Be A Rebel Writer! Make The Commitment To Your Goals

 The absolutely amazing Sheri Larsen reminded me I had committed to being a Rebel Writer this year!  So I am taking a break from my working break to encourage you to write your goals for 2012.  Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Timely.  (SMART GOALS)

You can have a variety of goals that relate to different aspects of your life.  I posted a few of my life goals and writing goals here.  My awesome critique partner, Lenny Lee sent me this wonderful planner and I am using it to make sure I am on track with my writing goals.  Each day I write down what I did relating to my goals of becoming a published author.  It really is motivating me to not have any blank pages.  (I don't typically write on the weekends, so having blank spots on those days is fine for me.)  I'm keeping a food and workout journal to go along with my health goals for 2012.  (It's going well, just in case you wondered...)

I encourage you to keep track of how you are doing on meeting your goals for this year. 

If you have time, pop over to Sheri's blog and check out  the participants of the REBEL WRITER'S PLEDGE Members.  You might find a piece of advice that serves your writing/life style perfectly!

HAPPY WRITING!!!!

(I'm heading back to my office and my manuscript until February 14th when I announce the winner of my book giveaway.)

HUGS TO ALL!!!!

A Giveaway and A Working Break

Last week, I asked you if you had a plan and I told you mine.  Saturday, I began on my health plan.  By going six days a week at an extreme fitness gym and following their nutrition plan, I can already see a visible difference in me. (I'm not talking about the fact that I'm limping today, LOL.)  I am being really focused.  (Everyone claps...)  

I realized I need to be like this with my writing too. 

Lenny and I working on a picture book.  We chatted about it for quite a while today.  I'm not sure if this is how you partner up to write a book, but this is how we are doing it.  He's writing the first draft and I'm consulting.  Then he'll send it to me.  Then I'll send it back to him and we'll chat.  We'll keep doing that until it is perfect and then we'll send it to some of our great bloggy friends for a critique and more revisions until it's polished and ready to submit.

I read YELLOW STAR by Jennifer Roy.  If you get my Goodreads updates or my tweets you'll know I was blown over by the story and the writing.  It made me waver a bit about the importance of my hf story compared to something so compelling, but thanks to some supportive friends (waves Theresa and Len) I'm back on track and want to finish my hf mg novel, NOT A HOLIDAY.  Lenny has promised to be (on my case) super supportive over the next month so I can get close to having the first draft done.

Soooooo, I'm going to take a working break from blog posting until Valentine's Day.  Then I will give you a full report (accountability is so important) on my progress.  Until then I am giving away three books.  All you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment.

 (Published by Guardian Angel a small press based in St. Louis.)

(a personal favorite )

(a writing craft book)

I hope you are having an amazing month!

Hugs to all... (Be safe if you are driving on icy roads.)

Do You Have A Plan?

Do you have writing goals for 2012?  

One of my goals is to finish my mg novel NOT A HOLIDAY.   I am going to do is read Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy.  I won an agent critique of the first 10 pages and she gave me some great advice.  She suggested I read this book (by one of her clients).

Lenny and I are going to write a picture book together this year.  He has a great idea for it!  Let's just say...gators rock!

I'm going to keep a daily calendar where I write down what I did pertaining to writing that day.  I think it will show me how much or little I am doing which will hold me accountable. (I don't want any blank pages!)

I will go to at least one writer's retreat/workshop this year.  I'm still wavering on which one to go too.  I want to go to one where I can work with master writers and learn from them.

Do you have a health goal for 2012?

I joined a 10 week extreme fitness program.  I start tomorrow.  I decided it's something I need.
I've put on some weight over the last three years and what I was doing for exercise wasn't working for me.  I'll keep you posted (if you want to know).

In 2012, I'm going to remember to stop and enjoy the small blessings in my life.  Peaches is such a blessing to our family.  She still has a limp, the vet said she probably will always have it.  It doesn't seem to bother her.  She zooms around the house, jumps on Macy and drags toys down the stairs and around the house.

Have you written any goals for this year?  I hope you are going to...I think it makes them more attainable if you put them down on paper.

Happy New Year everyone!

HUGS TO ALL!!!