Month of June Goals



Well, guys and girls, I'm really glad I'm posting my goals on my blog. It's helping me to accomplish them. I'd suggest you do likewise, for sure.

Well, here's how my month of May goals went:

• Go on a much needed vacation to Washington State Check and Check
• Give myself some R&R for two weeks before I doing anything related to writing Check. I did get sick the week I was supposed to start editing again, so I technically took three weeks off. But then I had a bout with editor's block (writer's block but only when editing). I'm finally back in the game now.
• Read The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter Check and Check. I loved it so much that I've already finished its sequel, Goddess Interrupted. My holy crap, this series is incredible. Read it! Now!
• Catch up on blog commenting Check but this is an ongoing goal.

Well, on and upwards I go. *Drum Roll*

Here are my Month of June goals:

• Read The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
• Complete an edit of my wip: BOUND
• Hand off BOUND to one more round of betas
• Beta a friend's book--Ashley, I'm so proud of you!
• Continue forward with my no sweets diet. I've done 12 days for 21. Woot!
• Exercise three times a week

Well, what are your Month of June goals? Or what's new in your life?

Writing. Jewels.

Writers by Design

The past two weeks, I've taken a break from writing. It's good to take breaks, especially after a serious revision . . . at least for me. It helps me to tackle the upcoming project of writing or edits with greater motivation. Last Saturday, I started an edit of my WIP, BOUND, as per beta suggestions. It should be fun.

While I was taking my break, I not only went on vacation, read The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, relaxed, etc., but I watched the full first season of the TV show Jane by Design. Yes, it sucked me in after 10 minutes; TV shows have the keen ability to do that to me. Ok, I'm so in love with this series that I've decided to redesign, re-envision myself through clothing. Yes, my pocketbook didn't like me for it. Sorry, bank account.

At any rate, I've taken some fashion tips from Jane to alter my outfits from that of a trendy librarian to a punky librarian. Uh... I have no idea if that makes sense at all. But, I'm liking the new me who splashes funky styles together to build a nice outfit.

This has to do with writing, too. Building a story is all about combining different elements (plot, characters, tension, setting, etc.). Some work and are beautiful, to die for. Others, not so much. Like in one episode of Jane by Design, Jane strings this rather ugly belt around her waist that definitely did not look good, and people told her, too. She quickly discarded it.

As writers, we compose a story and go back through it and have to get rid of certain parts, maybe even a full chapter(s) because it doesn't help the plot to progress. I've had to do that... my first book was about 100K when I finished the first draft. I remember one chapter that I loved so, so much. A critique partner suggested that it had to go. I dragged my feet, but eventually took the scene out. Now, the book is at 67K. Lots of deleting took place.

But with all the world-building, character development, and everything else that goes into writing a good story, it's all about designing it into something priceless, polished, gorgeous--like pulling together a fashionable ensemble of clothing.

Well, what are your thoughts on this sort of rambling post?

Writing. Jewels.

Wrapping It Up

So, I spent my vacation on the banks of the Columbia River. I enjoyed time with my brother's family, two parades, a super-duper-chocolatey-smothered funnel cake, a carnival, a craft fair, and a 5K race. And yes, oddly enough, I did enjoy the run. Oh, and I saw The Avengers too. Not that shabby for a weekend, eh?

Well, now I'm taking some recuperating time from the fun. And that's why this post has come a bit late on this fine Tuesday post-day. I slept in and didn't have a post scheduled. I very well could have prepared this last night, but I watched a couple too many episodes of Jane by Design on Netflix. While on my vacation someone told me about the show. Now.... yes.... I'm obsessed. And really want to go on a huge shopping spree to buy supercool clothes like Jane wears.

Could I pull it off is the question...

Anyway, here are some pics from my vacation. I promise, I'll get back to posting about writing from now on. But for now, enjoy some pics!




At the craft fair, I spotted a vendor doing henna. This is the ink drying.

 I wanted the Chinese character for love put on my ankle and asked for pretty flowers to sprout from it. So pretty!

 My hand today, it is fading a bit but should last for a while longer.

 Ok, this is how much I love dogs... I'm standing in the dog potty area. Gross, huh? But I had to get the pic cuz it was way too cool to pass up the chance. Haha

 Me holding my sleeping niece at the parade. She's sooo cute. Me on the other hand, not so cute. I just finished a 5K. Give me a break. :D

And I read quite a bit of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter while trapped in a car for the 11 hour drive, twice. Could have finished more, but got caught up in watching movies with my nephews and niece. And taking little naps here and there.

Love you all!

Writing. Jewels.

Vacation Time

So, I haven't been on a real vacation for a very long time. The last one was in 2009. I went to France and Italy for my graduation from university present to myself. A good thing too. It was the catalyst for my inspiration to write my first book. Since then the most I've done is backpacking trips, but that's sleeping on the ground in middle of nowhere. Not necessarily the go-sit-on-the-beach-and-relax type of thing, if ya know what I mean? Backpacking takes lots of stamina. Don't get me wrong, I love being in the outdoors with a pack on my back, fighting off bears and snakes... Ok, not that part, but the nature aspect and spending some quality time with my pops and whatever other old guys (his friends) want to join in. Yes, my backpacking buddies are all nearing their 70's.

*shakes head*

Well, I'm going to Wenatchee, Washington for its city festival called Apple Blossom. My brother and his wife go to it every year and have raved about it. Well, my lovely sister-in-law invited me this time around.

Yes, I get to experience the fun of the festival for the first time. Well, part of it won't be that fun; I've been wrangled into running a 5K--my first ever. I'm an active person, but not a runner due to not so great knees and ankles. Blast them. But, alas, I'm going to go for it even if I'm the last runner to cross the finish line. Of which, I'm pretty sure I will be. Shoot!

Well, I hope to spend some quality time with my nephews and niece--the cute-alicious little rugrats.

And I'm not going to do anything dealing with writing other than checking my blog every once in a while. But, because of the fact that we are road-tripping it from Utah to Washington, I'll have plenty of time to get some reading done (The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter).

So do you have any fun trips coming up? What do you like to do when vacationing? Or would you rather just tuck yourself in bed with a good book?

Writing. Jewels.

Month of May Goals

Hello, dear followers. Man-o-Man, it was a crazy April. I'm sort of exhausted with all I've done, especially writing-wise.

I'm going to start off this post with some questions up front:

So what are your Month of May Goals? How does goal setting help you when it comes to writing? What are your methods of setting goals? Do you write them down, have them in your head, or tell someone? Or maybe all of the above?

Having started to blog about my goals has been beneficial. Because I put them out there for the world to see, it gives me that extra push to ACCOMPLISH them.

Well, here's how I did with my Month of April Goals:

• Have a super awesome 30th Birthday! Check Check Check! What a fabulous day!
• Try not to get depressed for not being married by my 30th Birthday. Check. I actually feel supercool being 30! Woot!
• Finish Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver Super Check. What a super great book. Can't wait to have the cliffhanger resolved.
• Finish a revision of my book, FÉLICITÉ FOUND Check-o-my-Check. Finished it just a couple days ago. I took my time to make this revision COUNT! *BAM*
• Complete an edit of my WIP, BOUND No Check but I don't care. It was more important to work on my first book.
• Will not buy any clothing ---> I'm going to say I half accomplished this. All I bought was a supercool Doctor Who tshirt. And it is beautiful.
• Read Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon Check. An enjoyable book with a great premise. And it takes place in Ireland so it has to be good, right? Bring on the hot Irish accents.

Not half that bad, if I do say so myself.

Now on to my Month of May Goals:

• Go on a much needed vacation to Washington State with my brother's family (Time to have some quality time with my nephews and niece)
• Give myself some R&R (Say 2 weeks) before I dive back into anything related to writing
• Beta a beta's book
• Read The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
• Catch up on checking out blogs in the blogoshere (I've pretty much sucked at this in April because of revisions--Sorry guys) 

Loves to you all!

Writing. Jewels.