Each step in the writer’s journey is another test of our endurance. It can be an opportunity for failure, sure. But, it can more importantly be an opportunity to chose our passion and prove to ourselves we are in this for the long haul. Any time our daily schedule changes, whether it’s your number of tasks from week to week, summer to school year, new job, change in work schedule, we choose to keep moving forward. I don’t think it occurred to me, until this week, how much my schedule is about to change. It’s time to put a polish on my commitment to this journey. First I need to remember, I can’t do it all. Somethings need to be given up, priorities need to redefined. It’s time for creative re-scheduling. I’m tempted to get stressed out by the whole mess, but instead I’m looking at this as an opportunity to fine tune my day and move forward in a whole new way. It’s time to re-commit and empower ourselves to go after what we want.
Exciting times.
This week I let go of something for the time being, my Saturday posts, Links of the weeks. I love finding fabulous blog posts, I learn so much from bloggers every week. I hope to find my way back to these posts sometime soon. One thing I always did in those posts was add a video at the bottom. Normally it’s suggested music from my hubs, but this summer and for the next couple of weeks I wanted to share my fav routine from SYTYCD. For now, I’m going to include these videos at the bottom of my Sunday check-in, so don’t miss that below, this week’s is incredible.
Motivation Jars (14-goals in all & $7.50 is up for grabs each week): 11-goals had real good progress or they’re in line for progress. Wardrobe Jar gets $5.89 (total so far: $58.92) and NOT my political party of choice jar gets $1.61 (total so far: $8.58)
The Goals – week-9 results
- Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters– done
- Pick a title for Voyage Novu #1 & #2- I did it, well, for #1 anyway. I’m 1/2 way, not bad.
- Write 3,000 words each week or 33,000 for the round- none again, boo. WEEK 10 PRIORITY
- Spend time editing at least 3 times each week- done. I spent 3-days editing this week.
- Send Voyage Novu #1 to 2nd beta- Goal complete.
- Finish Editing Voyage Novu #1- I finished another read through, Wahoo!! Now I need to check in with beta readers and see if they can take a peak.
- Voyage Novu#1 Query/Synopsis: finish, polish, get 2nd opinions, finalize AND send out 1st round- I continued my participation in pitch camp this week and I have developed answers to some typical publisher questions.
- Finish first draft of Voyage Novu#2 and begin to edit- Since I only read through VN#1 this week I still have not made any progress here, but that should change this week. WEEK 10 PRIORITY
- Finish reading current craft book and start another- I did it, I finished Plot & Structure.
- Workout a minimum of 200-minutes a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep and my calorie limit- done with calorie explosion on day of birthday party 🙂
- Study one of the Nia 52-moves each week- Across Punch: start in the ready position, and simultaneously bring one fist and forearm across the body, palm down, while the other elbow and forearm draws back to maintain vertical alignment. Look where you punch and exhale while you punch. Engage the whole body by pushing down with your feet.
- Finish the Sanjana bars and start the Opal bars (i.e. studying the song/movement structure)- I’m still no finished the movement notes, but I made significant progress this week
- Finish needed continuing education, enter all credits on PMI site and save my PMP certification for another 3-years- WEEK 10 PRIORITY
- Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities- I finished the next round of invoices, made a short speech at the school wide parent meeting and a slew of other things. Full week, but I got it done.
SYTYCD – season 9, top 8
Cole & Allison were superb this week. The contrasts from soft to hard are magnificent. If we lose Cole next week I’m going to be very sad.
What you might have missed here this week:
S.J. Maylee 
I’m fascinated by dance as drama like that. They were awesome in that video.
As to ROW80, you are doing wonderfully! I’m sure you’re frustrated about the word count, but you’ll get there! I probably should have done that pitch camp, but I’ve been so swamped I couldn’t imagine adding anything to the schedule. I relate to needing to give some things up and redefine priorities.
I hope you enjoyed PLOT & STRUCTURE. I got a lot from that book. I am currently reading WIRED FOR STORY, which is rather interesting so far.
Best wishes for a great week!
I get a lot of inspiration for SYTYCD. They show drama and passion and power in such beautiful ways.
I am frustrated with the word count, but I haven’t had time to do the read through that’s needed. I know I’ll be able to jump right back in once I read it through. I’m very, very eager. The MFRW yahoo group is fabulous, I love that group. The help I’ve gotten on my logline and pitch are priceless. They’re having another helpful event next week. I did enjoy Plot & Structure, I learned so much from it. I have tons of things tagged and highlighted that I intend to reread. Thanks, Julie.
Hey, let me know how it’s going with Margie. If you need some encouragement or want to say something like “Oh my goodness, this is SO MUCH editing!”, just shoot me a tweet! 😉
Thanks, I already know you’ll be getting that tweet 😉
I loved your opening line and really needed to hear that writing is about endurance. Especially this week as I kick into another round of revision. I also very much appreciate the specificity of your goals and how you update them (as I’m still relatively new to ROW80), as well as how you talk about adjusting priorities. What are motivation jars? How do you generate the money? Sounds like fun — and another motivator. Also, about your writing. You will make progress on this. Consider that time you’re spending with characters. All that work will flow right back into your writing. Trust the process. Trust that you have the endurance.
Yeap, writing is a distance job and not a sprint that is for sure.
Each round I take on, I keep fine tuning my check-ins and my goal list. I’m still searching for that list that pushes me, but doesn’t run me ragged. I may be searching for a long time, lol. I’m trying out the motivation jars this round as a fun may to keep count on my progress. I could certainly use something new to wear, but I tend to save or buy for the kiddos. So, I figured if I could get enough done, I could at least buy myself something. The money simply comes from my check book.
Trust the process, brilliant. Thanks, Beth.
Going through transition points, especially the volatile schedule changes can be difficult. There myself currently and it seems like you are taking it well in stride. It is hard to give up the things we enjoy or are familiar with but they do make way for things that we may enjoy more.
Keep up the great progress and all the best for the coming week 🙂
Change is hard for me, but I know this. Instead of wasting energy on mourning, I’m trying to see how it could be better. I don’t want to step back, I want to step forward. Thanks for the encouraging words, Gene and for stopping by, it’s fun for me to see you here 🙂
“First I need to remember, I can’t do it all. Somethings need to be given up, priorities need to redefined. ” << SO TRUE!!
11 out of 14 is awesome! Congrats on doing do well!
As an former-dancer and ballerine, SYTYCD fascinates me. Thanks for sharing that video!
Have a great week!
I don’t think I knew we had dance in common too, how nice. I studied for years, it was one of my majors in college, actually.
Thanks, Juliana. It’s a new week and it’s going to take all kinds of determination. I think I’m ready 😉
I’m learning right now all about “creative re-scheduling”. I’ve had a rough few days leading into the weekend, but today found a way to combine all the varied responsibilities into a productive day, even including going into work for two hours (which I say on many weekends I’ll do, but never find the motivation to follow through on.)
I’m trying to place times throughout my day to focus on writing, reading and blogging to keep my focus on this, where I believe my long-term focus should really be.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Yes, parts of the day should be assigned to writing. I love this and I’m working to get there. My days are a constant juggle, between the kids, house work and the evil day job (luckily it’s done at home too) and my writing time keeps getting bounced around. I’m trying to make it a 1st thing in the morning thing, so it cant get skipped. I’m making progress and you will too, as long as we keep pushing for it.