Quarterly Check-In On New Year’s Resolutions

I’m surprisingly pleased with my Q1 results regarding  my New Year’s Resolution Implementation Program. Call it something serious and you take it more seriously–at least I do.

Here’s my quarterly update:

1. Lose 35 lbs and keep it off.–Since last December, I lost a total of 10 lbs which I have kept off to date. 
2. Exercise 4-5 days per week.–More like 3-4 days a week. Two days of cardio, two days of toning.
3. Follow a low-carb eating regimen.–Hit and miss. But getting back on it again. It works, it’s just hard to limit sweets. They are my favorite reward.
   
4. Self-publish my novel, The Six Train to Wisconsin.–60% done. Createspace is formatting interior, book cover is created, ebook is being formatted by me. Blog tour and book tour are being set up. Reviews are being requested. 
5. Find a full-time job and move back to a major or minor city.–This got back-burnered while I work on #4.
6. Submit my third manuscript to agents and publishers.–After I finished revising in January, I sent out to a few agents and editors from the SCBWI Summer Conference because they had a time limit on submissions. I’d like to get beta reader feedback before submitting to a wider range of agents. 

Happy New Year and A Few Resolutions

 

It’s that time of year again. When we say goodbye to this year and hello to the next one. Happy New Year all!

I’m a firm believer in telling the universe what you want. It solidifies it in my mind. And who knows, she just might be listening.

So here are my resolutions for 2013:

1. Lose 35 lbs and keep it off.
2. Exercise 4-5 days per week.
3. Follow a low-carb eating regimen.
   
4. Self-publish my novel, The Six Train to Wisconsin.
5. Find a full-time job and move back to a major or minor city.
6. Submit my third manuscript to agents and publishers.

Update on Resolutions

 

Since we’re approaching the middle of the year, I thought I would check in on my resolutions. Sadly, the best of intentions has not led to the best of actions.

1. Lose 30 lbs and keep it off. —Not much progress here. Lost ten gained ten. Lost 15 gained 15. Pretty much net net of zero.
2. Exercise 4-5 days per week. —I have managed to stick to this since February. So go me!
3. Follow a low carb eating regimen.–I have my good days. And my bad weeks. 
4. Edit my YA manuscript and submit to 30 agents.–Edited the YA manuscript and submitted to 15 agents so far.
5. Submit my adult manuscript to 50 agents. –Submitting adult manuscript to agents. I’m near the 30 agent mark.
6. Finish drafting my third manuscript.–Drafted 51,300 words to date. Should be done drafting in June.
7. Edit my third manuscript.–Have to finish it first. This is more of a fall project.
8. Spend more time playing with my dog, Emerson.–I’ve been playing with Emerson more. Score!
9. Go to Hawaii or Germany.–Doesn’t look likely this year. But I am going to CA which is beachy and warm and has good wine.

So there’s been progress in pretty much all my goals. And the realization that some may not happen this year. Some have been replaced by newer goals.

All in all, I’m content with my progress.

My neck is still acting up so I am dictating my blogs this week. I need to curb my typing for a while, so if I’m not commenting on your blog this week, please know I’m resting my neck.

Update on New Year’s Resolutions

Time to check in on  my 2012 New Year’s Resolutions:

• Lose 30 lbs and keep it off.
  • This is not going well. Fluctuated down by five pounds and back up. Will work harder.
• Exercise 4-5 days per week.
  • This has been implemented and carried out for all of February and into March. I do a Wii Just Dance 45 minute workout, Bellydance DVD workout, an hour of back exercises twice a week to strengthen my core, neck and arm exercises. Going great-energy is up, body feels stronger and more coordinated.  
• Follow a low carb eating regimen.
  • Hit or miss. I have my good weeks and bad ones. Have to work on consistency here.
• Edit my YA manuscript and submit to 30 agents.
  • I am doing massive revisions and should have them done in a week. No submissions until the manuscript is polished and the query is re-done.
• Submit my adult manuscript to 50 agents.
  • I’ve been sending out a query a day, 4-5 days a week for most of February and March. Halfway to that fifty mark. 
• Finish drafting my third manuscript.
  • This got shunted aside with a hopeful start date in April 2012.
• Edit my third manuscript.
  • Can’t edit what isn’t drafted. This is a fall 2012 deadline.
• Spend more time playing with my dog, Emerson.
  • We have been taking walks and playing my room with his toys. At least 10-20 minutes a day of feisty fighting going on.
• Go to Hawaii or Germany.
  • Not yet. 

2012 New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year again. We say goodbye to last year’s failed attempts and start fresh with some goal setting. So here are my 2012 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Lose 30 lbs and keep it off.
2. Exercise 4-5 days per week.
3. Follow a low carb eating regimen.
4. Edit my YA manuscript and submit to 30 agents.
5. Submit my adult manuscript to 50 agents.
6. Finish drafting my third manuscript.
7. Edit my third manuscript.
8. Spend more time playing with my dog, Emerson.
9. Go to Hawaii or Germany.

Update on New Year’s Resolutions

Time to check in on those pesky resolutions I made January 1.  It’s been 10 months almost…

Resolution #1: Lose 35 lbs in 2011 and keep it off.

Progress: Lost 22 lbs total and then gained four back in September. So right now just 18 lbs toward my goal. But I couldn’t exercise the past two months due to pinched nerve in my leg. And I was overeating again. Hoping to get closer to my goal by Dec 31.

Resolution #2: Finish drafting my second novel by May 2011.

Dunzo!!!!  Finished drafting March 31! Finished editing July 1. Started querying agents in mid September.

Resolution #3: Send out queries until someone falls in love with my YA novel.

Progress: Sent out 117 queries for my first book. Waiting to hear back on a full request, but also realizing this book may not sell.

Resolution #4: Meditate and play with Emerson more.

Progress: Taking walks 3-4 times a week with Emerson. When we don’t walk, we play. Meditate a couple times a week–need to work on that.

Resolution #5: Speak my mind  when asked.

Progress: Find I enjoy saying no. It’s nice not to bow to social pressure and do things I hate. People tend to appreciate tactful honesty a few weeks after the fact.

And now that my summer travels are over, we will return to a 5-day-a-week blog and shift the focus back to my novel writing. Though I must admit, I enjoyed travel blogging. It was a needed break from novel writing that allowed me to keep writing daily.

Update on New Year’s Resolutions

Bet you thought I forgot all about my pesky resolutions made 6 months ago. Well, I didn’t. Been working on them. Chiseling away at each one. So here’s the half year later update.

Resolution #1: Lose 35 lbs in 2011 and keep it off.

Progress: Getting there. Dropped 20 lbs since March 21. Working out 5 days a week for an hour a day and eating low carb. Feeling more energetic.

Resolution #2: Finish drafting my second novel by May 2011.

Dunzo!!!!  Finished drafting March 31! Revising last 3 chapters this week. Sending to beta readers. Will begin querying after Asia trip.

Resolution #3: Send out queries until someone falls in love with my YA novel.

Progress: Sent out batch of queries last week. Will continue until I leave for Asia. But realizing this book may not sell.

Resolution #4: Meditate and play with Emerson more.

Progress: Meditating before bed every night this week. Snuggled with and pet Emerson. Usually play tug-of-war and fetch 3-4 nights a week with him.

Resolution #5: Speak my mind  when asked.

Progress: Still trying to do it. But finding people very angry when I say No and disagree. Doesn’t exactly make me want to spend time with them.

Update on the New Year’s Resolutions

Here’s my weekly update on my resolutions. It’s been 7 days.

Resolution #1: Lose 35 lbs in 2011 and keep it off.

Progress:  Created a spreadsheet of daily foods eating, carb counting, weight, and exercise.

Milestone: Lost 6 lbs.

Resolution #2: Finish drafting my second novel by May 2011

Progress:  Plan to start in March.

Resolution #3: Send out queries until someone falls in love with my YA novel.

Progress: Waiting until second week of January and send out 3-5 queries.

Resolution #4: Meditate and play with Emerson more.

Progress: a) Meditate on Thursday 25 mins. Meditate every other night before bed, b) Have taken Emerson on a walk Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, c) Allocated 30 mins to watching tv and petting him daily, and d) Playing catch with him 10-25 mins a day.

Resolution #5: Speak my mind  when asked.

Progress: Disagreed with two people this week and politely told them so.

All and all I’m off to a great start. There hasn’t been massive movement on each resolution but there has been thought/planning on all of them and movement in most of them.

I’m still finishing polishing my YA manuscript so the lack of movement on my other book is totally acceptable and expected.

How are your resolutions going?

Resolutions–An annual disaster

So it’s that time of year where we all make resolutions. Some small (clean the garage), others huge (lose 100 lbs).

Most of the time, we don’t succeed. Not because making resolutions is a stupid exercise in futility. No.

Because we don’t come up with a plan to execute them properly and stick with it.

I’ve sat down and come up with an exercise regimen and a diet regime. I know what I have to do to lose 35 lbs.

Work comes easier. Somehow those goals are so much more achievable to me.

Realizing I am just a small being in a huge forest, I will only make 5 resolutions this year.

Resolution #1: Lose 35 lbs in 2011 and keep it off.

Resolution #2: Finish drafting my second novel by May 2011.

Resolution #3: Send out queries until someone falls in love with my YA novel.

Resolution #4: Meditate and play with Emerson more.

Resolution #5: Speak my mind  when asked.

I’ll check in with you every month with status reports on these resolutions. It will keep me honest and on track.

What are your resolutions for the New Year? How do you plan to stay on target with them?