Julie Lence's Blog - Posts Tagged "goals"
The Start of A New Year...And Something Challenging
The mad dash of the holiday season has come to an end. Presents have been unwrapped, greetings have been exchanged, the tree has been put away until December and the kids are back in school. For me, this is the best time of the year. Not that I make New Year's resolutions. I never stick to them. But I do make writing goals; realistic ones based on my abilities and my time.
From January thru March, my home and family life usually slow down. The yard doesn't need weeding and watering. I have only one school activity to fulfill, and my son isn't coming in one door and out the other with his friends. This is my time to concentrate and really get something worthwhile scrawled across the computer screen.
I start out slow when contemplating my writing goals. The first is to finish the story I'm currently working on by the end of the school year. And by finish, I mean have it written, edited and ready to submit to my publisher by June. That is a must, because once summer vacation begins, my time is not my own. It's hard paying close attention to wrapping up a story while keeping one eye and one ear on the kids splashing in the backyard swimming pool.
Then there's that terrible 'p' word--promotion. I try to spread out interviews, contests and covers throughout the year. I use a variety of romance sites to keep my name and titles fresh in the reader's mind and enjoy working with the fabulous ladies who run these sites.
After I set up my schedule to accomplish my June goal and make the arrangements for promo ops, I start thinking ahead to the next story. Character names and backgrounds, scenes, the setting, problems and struggles, villians; ideas begin moving though the back of my mind. By July, I'm itching to begin work on a new project. But if you've got an idea running through your mind now, why wait? Get started today.
How? By giving yourself your own challenging goal. Beginning today, write for the next four weeks. Turn off those red and green lines on your computer screen, put your bottom in the chair and write. Don't look back on what you wrote yesterday. Keep going. Every day, and by the end of the month, you'll be amazed at how many pages you've written. I did that once for a contest and won. It was fun, challenging and rewarding; not just the prize, but the amount of work I'd accomplished when I wasn't worrying about spelling. Or sentence structure. Or POV. Or obsessing over what came next, as I normally do.
At the end of four weeks, give yourself a prize for your hard efforts. An evening at the movies. Dinner out. Have your nails done. Or indulge in a quiet night of reading. And then get back to work; writing and not editing what you've already written. Within a few months, depending on the length of your story, you'll have the first draft written and be ready for the first round of editing.
Be creative in your endeavors. Take your characters where they normally wouldn't go. And have fun. That's what the voices in our heads are all about--having fun and challenging our skills each and every day.
From January thru March, my home and family life usually slow down. The yard doesn't need weeding and watering. I have only one school activity to fulfill, and my son isn't coming in one door and out the other with his friends. This is my time to concentrate and really get something worthwhile scrawled across the computer screen.
I start out slow when contemplating my writing goals. The first is to finish the story I'm currently working on by the end of the school year. And by finish, I mean have it written, edited and ready to submit to my publisher by June. That is a must, because once summer vacation begins, my time is not my own. It's hard paying close attention to wrapping up a story while keeping one eye and one ear on the kids splashing in the backyard swimming pool.
Then there's that terrible 'p' word--promotion. I try to spread out interviews, contests and covers throughout the year. I use a variety of romance sites to keep my name and titles fresh in the reader's mind and enjoy working with the fabulous ladies who run these sites.
After I set up my schedule to accomplish my June goal and make the arrangements for promo ops, I start thinking ahead to the next story. Character names and backgrounds, scenes, the setting, problems and struggles, villians; ideas begin moving though the back of my mind. By July, I'm itching to begin work on a new project. But if you've got an idea running through your mind now, why wait? Get started today.
How? By giving yourself your own challenging goal. Beginning today, write for the next four weeks. Turn off those red and green lines on your computer screen, put your bottom in the chair and write. Don't look back on what you wrote yesterday. Keep going. Every day, and by the end of the month, you'll be amazed at how many pages you've written. I did that once for a contest and won. It was fun, challenging and rewarding; not just the prize, but the amount of work I'd accomplished when I wasn't worrying about spelling. Or sentence structure. Or POV. Or obsessing over what came next, as I normally do.
At the end of four weeks, give yourself a prize for your hard efforts. An evening at the movies. Dinner out. Have your nails done. Or indulge in a quiet night of reading. And then get back to work; writing and not editing what you've already written. Within a few months, depending on the length of your story, you'll have the first draft written and be ready for the first round of editing.
Be creative in your endeavors. Take your characters where they normally wouldn't go. And have fun. That's what the voices in our heads are all about--having fun and challenging our skills each and every day.
Summer Goals
For me, summer is a short season, because I base it on the school year. There are about two and a half months of vacation, depending on when the current year ends in May and the next one begins in August. Usually, at the beginning of May, I'm counting the weeks until school ends and scrambling for time to finish my current story. Between the endless school trips, field days and assemblies, I worry I won't finish the story and settle into a comfort zone for the summer months. This year is different. I'm ready for the school year to end.
I've finished the story. I've done the first round of editing and will complete the second round next week. I'm fulfilling promotion opportunities, and unlike the past few years, I'm not chaperoning school trips this year; the hubby is. (Signed him up early for that.) I find myself with some spare time on my hands, which translates to a bit of restless anxiety. It's time for me to set summer goals.
We all want summer to be fun. Days at the park, children playing in the back yard, picnics at the lake, the family vacation; but what about your summer writing? I usually take the month of June to work on other aspects of writing; planning promotional events for the remainder of the year, updating my website, discovering another internet outlet to connect with readers and writers. By July, I'm ready to begin work on a new story. I tell myself to wait until August when the kids are back at school, but this never happens. My muse is ready to get back to work, and when the muse calls, I don't ignore it. I take my laptop out onto the deck, and while the kids are in the pool, I get started on the first chapter. Sometimes, depending on where we go on vacation, I'll write then, too.
So what about you? Have you thought about summer goals? They don't have to be big ones. They don't have to take up too much of your time. Writing a paragraph a day, networking with old and new friends, outlining chapters or fleshing out characters over the course of a few weeks will keep your muse alive and reduce your risk of falling out of a writing routine. So will prowling around the library. Discover a new author, re-read an old favorite, find out the current trends; reading can and will keep you connected to your craft. Reading broadens your vocabulary and imagination and is a great learning tool. I've learned many techniques from my favorite authors, not to mention they inspire and motivate me.
Set your goals. Accomplish them as best you can, and enjoy the summer and your kids. Before you know it, we'll be hitting the malls and shopping for Christmas gifts.
I've finished the story. I've done the first round of editing and will complete the second round next week. I'm fulfilling promotion opportunities, and unlike the past few years, I'm not chaperoning school trips this year; the hubby is. (Signed him up early for that.) I find myself with some spare time on my hands, which translates to a bit of restless anxiety. It's time for me to set summer goals.
We all want summer to be fun. Days at the park, children playing in the back yard, picnics at the lake, the family vacation; but what about your summer writing? I usually take the month of June to work on other aspects of writing; planning promotional events for the remainder of the year, updating my website, discovering another internet outlet to connect with readers and writers. By July, I'm ready to begin work on a new story. I tell myself to wait until August when the kids are back at school, but this never happens. My muse is ready to get back to work, and when the muse calls, I don't ignore it. I take my laptop out onto the deck, and while the kids are in the pool, I get started on the first chapter. Sometimes, depending on where we go on vacation, I'll write then, too.
So what about you? Have you thought about summer goals? They don't have to be big ones. They don't have to take up too much of your time. Writing a paragraph a day, networking with old and new friends, outlining chapters or fleshing out characters over the course of a few weeks will keep your muse alive and reduce your risk of falling out of a writing routine. So will prowling around the library. Discover a new author, re-read an old favorite, find out the current trends; reading can and will keep you connected to your craft. Reading broadens your vocabulary and imagination and is a great learning tool. I've learned many techniques from my favorite authors, not to mention they inspire and motivate me.
Set your goals. Accomplish them as best you can, and enjoy the summer and your kids. Before you know it, we'll be hitting the malls and shopping for Christmas gifts.
Comfort
Last year, I wrote about women's fashion and how styles have changed since the 1800's. I do admire the gowns women wore back then; some were absolutely gorgeous and beautiful in cut and color. And I do like the high-buttoned boots they wore. I have a few pairs, and wore them often. Plus, I wore four-inch heels to work and those uncomfortable stockings. Causal Friday wasn't embraced too often when I worked outside the home, so the days we could dress down were a treat. But since I've been a stay-at-home mom, casual has taken on a whole new meaning.
In the mid 90's, those four-inch heels had to go. Wearing them every day for 10+ years finally took its toll on my back and I had to drop down to two-inch heels. That took some getting used to; I'm one of those types who prefers heels with skirts and dresses, and the higher the better. But I did drop down, found a style of pumps I liked and my back thanked me. Today, the thought of putting on shoes brings on a case of cringing. I wear slippers, even when driving as long as I don't have to get out of the car. If I could wear slipper inside stores and restaurants, I would.
And clothes; where I once favored jeans, belts and boots, I don't anymore. Sweat pants, sweat shirts and comfy socks are usually the norm for me. But then, I sit at the computer all day, by myself and comfort is a must. I chuckle fondly at the remembrance of saying I'll never give up my Wranglers, but back then I was young and stupid. However, on that same note, I do zip up and lace up when I'm going out in public.
Styles come and go, and we all want to look our best, and face it, when we're young, we'll wear just about anything as long as it looks good. And we think we'll never change. But we do. We mature and finally come to the realization that always being 'dressed to the hilt' doesn't matter anymore. As long as we're presentable, that's good enough. Or, at least it is for me.
The same holds true for the characters in your story, especially your hero and heroine. At the beginning of your story, they each have settled into some type of comfort zone; a goal. They envision maintaining this comfort zone and reaching that goal, but then something comes along to disturb their zone. They're either shifted in the direction of a different goal, or the path for their original goal changes. By the end, they have reached a new level of comfort; the same way I went from four-inch heels to two-inch heels to slippers. They have matured and are cozy with the changes life has brought them.
In the mid 90's, those four-inch heels had to go. Wearing them every day for 10+ years finally took its toll on my back and I had to drop down to two-inch heels. That took some getting used to; I'm one of those types who prefers heels with skirts and dresses, and the higher the better. But I did drop down, found a style of pumps I liked and my back thanked me. Today, the thought of putting on shoes brings on a case of cringing. I wear slippers, even when driving as long as I don't have to get out of the car. If I could wear slipper inside stores and restaurants, I would.
And clothes; where I once favored jeans, belts and boots, I don't anymore. Sweat pants, sweat shirts and comfy socks are usually the norm for me. But then, I sit at the computer all day, by myself and comfort is a must. I chuckle fondly at the remembrance of saying I'll never give up my Wranglers, but back then I was young and stupid. However, on that same note, I do zip up and lace up when I'm going out in public.
Styles come and go, and we all want to look our best, and face it, when we're young, we'll wear just about anything as long as it looks good. And we think we'll never change. But we do. We mature and finally come to the realization that always being 'dressed to the hilt' doesn't matter anymore. As long as we're presentable, that's good enough. Or, at least it is for me.
The same holds true for the characters in your story, especially your hero and heroine. At the beginning of your story, they each have settled into some type of comfort zone; a goal. They envision maintaining this comfort zone and reaching that goal, but then something comes along to disturb their zone. They're either shifted in the direction of a different goal, or the path for their original goal changes. By the end, they have reached a new level of comfort; the same way I went from four-inch heels to two-inch heels to slippers. They have matured and are cozy with the changes life has brought them.
Back From Summer Break
Hello Everyone:
School is back in session, which means it's time for me to get back into my writing routine. I hope you all had a wonderful summer break, made time to enjoy those lazy summer days and spent quality time with your children. And if your tots aren't back to school yet, enjoy the next few weeks with them. The first day back is always the hardest for me. I just get used to having my son home and then he's gone again.
I can't believe how fast June and July went. I think I blinked and missed a few weeks somewhere. We traveled back to New York to visit with family. Thankfully, we saw everyone and spent a Saturday in Lake George watching the fire truck parade and browsing the shops. Since I don't like to fly, we went by car and I can tell you the heat and humidity in the mid-west are more over-bearing than I remembered from when my husband and I lived there in the 80's. The times we'd stop for gas and food, I couldn't wait to get back in the truck and blast the AC. My son had a grand time staying at the hotels and swimming in their pools. He's like a fish, and thoroughly enjoyed the week with grandma and grandpa. Of course, they didn't spoil him too much, .
Back on the home front, the heat in July was nasty. This is the first summer out here where I can honestly say the weather really bothered me. (Must be an age thing.) I spent most of the month inside with the air on. Even the dog couldn't stand the heat and kept to her cool spots in the house. We did get the pool set up--for about a week until it sprung a hole in the seam. Had to order another liner and then my son and his friend had a blast in the water. Then they'd come inside and play Xbox, which was fine with me. While they kept themselves entertained, I wrote the first five chapters of my new book.
I don't have much news to tell as far as writing goes. I did sign the contract for the third book in the Weston Family series. Hopefully, No Luck At All will be released later this year. The story involves the youngest Weston brother and his bride. Creel has earned his doctor's degree and returns to Wooded Acres with Racine, a Boston socialite desperately in need of his bed-side manner. I've also joined Facebook and am learning my way around that site. Asylett Press has had new releases over the summer. Check them out for some good reading. And I'd like to extend a BIG congratulation to fellow Asylett author, Mark Ozeroff. Mark's novel, Days of Smoke, has won the Military Writer's Society of America gold medal award for historical fiction. The Asylett family is happy for Mark and wishes him continued success in his writing career.
Now, for the all important questions: How did you do with your summer writing? Did you finish a novel? Begin a new one? Work on promotion? Or did you take the summer off? There are only a few weeks left to enjoy lazy evenings and weekends. Before you know it, football season (minus pre-season) will begin and you'll need to get back into a routine. Think about what you want to accomplish for the remainder of the year. Set reachable goals and a realistic schedule. Christmas will be upon us shortly, along with the nightmare of shopping for everyone on your list. At that point, I plan to be more than halfway through this book.
Until next week, may the fates be kind to us all.
School is back in session, which means it's time for me to get back into my writing routine. I hope you all had a wonderful summer break, made time to enjoy those lazy summer days and spent quality time with your children. And if your tots aren't back to school yet, enjoy the next few weeks with them. The first day back is always the hardest for me. I just get used to having my son home and then he's gone again.
I can't believe how fast June and July went. I think I blinked and missed a few weeks somewhere. We traveled back to New York to visit with family. Thankfully, we saw everyone and spent a Saturday in Lake George watching the fire truck parade and browsing the shops. Since I don't like to fly, we went by car and I can tell you the heat and humidity in the mid-west are more over-bearing than I remembered from when my husband and I lived there in the 80's. The times we'd stop for gas and food, I couldn't wait to get back in the truck and blast the AC. My son had a grand time staying at the hotels and swimming in their pools. He's like a fish, and thoroughly enjoyed the week with grandma and grandpa. Of course, they didn't spoil him too much, .
Back on the home front, the heat in July was nasty. This is the first summer out here where I can honestly say the weather really bothered me. (Must be an age thing.) I spent most of the month inside with the air on. Even the dog couldn't stand the heat and kept to her cool spots in the house. We did get the pool set up--for about a week until it sprung a hole in the seam. Had to order another liner and then my son and his friend had a blast in the water. Then they'd come inside and play Xbox, which was fine with me. While they kept themselves entertained, I wrote the first five chapters of my new book.
I don't have much news to tell as far as writing goes. I did sign the contract for the third book in the Weston Family series. Hopefully, No Luck At All will be released later this year. The story involves the youngest Weston brother and his bride. Creel has earned his doctor's degree and returns to Wooded Acres with Racine, a Boston socialite desperately in need of his bed-side manner. I've also joined Facebook and am learning my way around that site. Asylett Press has had new releases over the summer. Check them out for some good reading. And I'd like to extend a BIG congratulation to fellow Asylett author, Mark Ozeroff. Mark's novel, Days of Smoke, has won the Military Writer's Society of America gold medal award for historical fiction. The Asylett family is happy for Mark and wishes him continued success in his writing career.
Now, for the all important questions: How did you do with your summer writing? Did you finish a novel? Begin a new one? Work on promotion? Or did you take the summer off? There are only a few weeks left to enjoy lazy evenings and weekends. Before you know it, football season (minus pre-season) will begin and you'll need to get back into a routine. Think about what you want to accomplish for the remainder of the year. Set reachable goals and a realistic schedule. Christmas will be upon us shortly, along with the nightmare of shopping for everyone on your list. At that point, I plan to be more than halfway through this book.
Until next week, may the fates be kind to us all.
A New Year
Hello:
I hope you all have had a Happy Holiday season. Ours was quiet and joyous and now I'm ready to get back to work. Actually, I've been itching to delve into my story since last week, but with school still on break, my time was not always my own. I did manage to get quite a bit accomplished around the house, and I'm happy to say that yesterday I was finally reunited with my characters and their world. The two weeks away from the keyboard have given me a much needed energy boost to greet 2011 and all I hope to accomplish with my writing. I haven't made a hard list of goals yet, but ideas are moving through my mind.
So, how about you? Have you made any writing goals for 2011? If not, you should. And they can be small goals. Finish 'x' amount of chapters in two months, sign up for interviews and reviews, or join a writing/critique group. Writing and critique groups are both excellant ways to jump-start your muse and get you writing again.
You can also start with steps smaller than these. Flesh out your main characters for a new book. Outline the first three chapters. Or world build your setting. You don't have to accomplish all of this in one day. Give yourself a few weeks to tackle these projects and by the end of that time, you'll be like I was last week; itching to write.
However you decide to tackle getting back into a writing routine, tackle it with honesty to your work and home life schedule. The more burdens you put on yourself, the less eager you'll be to write. And frustration will set in quick the more you stare at a blank page. Be true to yourself, pick up a pen or power on the computer and get started with the small stuff. By the end of January, you'll be glad you did.
I hope you all have had a Happy Holiday season. Ours was quiet and joyous and now I'm ready to get back to work. Actually, I've been itching to delve into my story since last week, but with school still on break, my time was not always my own. I did manage to get quite a bit accomplished around the house, and I'm happy to say that yesterday I was finally reunited with my characters and their world. The two weeks away from the keyboard have given me a much needed energy boost to greet 2011 and all I hope to accomplish with my writing. I haven't made a hard list of goals yet, but ideas are moving through my mind.
So, how about you? Have you made any writing goals for 2011? If not, you should. And they can be small goals. Finish 'x' amount of chapters in two months, sign up for interviews and reviews, or join a writing/critique group. Writing and critique groups are both excellant ways to jump-start your muse and get you writing again.
You can also start with steps smaller than these. Flesh out your main characters for a new book. Outline the first three chapters. Or world build your setting. You don't have to accomplish all of this in one day. Give yourself a few weeks to tackle these projects and by the end of that time, you'll be like I was last week; itching to write.
However you decide to tackle getting back into a writing routine, tackle it with honesty to your work and home life schedule. The more burdens you put on yourself, the less eager you'll be to write. And frustration will set in quick the more you stare at a blank page. Be true to yourself, pick up a pen or power on the computer and get started with the small stuff. By the end of January, you'll be glad you did.
