smart about this. So don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re doing great! Keep it up girl! 🙂
Oh my goodness, so sorry that you’ve been sick! Oh, stomach viruses…is there anything worse? Hopefully you’re on the upswing of it, and will back to your normal self soon. Wishing you health and satisfying progress this week!!
Gotta hate it when a virus wreaks havoc on our lives but it sounds like you are still accomplishing a ton and well on your way with a solid plan. Here’s to feeling better and 100% back to yourself.
It seems editing should be your priority. We can’t predict if we’re going to edit a number of pages per day, but we can set one or two hours. Maybe write your ROW80 goal for editing in terms of time.
I sympathize with your slow week(s). As you know, I had one too. 🙂 The important thing is that you know your priorities.
All the best!
Good luck with the editing. I look forward to hearing about your progress. My problems having me thinking I need to step back and move to editing for now. Maybe I need to spend more time familiarizing myself with my story again after all the time I lost. Reading your post has me leaning even more in that direction.
I will have to do that with my next WIP, Debra. Reread it and work on editing because I’ve been away from it for so long. I’ll also have to familiarize myself with the characters backgrounds and back stories again.
But sometimes we have to take a few steps back in order to move forward. Or at least move forward without every inch of the way being an uphill struggle. Sometimes we also have to go with our gut…and if yours is telling you that’s the way to go for now, it’s probably exactly what you need to do. 🙂
sorry you’re still not back to your regular self, Kristy. If you figure out the editing goals, let me know, please. I usually use hours or pages, but it’s hard to figure out in advance, simply because some pages are diamonds and some are not. get well
I’m getting there, Louise, thanks! And you are SO right about the difference in pages. Some might need 5 minutes of tweaking, and others might need two solid hours of rewriting. Editing goals are tough to set! 🙂
thank you Kristy for all your help and nagging to get me started doing what the Lord challenged me to do. 🙂
You are very welcome. I am a world class nagger. 🙂
You make me smile, Kristy. 🙂 Awesome on the three solid weeks of swamp sludge.
Let me know if you figure out a way to set goals for editing … that stuff takes on a life of its own that I have NO IDEA how to measure! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I’m never really sure what to write for these updates, which is why I don’t do a blog on Wednesdays.
As for the goal-setting for editing…I’m not sure there is a way to pin it down. For instance, the first two chapters of the book don’t need much at all. The last SEVERAL chapters will need a LOT (as well as a few in between). So chapter goals are a waste.
I think the only thing that would work is going at it from the direction of time…an hour, two hours, whatever works. But then you have things like an unplanned doctors appointment which can steal two or three hours from your day. Not to mention SOME parts of your book can leave you feeling like you’ve run a marathon, especially if you’re sleep deprived, as I am today, lol.