Since it is so easy to lose track of where the "promise" or "goal" threads end-up, I thought maybe just posting goals for one month at a time.
I'm already a little behind on a goal I set on Jaina's "Kick Me" thread, and that was to have my story Something in the Air ready to send out as a re-print by April 15.
Well, the new goal is to have it in the mail no later than April 22.
Posted by MCameron (Member # 2391) on :
My goal is to have my flash "A Special Brew" expanded to a short story, finished, and posted on F&F by April 30.
--Mel
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
Research, write query letters, and send off packages to six (6) agents concerning my first completed novel, "Touch of Fate."
Posted by RFLong (Member # 1923) on :
Submit Elements.
Yup - that's about it at the mo'
Such ambition!
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
Submit Chrysalis by the end of the month. Write and submit a story for The First Line by the May 1 deadline. Continue editing Virus Attached Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
At a very minimum: -Finish revising Rancor and Stonecutter's Daughter -Finish rereading and outlining my novel draft, and begin revising the outline to
Additionally: -Write 2 more stories for challenges on other sites -Revise another story from the pile
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
Not fail my classes, at the moment I think that's all I've got time to do.
Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :
I will try to take over the world with my friend, Pinky.
Besides that, I expect to have at least 8 short stories done, critique about 30, and offend as many people as possible without even trying.
I also resolve to finish my novella, which has stagnated since going to Australia. Next month, I will restart my novel. Yes, I will do that, and nothing will stop me. Right, Pinky?
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
What's that, Brain?
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Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :
....shamelessly show off my juggling show to whoever will bother to watch it!!!!
So, on top of that, I'm trying to download the 13MB mpeg trailer and that's just taking days on DSL... not to mention that despite trying three times to download, it won't complete past 0.5MB. Grr. Double grr.
Links to any reasonable photos?
Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :
I show up in five acts, and two of them are ones I choreographed
Hmm, sorry 'bout the file sizes. Dunno what to tell you about that. I'm a spoiled brat, connection-wise. I'm only in the show that is linked to UR_Juggling_Show_2005_divx_mp3.avi
I'll email you some pics, HSO
Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :
Okay, thanks! Phew.
Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :
Yeah, I went to open that and it said something like: estimated download 81 hours 10 minutes. I cancelled.
Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :
RH, you beat me to it!
I miss Pinky. Another reason to get cable.
Goals for April:
- Participate in Dakota's Re-write Challenge. - Participate in Mike's Flash Challenge. - Complete at least half of "Carrick" rough draft. - Complete character sketch for novel's new main character. - Re-write "Master of Roads" and prepare it for submission. - Submit "Royal Blue" to market. - Critique at least 2 stories each week.
And somewhere in there I'll try to keep the house clean, the family fed and the kids intellectually stimulated.
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
And I will try to get the flash challenge working flawlessly, or die trying.
Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :
Right now, I'm trying to write at least 15 more pages by the end of the month on EITHER story, "Monolith's Arrival" or "Olympus Uprising". I'll let you guys know how I do by the end of the month.
Thanks, I really needed to see this kind of thread made to get my butt in gear(and chair).
Thanks Robyn_Hood
-Monolith-
Posted by Jaina (Member # 2387) on :
I will have reached a decision about Wendell's ending and have at least started to rewrite it (as in, there will be a rough draft of the ending in existence, not as in I will have written something more than three words).
Posted by RFLong (Member # 1923) on :
Right - Elements is printing as we speak, the envelope is addressed and the covering letter written. I'm off to the Post Office first thing tomorrow (having probably re-read everything umpteen times while desperately trying not to smudge ink or fold page corners). Thanks to everyone for all their help on this one.
R
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
Woooo-Hoooo and YeeHaw!!!!!!!
In other words...Way to go!
And there's even enough time left to set another goal for the end of the month.<Nudge><Nudge>
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
Just thought I'd say....2 down 4 to go!!!
I shoved 2 queries in the mailbox just a few minutes ago.
Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :
Way to go, Christine!
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
All right! Something in the Air is in the mail and on its way!
My next goal is to compete in the next two Flash Challenges at Liberty Hall and begin revision on my Christmas story, Greater than Gold. I want to have it completed by the end of May and in the mail (but that's next month's thread ).
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
Right on, Christine!
I have not made nearly as much progress on my plan for April as I'd hoped.
Posted by Isaiah13 (Member # 2283) on :
Hmm, in light of the rejection letter I received yesterday (my first), I guess my goal is to do a quick revision and get the story back out there before I change my mind. Oh, and get stamps for the other two that I've had sitting on my desk for two weeks now. Ever the procrastinator.
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
rejections are a badge of honor. Congratulations.
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
I'd suggest skipping the revision and just send it back out. You thought it was good when you mailed it. Just because one editor can't use it doesn't mean it needs to be revised.
Posted by Isaiah13 (Member # 2283) on :
Thanks, Beth I think it needs a little trimming. I'm not planning on reworking it.
[This message has been edited by Isaiah13 (edited April 20, 2005).]
Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :
Congratulations on your first rejection! I'm still waiting for my first. Posted by RFLong (Member # 1923) on :
I'm reading Sol Stein's Solutions for Writers which I bought yesterday. So far, I'm really enjoying it. It's giving me a number of ideas for reworking my "epic" fantasy into something a bit more manageable.
R
Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :
"Royal Blue" is now in the mail.
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
Great Keeley!
Everyone else: How're ya doin'?
Only a few days to go...
I know we've had a few people check in with updates, but how about the rest? Five days to go, then it's butt-kicking time!
Posted by Isaiah13 (Member # 2283) on :
Good going Keeley! It's mission accomplished for me as well. I dropped three in the mailbox on Saturday, including the one that had been rejected.
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
I have revised my plan. By the end of April, I will look at the list of things I originally planned and laugh and laugh and laugh.
Posted by Jaina (Member # 2387) on :
Oy, me too. I should have known better than to set goals for myself outside of "survive through finals week."
Posted by RFLong (Member # 1923) on :
Hey, I have a new one - to finish initial edit on Chapter One of old/new novel (I'm rewriting as I transcribe longhand whch I wrote years ago) and get further Chapters typed up. This one is provisionally titled "Moyturan Echoes".
R
Posted by MCameron (Member # 2391) on :
Woohoo! I just finished the first draft of "A Special Brew" It still needs some work before being posted on F&F, but the basic structure is done! And I actually enjoy revising and editing more than the initial writing. So I am right on track for meeting this month's goal.
--Mel
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
I'm almost sure that I didn't fail my classes.
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
I submitted my story to The First Line. I made a good stab at getting Chrysalis ready to go by the end of the month, but I'm going to send it next month. I feel fine about that. Still editing my novel.
Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :
I think I forgot to post any actual goals (crazy month), but I did get my story emailed off to The First Line last night. Yea for another story kicked out the door.
Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :
Sorry, but I failed miserably. But I did manage to write 3 pages of "Monolith's Arrival" as well as develope a few characters for a new story, as well as the plot of the story and a twist to add to it. Does that count at all for anything?
I have once again failed to meet a dealine. <Unintelligible cursing and grumbling>.
I will have more free time this summer and hopefully things will start to look up for me.
The Ashamed Monolith
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
Life happens. Don't beat yourself up over it. I sometimes wonder if it is worth writing goals down, let alone posting them for whomever to see! When you fail to meet the goal, it is easy to get down on yourself, feel depressed, and not do anything for a while.
That said, listing a few goals can help encourage you move forward on things. It gives you something to aim for.
Everyone has times when they over-estimate their abilities and/or under-estimate the task. So chalk it up to experience and keep moving. There's always next month. ------- Speaking of which, time for a new thread...
Posted by TaShaJaRo (Member # 2354) on :
There's a line a friend of mine used to quote: it is better to plan to do something and fail than to plan to do nothing and succeed.
At you least tried!
Posted by MCameron (Member # 2391) on :
I met my goal! "A Special Brew" is now posted on F&F.
--Mel
Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
I kind of thought I might have posted in this thread before but I didn't. I came up with a one word summary of my novel during April. I did not, as I had planned, complete another rewrite so my neighbor could read it. Though my sister who doesn't read anything but Jane Austen read it and said she "couldn't put it down." So I find that really encouraging. I guess I did make a print out and comb bind it so my sister could read it. Gadzooks, I'm pathetic. My mom technically did the printout. Well, there's more about what I really did during April in the "How much time do you have" thread. I did my taxes in April.
Oh, I know what happened. I weaned my toddler, which sounds like it would free up time but really not so far. Since I have to have positive interactions with her that aren't food-based. I think I wrote half of my novel while nursing.
[This message has been edited by franc li (edited May 03, 2005).]
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