Why do I say Kicking and Screaming?
BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS!
I’m way out of my comfort zone here! But okay, I’ll do it!
You see, I need to kick my rear into gear. I need to get back to novel writing and put some balance back into my life. My life—after Kristen Lamb.
Now don’t get me wrong. Kristen Lamb has my utmost respect as the Super Social Media Queen of the Universe. She really knows her stuff and I really loved her class. But…
I’m way out of sync and it’s time to whip myself into shape!
This sounds way too much like exercise. Do I really have to do this?
Okay, okay. Here it goes!
Here are my goals for round 1:
1- Work on my current WIP at least 5 days a week. In saying this I mean work at it like it’s my job. Do I want to put a word count on this? Uh, well…no. I know what’s normal for me and I’m happy with that. I think it’s a quality verses quantity thing. So this being my first Round of Words in 80 Days, I’m keeping it simple. Low pressure sounds good to me.
2– Check in with Donna Newton over at WWBC once a week. If more often I’m afraid I would drive poor Donna nuts. lol
3– Participate in an online class for authors taught by Bob Mayer. This should be good. I’ve taken a class by Bob before and I learned a lot from him. He’s teaching authors the business side of writing and how to balance both.
4– Blog at least once a week. (If I can post a blog twice a week, that’s great. But I know that I can at least post one blog. I’ve got Hubby’s spinal surgery coming up in two weeks and rehab, so I’m cutting myself some slack.
5– Visit and support 5 bloggers per day. I consider this a priority. I want to support the success of other bloggers!
6– Tweet at least once per day. Helping promote others on Twitter is another priority.
7– And because I mentioned exercise at the beginning of my post, this has to be an important goal. I’ve been walking a few times a week, but staring at my elliptical isn’t cutting it. So I’m making it a goal to get on that machine at least twice per week. This way I can whip myself into shape in more ways than one! Not that I’m in bad shape, but I know Hubby will certainly like this and I’ll feel better about myself!
Whew, okay I did it. That wasn’t really so bad. And I’m not alone. There are others that will be right beside me to help me along the way. So that I don’t irritate my wonderful supportive subscribers, feel free to delete my ROW80 posts if they start to irritate you. They probably won’t be all that interesting, unless…
Unless I can tempt you all to join us at the party over at ROW80. See you there! 🙂
So what do you think? Can I do it? Will I be able to meet my new goals with renewed zeal and exuberance? Are you all behind me? Can I count on your support?
Awe, thanks guys! I knew I could count on you!
Karen.
Karen, I am so very proud of you for taking this important step, ESPECIALLY because you don’t want to. 🙂 You’re gonna ROCK the Row, just by showing up!!
Jenny Hansen recently posted..12 Baby Steps That Rocked My Writing
Thank you Jenny. That really means a lot because I’m totally out of my comfort zone here. I’m giving it the good old try. I really appreciate your support! 🙂
You inspired me to join you, Karen. We will persevere together! 🙂
I did? Sheila that’s awesome! Wow, I only hope that I can live up to all of this. The pressure is on. Oh, you mean persevere. Yes we will persevere! lol 🙂
Big time congrats, Karen! So eager to support you and follow your success all year long. 🙂
August McLaughlin recently posted..Lifesaving Resolution #1: Mindful Driving
Hey August, thank you soo much for your eagerness to support me. But then you’ve been a great support from the beginning! It will be interesting to see if I can really do this! 🙂
Your goals sound great and I know you can do it!! Hmmm, maybe I need to go check out row80 to help me get myself in gear!
Kara recently posted..Sunsets, Clawfoot tubs, and Cowboys
Kara, get your butt over to ROW80 girl! I’m coming after you! You’re gonna ROCK the ROW! Let us know when you post your goals and we are there to support you! Thanks Kara for your support! 🙂
Squee, ROW80 is becoming such a fantastic party with you and our other WANA1011’ers on board! I’m so excited to ‘officially’ give you the welcome wave, and to see your fantastic goals. This is going to be a great round!
Lena Corazon recently posted..New Goals and A Bit of Inspiration
Ooh, Lena, thanks girlfriend for all your support! I am feeling your excitement and am ready to ROCK! Thanks Lena! 🙂
Great goals, Karen. But remember to take care of yourself so you stay healthy. I’ll keep hubby in my prayers.
I have no doubt you’ll accomplish what you’ve set out to do.
Louise Behiel recently posted..Before You Set Goals or Make Resolutions
Thank you Louise for caring so much and for all of your support! I know I can always count on you! And you know I’m there to support you also! 🙂
I’m with you, Karen! This will be my second ROW. Even though I didn’t get as much done as I wanted, the last one was great! What was especially helpful was that I got a better handle on what was a realistic goal for me and how much I could really do without getting burned out.
I need to go back and add networking and fitness goals to mine this time, although the fitness is actually working out for me for once. I discovered that I can read on my netbook on the treadmill – finally, a workout I look forward to!
Good luck with your goals, and I’m adding my good wishes for your husband.
Jennette Marie Powell recently posted..My Town Monday: Americana in Art
Thank you Jennette! You are so awesome! Reading while on the machine? That’s a thought. But could be dangerous on an elliptical! LOL!! And I already have someone going into surgery. I love that ROW80 has helped you meet your goals and get organized. That means there’s hope for me yet! Thank you for your kind wishes, they’re appreciated! 🙂
You can do it, Karen!
I’ll be thinking of you and your husband as the surgery date nears. Check in with your WANA1011 team to let us know how that goes.
Also, you’d better not like the ROW80 group better and forget about us.
Oh Pat, you are so kind and thoughtful. Thank you my new friend! And don’t worry, I’m not really going anywhere. I’m still gonna stick with my WANA1011 buddies. I just thought I’d try this out for fun. 🙂
Karen, excuse my ignorance, but what is WWBC? I’ve seen it now in a couple of people’s posts. And…. I’m here to help you with your goals, so when you need a shout out or a kick in the keysters, I will be here for you. Best of luck my darling.
Rachel recently posted..Are You Ready to Put Everything You Own into 2 Boxes and 3 Grocery Bags?
Hey there Rachel! Good to know I can count on you for a good swift kick in the butt! What is WWBC? Well, it stands for Warrior Writers Boot Camp. It was started by Bob Mayer and Kristen Lamb now runs the group. But it’s so much more than critique. It helps you write your novel from the conception of your idea to the very last word. It’s really more like a very successful technique. Thank you for your support and right back at ya girl! 🙂
You can do it, Karen. I have the utmost confidence in you.
Ginger Calem recently posted..Top Five of 2011
Hey there Ginger, thanks for the vote of confidence! How did you know I needed that? But somehow I knew I could count on you! Thanks girl! 🙂
You’ve inspired me, Karen! I fell by the wayside last round, but I’m determined to see it through this time. I too need to whip myself into shape!
Debra Eve recently posted..Lessons Learned From 15 Minutes Of Amazon Fame
LOL Debra! Me an inspiration? Well thank you very much. I’m so happy to learn that you are in ROW80 too. I look forward to getting to know you better in the upcoming months. Together we can do it!!!! 🙂
Great goals Karen. I’m not doing ROW80, but I have a similar list, so I will cheer you on at the sidelines 🙂
Coleen Patrick recently posted..The Indefinite Future of Someday
Coleen, thank you for all of your support, as always you are wonderful about this. And I will look forward to doing the same for you my friend. Though I wish you were in the ROW with me. But there’s always hope! 🙂
Karen, don’t sell yourself short! Newbie to ROW, whatever. 🙂 These goals are great and I (we) are going to be here to cheer you on. I love that you have crafted what is realistic for you now since part of your focus is on helping your husband. ROW is great in that it lets us start small and build up as needed. Rock it!
Alright Barbara, I’m gonna ROCK IT! Thanks so much for your support and confidence. I sure need it. And did I see that we are in Bob Mayer’s class together? That is super cool! I look forward to getting to know you better Barbara! Thanks a lot!!! 🙂
Here’s to kicking a little ROW80 butt girl. Your goals are fabulous and I know you’ll do great. And here’s to your hubby coming through his spinal surgery and rehab wonderfully – we’ll be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers!!!
Natalie Hartford recently posted..Hubby’s Corner: are you a man or a mouse?
Thank you for popping in so quickly Natalie to give me your encouragement and support! You are so awesome girl! And thank you for your kind thoughts about my Hubby. We are looking forward to getting his surgery over with and relieving his pain. But I’m ready to kick some serious butt right alongside you Natalie! And I loved your Hubby’s post today! It was stinkin hilarious! 🙂
Yay, Karen! Just posted my ROW80 goal setting too. Together we can do this!
Fabio Bueno recently posted..ROW80 – 2012 – First Round – Goal Setting
How exciting Fabio! Thank you so much for all your encouragement and support! I know you’re someone I can count on! 🙂
Way to go, Karen! I’ve tried to sign up for this but so far no luck. I’ll keep trying because, like you, I need to shape up my writing life. The whole WANA1011 thing got me so focused on social media that I’ve let the writing part of my life slide so far down on my priority list that it’s not really there anymore. 🙂
Kristy K. James recently posted..Another Auld Lang Syne
Well over my dead body! That’s Just not acceptable is it? We are gonna get our lives back Kristy! I loved our WANA class, but I’m way off balance. And I, like you need to get back to writing! So let’s make a pack my friend. We are gonna meet our goals! Thanks so much for your support and right back at ya Kristy!
Good luck with this, Karen. I’m positive you’ll do it. And you have my support, with one caveat (that’s how we recovering lawyers talk): You must ask for my support when you need it. I’m not saying you’re getting “conditional love” from me. Only that I absolutely want to help you, but I get bogged down in other stuff and I may miss your less obvious signals (even if you think only a deaf, dumb, and blind kid would miss them, trust me, I’ve been known to be mired in minutia for weeks at a time…). So shout out when we want me and, to quote Michael Jackson, “I’ll be there.”
Diane Capri recently posted..Best Tweets That ‘Twas
Recovering lawyers! LOL!!! That’s hilarious!
Now Diane, this is what I love about you. I know you’re a lurker girl. But when it really counts, you are there to give your total support. That means so much to me, you have no idea how much. Thank you Diane! 🙂
I don’t do ROW80, but reading your goals does motivate and inspire me. I like the idea of goals about reading other blogs and tweeting, too. I never remember to add in the time that takes.
Emma Burcart recently posted..Pork and Red Panties: Getting Lucky in the New Year!
I don’t do ROW80. I love that Emma! But you could! I love that ROW80 gives you the added support you need, yet it doesn’t make you feel like a failure if you need to change them along the way. Because doesn’t life have a way of doing that for us? So sign up girl and join the fun and excitement! We’ll be looking for you! And thanks so much for dropping by and all your support! Just remember I’m there for you too! 🙂
I’m right there with you Donna! And my list is similar too lol. I just signed up for row80. Here’s to successful goal setting! Now..go write lol
Melinda recently posted..Fantasy Friday: Leap of Faith
Alright Melinda! That’s fabulous! I wish you much success! And please let me know what I can do to be of encouragement and help, okay? Thank you Melinda! 🙂
Woot! Go, Karen! …and why not drive Donna crazy, lol. So now we’re ROW-sisters as well as WWBC team mates! Good luck with hubby’s surgery, and your goals!
K.B. Owen recently posted..ROW80 – Time to Rock it for 2012!
Well alright Kathy! I can surely drive Donna crazy. But between you and me, I think she’s already crazy, don’t you? LOL!!! Yea, we’re ROW-sisters! I love that! I didn’t know you were in WWBC, that’s awesome! Wow, what support I have. Please let me know what I can do to support you, okay? And thank you for all your kindness Kathy! 🙂
I am so in your corner! This will be my first row80, as Nov was my first nano. (and this is my first time trying to use the Dvorak keyboard, so everything is 1/2 tempo!)
xxoo
Thank you Julia for your support! I knew I could count on you! So sorry to hear that the Dvorak keyboard is so sluggish. That’s a bummer. I was hoping it would save those tender fingers of yours. Well good for you for not giving up! Thank you Julia for all your encouragement! 🙂