January! Janus is the Roman god of new beginnings. So here’s a look back at my progress. Tomorrow, I will share my plan for the new year.
Looking Back on Game Plan 2014:
- Get my novel published: I will get editors, a cover designer, and a publisher. I will.
Progress: The final, final draft is complete. Yes! Still, as Anne Lamont warned, my baby keeps getting out of bed. Did I include the bandy-leggedness of Mr. Moore? What about scalawags and lallygagging? Did I get the right phrases in?
I have a FaceBook friend looking for an agent. We plan to keep each other motivated. Artisanal publishing looks more and more inviting. 2015 will see me finish this. Good Enough.
- Make enough money writing to pay property taxes:
Progress: If I leave out expenses. A new (paying!) internet offer. Success!
- Knit or crochet yarn stash into hats for charity: I have a lot of yarn stash.Progress: I got Loved-One’s sweater finished. I knit about 10 hats. But…my yarn stash is bigger! Why? I got to the end of some remnants and needed more yarn to finish the projects. Grandchildren needed specific colors, which I did not have. Hmmm… That backfired. Good Enough.
A beret a knitted (one of the more difficult projects.) - Expand my platform:
Progress: A key to successful selling of a published book, I’m told. Twitter 875, FB 297, FBPage 299, Google+ 201, Instagram, a growing e-mail list from my newspaper connections, Actively participating in writers Facebook groups, BlogHer, SheWrites, and ChicagoWrites. Okay, far from a Kim Kardashian competitor. I’m happy. Success!
- Experience Night at the Museum with Two More Grandkids.
Progress: Yay! Miss K and Mr. L. Mr. L plans to be a paleontologist when he grows up. Miss K has her heart set on fashion design. Success!
- Travel Route 66 with Loved-One: I plan to get some sponsors and write about out trip.
Progress: Failed or Postponed. It all depends on how I want to look at it. I choose Good Enough.
- Volunteer:
Progress: The values of “1st Way Pregnancy match mine, that is: “empower women to make life-affirming choices by offering financial and emotional support. Rather than shaming and coercing with rules and regulations.) A good fit for volunteering, lots of recognition for computer skills, and a consulting gig. Super Success!
- Read two book a month: This goal doubles my 2013 rate.
Progress: I fell a little short on this: Nineteen and two halves.
James McBride, The Color of Water
Stacia Friedman, Tender is the Brisket
John Greenberg, A Feathered River Across the Sky
Sue Monk Kidd, The Invention of Wings
Matthew Kelly, Rediscover Catholicism.
Elizabeth Berg, Never Change
Louis Erdrich, The Round House
Kate Atkinson, Life After Live: A Novel
Doreen M. McGettigan, Bristol boys Stomp: The Night That Divided a Town
Adela Crandell, A Land of Milk and Honey
Eric Larson, In the Garden of the Beast
Beth Nonte Russell, Forever Lily.
Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana.
Michael Allan Scott, Flight of the Tarantula Hawk – A Lance Underphal Mystery.
Linda Lawrence Hunt, Bold Spirit: Helga Estby’s Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America.
Rachel Thompson, Broken Pieces (interviewed)
Guy Kawasaki, APE
Hilary Grossman, Dangled Caret (interviewed)
Candice Millard, Destiny of the Republic.
I’ll give myself a Good Enough
- Get new carpeting for the lower level: Ugh!
Progress: Complete! We ended up cleaning the carpet with our Kirby attachment and hiring someone to stretch it. Good as new! And saved a lot of money. Super Success!
- Send St. Patrick’s Day photo cards to friends and family: Progress: Complete. I got great feedback from my Welcome Spring card. Several people thought they just received an invitation to something; they weren’t sure what. They loved the pictures and the surprise out-of-the-blue greeting. I think I’ll do this again next year. Super Success!
Averaging everything out: Success!
Stayed tuned tomorrow for 2015 Lofty Goals and Plans.
Please share your goals for 2015. Maybe we can give each other moral support.
