Checking Goals: First Quarter

It’s still early in the year for a lot of my goals, but it’s always fun to check in. It also helps light a fire to keep me motivated and on track.

Here is my post on 2014 goals and mile-markers, in case you want the reminder.

In travel goals: I have plane tickets for Istanbul in May (but holy catfish, is there a lot to do between now and then)! ReaderCon is far from set in stone. I desperately want to go, but I’ll have to take stock of my finances after Istanbul to see if that’s a stupid move or not. World Fantasy is set in stone. I’ve had my membership since 2012 and I’ve reserved the hotel. Flights, however, have to wait as it might be a multi-purpose trip.

Over on my personal blog, I said that I want to write every day, but not beat myself up over missing the occasional day. My tally system has been going strong — only two days, so far! — and I’m doing better than I ever anticipated. The tallies are celebration of all the days I’ve written just for me. I don’t feel guilty when I add a mark, and it’s so much more fun than trying to reach a certain goal.

I’m writing a lot more slowly than before. The current novel draft — the same one I was working on during NaNo — should have been finished by the end of January, at the very latest. Instead, I still have a chapter and a half to go. But I think I might be coming to terms with my lack of speed.

So I’ve struck a better balance with writing and the day job. And thanks to my husband encouraging me to cut back on time wasters (like video-binging) last month, I’ve actually managed to get more accomplished.

Social media is harder. I’m doing more, though my Twitter (@mjkingwrites) appearances are still sporadic. I think I’m finding a better balance with writing for my personal blog. But I’m beginning to suspect I have a finite attention span for communication with this current job of mine.

I don’t think I’ve written a single letter this year. (Sorry, Kate!) When it comes to phone calls and emails, I have dropped the ball more than once these last few months. And working full time, I don’t want to leave the house on my days off, which significantly adds to the difficulty of spending time with friends and family I sometimes like.

But at least I know what I still have to work on!