Admittedly, I have completely lost my ability to tell time, days of the week, weeks of the month, and months of the year, but I think it’s slightly past the halfway point of the year. Which means it’s probably about that time when I take a look at the goals I set for myself back in January to see how my year is progressing. Or, you know, not progressing, as the case may be. I honestly don’t know. January feels like it was a million years ago.
—Publish Love & Other Lies
Well, I haven’t managed to do this yet. Which comes as a shock, I know. What may be more shocking, however, is that I’ve actually made some progress on this goal. I don’t really want to go into any details because doing so feels too much like tempting fate or something, but yes. Progress has been made. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
July’s goal: Continue making progress and don’t, you know, sabotage everything because I’m an anxiety-ridden freakazoid. Which I would never do except I would do exactly that because I’m an anxiety-ridden freakazoid.
—Complete first draft of Full Circle
I haven’t accomplished this, either, but I have made some progress on it. Kind of. Sort of. I mean, yesterday, I totally had this realization about the story that would mean I have to add way more stuff to it and restructure a not-insignificant part of acts one and two in order to do it. Which is totally cool and exactly what I had hoped would happen midway through the year because why make progress on a WIP when you can actually make the opposite of progress? And sure, if you want to get all technical about it, I am making progress on this story because, apparently, knowing where it’s headed is, like, a vital part of the process. It just doesn’t feel much like progress.
July’s goal: Jot down notes for this super awesome restructuring project for which I’m totally psyched. But this WIP’s on the back burner for the moment.
—Write the first draft of the Terrible Romance Sequel
Hahahahaha! Look! It’s a goal on which I wasn’t suppose to MAKE any progress yet because it’s not slated to be started until NOVEMBER! God, I LOVE this goal!
I have jotted down some ideas for it and started building its playlist (super vital, I know). I’m looking forward to November because I have no idea how I’m going to write this book. Or even if I can.
July’s goal: Jot down any notes or ideas that pop into my head. But this WIP’s still on the back burner.
—Read at least 52 books
I’m actually on track with this goal. For the moment, anyway. And that’s only the case because I decided to re-read Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series and most of those books are, like, 80% short lines of dialogue. But hey, it still counts.
July’s goal: Read at least four books to stay on track
—Walk at least three miles per day
I have…mostly done this. Some days, I miss the mark by a little (or a lot…) and other days, I clear it by a wide margin. I’ve averaging at least three miles per day and am well ahead in the yearly mileage goal count-tally thing.
July’s goal: Keep up that whole ‘not becoming part of the couch’ thing
—Declutter and downsize
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Yeah. I haven’t done this. Like, at all. I think I may have, in fact, done the opposite.
July’s goal: Continue to lie to myself that I’m actually going to do this…
And on that note…I’m outta here.
How are you doing on your 2020 goals, or were you perhaps one of those smart people who didn’t make any? What’s on your agenda for July? If it is July. (Or, you know, will be in a few days…)
Unless I forget (which I never do…), I’ll be back on Wednesday for the Insecure Writers Support Group!
See y’all then. Thanks for stopping by!
You’re doing pretty good.
Think we need to do some decluttering as well…
I’m not sure I would say I’m doing pretty well, but it’s true that I could be doing a lot worse.
Goals? What goals? 🙂 It’s taking everything I have just to stay on some sort of positive track while not melting from the heat.
I have been doing some decluttering to prep for moving but not nearly enough. Sigh.
Good luck with your goals going forward!
I still can’t believe the amount of stuff we got rid of when we moved to the god forsaken swamp state. And then I look around at all the stuff I still have, and I can’t. I just can’t. I am such a pack rat. I really don’t know how my significant other can stand it.
I’m completely with you on being an anxiety-ridden freakazoid! so much stress. And setting those goals always screws me over and make Life throw another curveball my way! Looking forward to the Terrible Romance Novels! Let me know if I can help!!
Anxiety-ridden freakazoids unite!
Yay for progress!!!!!!
Usually this time of year, I have to face the realization that I’m just not going to accomplish what I set out to do. I haven’t had to do that yet. Well, except for maybe the decluttering goal…
To be honest, I’m impressed that anyone is even attempting to meet their goals for 2020. Everything has gone so off the the rails for the year, just making it through each day is something of a victory, so don’t sweat it if you don’t meet some goal you made back before the the world started on this downward spiral.
You’re doing great! Just stick with it.
I think I’m working toward my goals out of sheer habit. But I’ll take it. 🙂
Your July goal made me laugh. Maybe if you say enough, it will happen. 😉
I assume you mean the goal about lying to myself. I mean…my solemn promise to declutter my house/life.
Oh. Right. It’s the middle of the year. I forgot about that. Crap, I should probably look at all my own goals. I blame you for this.
Seriously though, it sounds like you’re doing well. There have been a few spanners in the works, but that’s not really your fault. You’re making your book the best it can be! That’s progress.
Sorry…
This year… Yeah, any progress is a major accomplishment. Considering that the world has turned into a dumpster fire, the fact that you’re making any progress at all is something to be proud of.
And we are at that point of the year when it’s time to reassess and redo and such, so a major overhaul on the plot of your novel is actually perfect. I bet you’ll find it’ll go easier and quicker than you expect. Yes, it feels like a lot of work, but it’ll be worth it.
I can’t say I really thought I’d finish that first draft this year (or the terrible romance sequel, for that matter. I’ve never once completed a NaNo story during NaNo). It just would have been nice. But yeah, if that’s what the story needs, then I’ll obviously do it.
When I made 2020 goals, I expected quite a different year than I’ve gotten. I’m not sure I even remember what I thought I’d do. I’ve made more house progress than I expected (because I’m home more) and less writing progress than I expected (because of the reasons I’m home more).
I think most of us expected a very different 2020. 🙂
I couldn’t remember any of the goals I had set back in January, so it was a real surprise when I looked at the original post. I am, quite frankly, shocked that I’m faring as well as I am.