2017 is here - thank F$@* for that!

2016 seemed to be a year that almost everyone I know and even those I don't know attributed as being a crap year. Just look at all the celebrity deaths 2016 claimed. One after the other, legends from across the entertainment world were taken, a little bit of light in the world taken with them.

Personally it was a year of struggle, so I'm glad to see the back of 2016. Really glad as my blog post title can attest to.

Now, one week into 2017 I'm thinking not of resolutions but more what I want to achieve in the next year. Goals which can be broken down into achievable tasks.

I want to continue my decluttering. It's a slow process for me - it takes so much of my mental energy away - but it is worth it in the long run.

Reading was the one good thing of 2016 that I would like to continue. Over at Eleni's Library, I've been putting my wrap ups from my reading challenges.

Design projects I've wanted to tackle have been calling me, but mostly I want to get back into my writing. Firstly editing a fantasy manuscript, which I hope would do a mental declutter and allow the creativity to free up again to write rather than edit.

All in all, I'm looking forward to 2017. I know that I need to pace myself and that's always been a challenge for me but I'm looking at the new year with optimism and moving forward.

Suffice to say, I hope 2017 is a wonderful year for you and yours. We deserve a great year full of joy and delight.

Happy 2017!! 

~Eleni x

2012 goals

Yes, it's that time of the year when a look at how I did at achieving lasts year's goals and coming up with new ones.

My goals for 2011 were:

• Edit – DreamTamer, Gateway to Hell, Clown story, sanctuary sci-fi story (for Aus anthology) - umm, no, yes, no, yes
• Write – Shadow novella, Lady & the Dragon, short story for MZB’s Sword & Sorcery anthology - yes, no, sort of
• Read resources on writing I have on my shelf - no
• Overhall website - changed the banner and font. Still not complete overhaul
• Enter Little Gems Short Story - yes
• Enter Little Gems cover contest - yes
• Submit once stories are polished :) Hoping to sumbit one novel, two novellas and 6 short stories - no, one novella, yes
• Overhaul my CFS blog - no

What I didn't account for when setting the goals was my start up of a design business, family health, family commitments, and volunteer commitments. 

On to 2012...

This year, I possibly be taking up some study, so I need to keep that in mind as well as being on the conference committee for Diamonds Are Forever, and my new exercise routine. I've been going to the gym two to three times a week, doing some pilates and Tai Chi also. I'd love to keep that up as the more energy I have, the more I can do in other aspects in my life. But I want to make sure I have a couple of days a week which are 'low key' days so I can have some rest. Again, it's a matter of balancing. 

Goals

Writing

• Write Warder 2 novella
• Finish first draft of Lady & The Dragon
• Write 4 short stories

Editing

• Finish HD editing by March
• Shadow book 1
• DreamTamer 
• Short stories -  including reworking 2 old short stories

Business

• Submit Warder 2
• Submit 4 short stories
• A look at my website
• obtain ITIN
• Attend RWAus conference
• Exchange work with CPs
• Promo when short story releases occur
• Continue networking on FB, Twitter, and blogs etc.

Health 

• Continue with exercise routine - 3 exercise sessions a week
• Balance - rest when need to

Reading

• My reading challenges are over at my reading blog, Eleni's Library.

Study

• Do a drawing class 
• Prepare timetable each week to include study (if I'm accepted into the course I've applied for) and make sure everything is up to date. This of course will have smaller goals throughout the year.

Other

• Conference preparation for Diamonds Are Forever on Gold Coast in August.
• Attend SARA meetings
• RWAus duties

Wish me luck!

How about you? Have you set any goals?

2010 overview

OK, so Kylie Griffin asked me in the comments to the New Year's post with my 2011 goals of how I went with the 2010 goals. I thought it would be a good blog post.

Last year at this time, we were dealing with the after-effects of my dad's heart bypass surgery. Well appointments and family stuff continued during the year with December being the MONTH of the Waiting Room.

So here we go - 2010 review.

My goal overall is balance - creating a balance with all the areas of my life. This is an ongoing battle as long-time readers of this blog know. It is harder when I feel differently every day with my energy levels. So that has to be taken into consideration.

Well yes, that still is my overall goal and I'm trying. Really I am. I've actually signed up to do a course on those who have chronic conditions (like CFS) on how to better balance oneself. It's good to re-evaluate and do something like this once in awhile because quite frankly, it's so easy to say 'stuff it'.

Writing

seek agent representation - I have queries out there now and I'm on hiatus from querying more.

finish final final overview of HD - DONE and sent to agents/publishers and entered into competitions.

finish first draft of DT & start polishing - first draft done. Polishing not yet. So 1 out of 2.

Finish & submit Gateway to Hell (novellete) - finished first draft, no working on second draft.

Attend Adelaide Roadshow - YES and was the registrar.

Hopefully attend the RWAus National Conference in August - YES, and pitched and was a moderator for a workshop. 

Reading
For my 2010 goals check out Eleni's Library. But really it's trying to tackle the TBR pile & get it under control. Not like that's possible because there is so much wonderfully talented authors who continue to release wonderful books, so it's ever growing.

While I didn't quite reach the targets for all the challenges, I've started making headway. Though I don't know if 'under control' was realistically achievable. But I've signed up for more for this year.

Health 

balance as needed.

Yep that is a hard one. And not always easy to achieve. But I take each day as it comes.

Study 

finish course by mid-April.

Done and finished it in March, so huzzah a little earlier than expected. It has taught me one thing - I do not want to be a Bookkeeper. Oh data entry is fine but all the rules and regs. Nope, I'd rather keep my brain cells for writing, thank you very much.

RWAus roles

continue to do my bits & pieces for RWAus. Need to set up reminders for my monthly tasks.

Yep, continued to do this. Though monthly reminders. Hmmm...sort of.

And was very honoured and surprised to have been nominated for the Lynne Wilding Award for service to RWAus.

Networking 

maintain my blogs, the Bootcamper 101 blog & website, the SARA website & news page.

Yep, I did do this. Maybe not as often as I would have liked. But yep, done.

Contest 

I've actually been working on doing a cover design for a contest. So I am letting my creativeness out in other avenues. So enter this by its due date. 

And I entered and actually won the Little Gems contest. It really was helpful to do this for my creativity. I love the visual world but also it gave me something to work on when my brain cells couldn't function on writing due to dad's recovery. 

So that's it. That was 2010. Not too bad I think. I'm hoping 2011 will be even better.

~yia~

Belated wishes

It's the 3rd of January already! Totally forgot to welcome the new year on this blog. Yesterday's blog post was scheduled and I thought I'd scheduled another one for the 1st.

Hmmmm....slight oversight.

So here it is - the New Year's post and of course I wish you all have a fantabulous 2011!!!

So my goals for 2011. I prefer goals and not resolutions. Goals is something you can work towards and take smaller steps toward. Or so it seems to me.

• Edit – DreamTamer, Gateway to Hell, Clown story, sanctuary sci-fi story (for Aus anthology)
• Write – Shadow novella, Lady & the Dragon, short story for MZB’s Sword & Sorcery anthology
• Read resources on writing I have on my shelf.
• Overhall website
• Enter Little Gems Short Story
• Enter Little Gems cover contest
• Submit once stories are polished :) Hoping to sumbit one novel, two novellas and 6 short stories.
• Overhaul my CFS blog

And of course I would like to find more balance with health and energy levels. The type of CFS isn't helpful to my weight, still I need a more concerted effort at my lifestyle needs to be looked at. As regular readers know, routine is hard for me as each week/day is different. Still I'm trying to add little routines to help with the day.

Still I am happy with the way my writing is going and the headway I had made in 2010, I hope that 2011 continues this.

So best wishes to you all and thank you for your support.

~yia~

Procrastination????

As everyone across the blogging world writes down their goals or resolutions for 2010, I have yet to come up with mine. Is it procrastination on my part? A little but I think it is more that there is so much happening right now in my life that I'm just dealing with day-to-day things. 


Writing - at a standstill. It's like my creativity has been sucked out by dad's surgery and this over 40C heat!


Reading - very slow. Just reading abit of Nikki's book Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss as I fall into bed just utterly tired from my hectic days. It's a great book to finish the day off with. So my challenges look weak over at my book blog, Eleni's Library.


Studying - onto assignment 8. Now at the hard part. Have to write two 1000-1500 word reports. Eeek formal reports. 


Grants reports - I still have yet to do my reports for Arts SA and my local council - as I went straight from Eleni-fest to renovation clean up/hospital running around. So I've started collating the information.


Office clean up - I have made a start to this. Though to anyone else's eyes it would look I haven't made progress. I can SEE the carpet. Who would have thunk? I had a nice area on the couch during Eleni-fest but once all the prizes left, stuff just sort of migrated there (that's a better way than saying I chucked things there - LOL). So trying the slow and steady approach.


But the fun part of all is that I've pulled a neck muscle so it hurts to do anything for too long ATM. 


So my goals & aspirations for 2010 - hmmm...they will have to be general & then I'll have set smaller tasks to achieve them. 


My goal overall is balance - creating a balance with all the areas of my life. This is an ongoing battle as long-time readers of this blog know. It is harder when I feel differently every day with my energy levels. So that has to be taken into consideration.


Writing 

• seek agent representation
• finish final final overview of HD 
• finish first draft of DT & start polishing
• Finish & submit Gateway to Hell (novellete).
• Attend Adelaide Roadshow
• Hopefully attend the RWAus National Conference in August. 

Reading 
For my 2010 goals check out Eleni's Library. But really it's trying to tackle the TBR pile & get it under control. Not like that's possible because there is so much wonderfully talented authors who continue to release wonderful books, so it's ever growing.


Health - balance as needed.


Study - finish course by mid-April.


RWAus roles - continue to do my bits & pieces for RWAus. Need to set up reminders for my monthly tasks.


Networking - maintain my blogs, the Bootcamper 101 blog & website, the SARA website & news page.


Contest - I've actually been working on doing a cover design for a contest. So I am letting my creativeness out in other avenues. So enter this by its due date. 




So not real 'set' timeframes but general directional goals. I now have to think HOW I'm going to accomplish these. You know breaking down the tasks into achievable chunks.


Hmmm...so it may seem like I'm procrastinating but really it's planning & being flexible enough when life throws things your way ;))


Hope 2010 is fantastic for everyone!!


And don't forget to check out the LoveCats DownUnder blog that has launched today - there will be some prizes happening during this week. 


~yia~