Tuesday Tunes & Update

Hope you had a great Halloween. The only people I saw dressed up were the cashiers at my local Coles. No trick or treaters this year.

I finished off a short story and sent it off, so fingers crossed on that. It was different for me - a detective paranormal story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It shows you why I don't plot. I had a case for the P.I. and it ended being something else all together, including who her hero was. Maybe I can use the previous idea in another story. I really liked these characters and would like to explore them some more. Maybe in a novella. Who knows.

HD prologue has been redone and I'm happier with it. Though as a writer (and fellow writers will acknowledge this), I had the attack of the not-good-enoughs. One reason is that I'm growing as a writer and a draft I would have thought was good a few years back, is not the same draft I would think today. So my expectations of my writing is getting higher as well. Which is a good thing.

Since it's the first of the month, I'll let you know my writing goals:

• Read over Shadow Tale and make notes for a second draft.
• Ideas for Warder 2
• HD - chapters 1 to 5
• Decide on which next novel to concentrate on, and make a start.
• Short story for anthology due next year

That should do it. Wish me luck!

Now for today's tune...

I loved ABBA growing up. Their songs are bobby and fun.

So today, I bring you Money, Money, Money.

I dare you not to sing along *wink*

~yia~

January has left the building....

I still can't believe it's February. I'm glad it's Feb actually as now with dad getting the tick of approval to drive, it'll be going back to some sort of 'normality'. But still it's amazing to think that one month of 2010 has already passed us by.


OK, so what's been happening this month. 

• I continue to do my assignment at a snails pace. Hopefully it will be done by the end of the week.
• I've been running around with appointments - cue exhaustion.
• I'm going through my study in spurts. Goodness, I've kept alot of things. So it's recycle, shred, file or ditch.
• Not much on the writing front - only the last few days, which is so good.
• Same with the polishing of HD. 
• I entered a contest.
• Did some critting for my CP.

On the reading front, I have a run-down of January reads at Eleni's Library. A good start to the year I think, though I would love to read more. But I think everyone's in the same boat with time being a factor.

So what do I want to achieve in Feb?

• catch up on sleep...um ok so that's not a true goal ;)
• Finish 2-3 assignments. Yep gotta get my butt into gear.
• Continue going through the study and clearing/ organising.
• Write, write and write some more. At least 5 days out of the 7 (which days will depend on what is happening in my neck of the woods).
• Finish polishing part 2 of HD at least.
• And remember to take breaks....how long has it been since you sat down at the computer? Have you stretched? No, well off you go.... this will be here when you get back.

OK I think that'll do. I'll be back in March to tell you how this all went. 

In the meantime, happy writing, reading, living!

~yia~

Celebrations...and other stuff

Well, the Bootcampers are officially ONE year old!! WooHoo! 

Happy Birthday girls!

So happy days, (though I've been busy with family stuff the last few weeks and that's been draining).

Still a year ago, we embarked on the Bootcamper 101 course and we are still  here! It's pretty cool.

It's the beginning of November and that means it's NaNoWriMo time - that's National Novel Writing Month.  Good luck to all those participating. I'm cheering on writing buddies from the sidelines. Go! Go! Go!

And the world waits to see the results of the US Presidential election.  It's been interesting watching the events unfold as an outsider, but if I was a US citizen, I'd be voting. Here in Oz we HAVE to vote. Even if we didn't, voting would be a no-brainer as I just think of all the people around the world who would love to vote but aren't allowed.

And I've just watched the first two webisodes of Gemini Division, staring Rosario Dawson on SciFi Channel's website. It's really a different way to tell a story and so far I'm enjoying it and will tune in for more.  And it just confirms what a remarkable actress Rosario is. Interesting behind-the-scenes stuff too.

My main writing goal for the month is to edit HD for the Emerald competition. This is due at the end of November, so my bum is going to be firmly planted in this seat!! LOL! Going slowly but steadily.

I've also made the decision from December (ie after the comp has been entered), my monthly BIAW challenge will be my second WIP, Lady and the Dragon. It will help me move along and get another of my stories to the end of first draft stage. In the non-BIAW weeks, I'll be working on getting my work out there.... scary!!!

Yia....

Full speed ahead!

Well update on my computer situation - funny how much of my time and blogging this topic has taken up *g*. I am now connected to cable internet - oh yeah baby! Already I've done more today than I could do in the slow lane in well.....days, weeks, maybe.  I luv 'driving' fast.

Got my helmet and crash gear just in case though... coz sometimes  technology can be a bitch.

So one of my goals for September completed - buy computer and install cable connection... check!

Have also sent a competition entry for the STALI (Single Title and Loving Competition) by the Romance of Australia. Am also working on the RWNZ Single Title Comp too. Have to work on my synopsis. So that's half a tick.

While the study isn't perfect - I've made great progress though - I can actually SEE the carpet *g*. So I'm giving myself a check for that too.

And I've also been working on writing goals... want to think on it a little more before I let you know about them *g*

Yia :)

What's in store for September?

Well I feel better, though I feel battle fatigued from this flu. So I'm hoping that this month things will take a turn for the better for my writing. So what do I plan to do?

I do have a tendency at rushing ahead when feeling better. I don't want this dastardly flu back again so I'm going to tread slowly.... ever so slowly. That said, this is what would be nice to get done by the end of September:

• Get a Mac and hook up to cable internet connection.
• Enter a couple of contests - RWA's Single (Tittle) and Loving it! and RWNZ Strictly Single Contest.
• Sort out my study - the piles and piles of things flung into every corner of it. It's bursting at the seams!
• Tackle more of my TBR pile
• And set some goals for my writing.

Piece of cake? Well we'll see about that.

Yia!

May goals

OK have been thinking about this a little more and by the end of May, I would like to have achieved the following:

1. edit to the end of part 1 of Alpha.
   
2. work on website design.
3. prepare for a 50K in 30 day challenge starting in June.
4. Of course, attend the RWA's Roadshow.

oh and yes, get some more sleep!

Fingers crossed.
Yia!

Almost to the finish line.....

April is almost at a close and while it's been an ultra busy month - I have survived....just *tired grin*

I am pooped. Easter was a blast and we definitely enjoyed a feast that the tastebuds were more than happy to receive. Yum, yum. It's wonderful catching up with family though when you host a gathering, you don't feel like you have properly caught up with everyone, but quantity time not quality eh?!

I also managed to enter Alpha into 2 competitions, and SSAlpha in another. So I'm a happy puppy right now.

I'll have to think about my goals for next month. Editing the rest of Alpha most likely. And I'll like to sit back and enjoy tackling the evergrowing TBR pile. And also catch up with my lovely friends..... haven't forgotten you.

Yia!

April goals

6 days already into April and I haven't thought about my goals yet. Though I was busy last week fixing Alpha for a competition, so that does contribute to what I wanted to achieve this month.

April is always a busy month for me with family commitments and this year the Greek Orthodox Easter is end of April, so I will be busy with that too. So my main goal for this month is just to survive! Anything above that is a bonus this month.

But I am thinking of entering a short story competition to give me a break from Alpha, though which story I want to polish I'm not sure. That's really concise goal setting for you!!!

Yia!