I became much more focused during April. Maybe that’s why I had a little more progress. Keeping myself accountable is doing wonders for my concentration. I’m such a slave-driver of a boss.
My Game plan for 2014:
- Get my novel published: I will get editors, a cover designer, and a publisher. I will.Progress: I got my content editor! Lisa Romeo did a sample editing of the first 100 pages. I like what she had to say. We had a brief talk about my goals and the overall arch of my novel. I like her, too. Plus, this month I’ll take more steps toward artisanal publishing. Next, a cover design.
April is NaWriPoMo and I got 15 poems written. A great exercise.
- Knit or crochet yarn stash into hats for charity: I have a lot of yarn stash.Progress: Acht! No knitting during April. Well, maybe a row or two, but no real progress.
- Make enough money writing to pay property taxes: Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in 2013.Progress: 4 more newspaper articles for a local paper. (That makes a total of 8 a month.) I also landed a gig teaching a one day seminar in technical writing. I am interviewing for a QA job later this month. If I get that job, I’ll have less time to write, but more money to support my artisan publishing. I am trusting the Lord that the right path will open up for me.
- Expand my platform: a key to successful selling of a published book, I’m told.Progress: BlogHer, SheWrites, Instagram, Twitter, FB page; Google+; Growing, still growing. I must add Snap-Chat to my repertoire.
- Experience Night at
the Museum with Two More Grandkids.Progress: Complete! 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. The two kids were congenial enough, but they never really talked to each other. Really interesting dynamics. - Travel Route 66 with Loved-One: I plan to get some sponsors and write about out trip.Progress: I got some thoughts together on possible sponsors to contact and determined an early fall getaway. I better clue in Loved-One. This one might be postponed, if I get a QA job.
- Volunteer: Last year I tried a women’s shelter. Maybe this year, the food pantry.Progress: Success with “1st Way Pregnancy.” This shelter mission is “To provide loving assistance, emotional and financial support for women and girls who find themselves in a crisis.” 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.)
- Read two book a month: Here’s my list to date:This goal doubles my 2013 rate.Here’s my list to date (newest on top.)
Beth Nonte Russell: Forever Lily. I got this book from a stranger sitting next to me on my plane ride back from California. A new friend and a gift. Thank you.
Russell’s book is a spiritual memoir of her journey to adopt her first daughter. She went to China to lend moral support to a friend adopting, not intending to adopt herself. Russell’s descriptions of her emotional roller coaster gave me stomach cramps and made me cry. A beautiful book of love and self-discovery.
Graham Greene: Our Man in Havana. My April Book Club book. A fast read, and pretty darned funny. This is a spy book run amok. I love the way the main character, Wormold, describes his daughter’s faith. She has an angel who guides her, but now that she’s a teen, she often leaves her angel at home. The whole time I read this book I pictured “The Pink Panther.” Funny and Dark. Rez Book Club liked it so much, we are getting together to see the movie. I know, I know. I’m sure it will pale to my mind’s eye. But the company will be excellent. That I know for sure. (I never did figure out the significance of the numbers on the cover, and I forgot to ask my fellow readers.)From past months:
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. - Get new carpeting for the lower level: Ugh! I don’t even want to go down there, it looks so bad.Progress: None, just a lot of thinking. I know what I want. Now for the execution.
- Send St. Patrick’s Day photo cards to friends and family: 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.
