04 January 2017

The Year in Which I Do Stuff

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So it's that time of year where everyone is making goals and resolutions. I'm usually on the fence about creating them, because I tend not to follow through on actual goals. But this year, I would really like to make some accomplishments. So here are the goals:

1. Finish the third draft of Uneven Lines. 
I'm pretty sure I've had some version of this goal for the last six years (for the 1st and 2nd drafts), and probably this exact goal last year (and the year before...). I think I want to finish it by the summer (maybe June-July), although I wouldn't be opposed to anytime sooner than that, and get some actual beta readers for it. Then once it's done figure out what to do with it.

2. Get back into blogging.
In 2015 I went a little psycho and blogged every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Last year I didn't blog much at all. I'd like to blog every Monday at least. I really have no idea what's been going on with other bloggers lately, too, so I'd like to make sure I visit everyone more often and branch out more to new blogs. I'm on the fence about doing the A to Z Challenge this year. I actually do have an idea that won't be a ridiculous amount of work and could be fun, but I'm just not sure if I'll have the time.

3. Do NaNoWriMo.
I know, this is waaaaaay in advance, but I figure I need to start thinking about it now. I've halfheartedly made this a goal a few times before, but I've never accomplished it. I've never even come close. So this year, I'd like to do it. AND: I want to write the sequel to Uneven Lines for it. That's why I want to start planning it now. I want to make sure I have every detail mapped out before I start writing. There's also a bit of research involved so I'd like to get that done before writing rather than sorting it out after.

4. Read 100 books. 
I've made this goal before, and I know it's incredibly unrealistic. But I still want to try it. Last year I only read 3 books (one of which was a reread), which was pretty pathetic. While I'm not exactly sure if I'll reach 100, I'd like to get closer than ever before. I'd like to read all of the books I already own, and not just fiction--nonfiction, poetry, etc. I think if I have a few books going at once it may help. We'll see.

5. Watch 100 new movies.
I've made this goal before but I've never actually achieved it, even though it would be much easier than the 100 books goal. Last year I only watched 48 movies, which was way less than my usual low 80s from the two years before. If I watch one movie every three days or so, this should be pretty easy. Only movies I've never seen before count.

6. Have an awesome 30th birthday.
Ok, so it's not until August, but I'm already trying to plan it. Well, because for Christmas, my husband got me Hamilton tickets (!!!!!!!!!) for the day after, and I bought tickets for the Amelie musical on my birthday. That's all I have so far, but I have lots and lots of time to plan everything else. I'm hoping to travel to NY the day before my birthday and leave two days after.

So that's it, pretty much. I would like to look into publishing some smaller things (like all those poems that have been sitting around collecting dust), lose some weight (and keep it off!), organize my apartment, yada yada. The really good news is that I've actually started out the year with a big accomplishment, but I think you'll read about that somewhere else...*insert evil laugh* Hopefully I can take the momentum and run with it.

Do I have terribly unrealistic goals? What are your goals for the new year?

33 comments:

  1. You've got some great goals for 2017. Watching 100 new movies really intrigued me. I have no idea how many movies I watch a year, but I suspect it's a lot less than that.

    Tickets to Hamilton is a great birthday present. Sounds like you've got a super hubby there :-)

    Cheers - Ellen

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  2. I am SO VERY PROUD of you!
    Congrats on the anthology!
    HUGE!! HUUUUGE news!
    Those are some great goals. Keep moving forward!
    Heather

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  3. It's never too early to plan a special birthday! My NaNoWriMo goal is to attempt it every year from now on, it definitely helps me to focus, and I'll have something to work on the following 11 months. Your goals sound awesome to me :-)

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  4. Yahoo for the IWSG anthology! That's amazing. And Hamilton tickets? My husband and daughter would be green with envy. We're hoping they send the show to Charlotte, NC where we would have a better chance of catching the show on our travels. Ironically, we live in NY state.

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  5. Yeh for momentum! Keep going, Sarah!

    In case you didn't know, NaNo has a spring/summer version - Camp NaNo....

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  6. Read 100 books? I did that in 2015. It was two books a week, and I totally did it. BUT, I didn't try to do a ton of other things at the same time. A piece of flash fiction a month, 50K words on my big project...and let's not forget that's the year I had another baby. Maybe that's where all the energy went?

    Hey, shoot for the stars, eh? You've totally got this.

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  7. Great goals!
    Happy 2017!
    Congratulations on placing in the IWSG Anthology! So cool!
    Enjoy your birthday, sounds like a great time!

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  8. Happy New Year and I sincerely hope you accomplish all your goals.
    Congratulations also on being chosen for the anthology.
    Wishing you an awesome 2017.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat Garcia

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  9. Congratulations on placing in the anthology!!!! When I knew for certain you made it, I was so thrilled. I knew this was just what you needed.

    I think your goals are great. This is your year. :)

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  10. I think those goals are good. I know I'd like to read more than I have previously, though I doubt I could make it to 100. Best of luck getting both 100 books and 100 movies. Make sure you let us know which you liked the best!

    Grats on the anthology acceptance! I'm looking forward to reading your story (as I've been looking forward to peeking at your work for a while now).

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  11. Congrats on the anthology! That's amazing!!

    I think you have set terrific goals. They don't seem unrealistic to me at all. I read 100 books one year. There was some crunch time right at the end, but I made it. Haven't gotten close to it since, though.

    Best of luck to you!

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  12. Blogging every Monday works for me.
    Never to early to plan for NaNo.
    Good luck with your goals and happy 2017!

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  13. Happy New Year, Sarah. I've done NaNoWriMo for six years with success. That and reading more books this year are both excellent goals. I set a goal to read and review 71 books in 2016 and reached 86. Even if you don't reach 100, you will exceed your number from last year! Best of success in 2017.

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  14. Watch 100 new movies... cake. We watch tons of movies, and lots with the kids. Books are a different story. I am aiming for 1 full novel a month, with a few short story collections that I keep going back to throughout the year whenever I am stuck in line or waiting for one of my kids classes to end. Thank goodness for Kindles readers, otherwise I'd never read a thing!

    Have an awesome 30th!!! :-D

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  15. Not unrealistic at all. In fact, sounds like mostly fun - and inspirational as well! Having some version of the same goal for six years is something I think many of us can relate to ;-) Can't wait to read your story in the anthology - congratulations.
    Good luck on your goals and above all enjoy!

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  16. Well, I think you should definitely have an awesome birthday. That goes without saying. And while it may be a bit early to be thinking about a sequel, having that idea in your head will definitely give you the incentive to finish the first book. Good luck on meeting your goals.

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  17. Good luck with your goals, and congrats on the anthology. =D

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  18. I love your goals! Of course, I like huge, and slightly unrealistic goals because they motivate me to move and jump around. Otherwise, I find squirrels to stare at outside the window - mostly joking here.
    Big Congratulations on your anthology and best of wishes for 2017!
    Hamilton!

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  19. You have good goals and a nice husband. Sounds like 2017 is off to a great start!

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  20. You're the third person I've seen with a book goal over 100, so I think it can be done! Go for it. :)

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  21. I like all your goals. You can do them all. Shoot for the stars :)

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  22. The 100 book and movie goal may be realistic for you, but not for me, unfortunately. I'm going to keep check on you to see if you actually do that!!!!! :-)

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  23. I'm always making goals to write more, submit more. This year is no exception. Maybe this year I'll succeed at them, lol.

    Congrats on the Anthology acceptance.

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  24. You have a great birthday planned.

    Don't forget an anthology release and promotions are also in your near future.

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  25. Oh I think I'm jealous that you're going to see Hamilton! I don't have to tell you to have fun, I know you will. Although I read constantly, I'm a slow reader, can't even squeeze in 52 books a year. I aim for 40 and usually make it to around 45. Good luck with ALL your goals and welcome back to BloggerWorld.

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  26. Congrats on you success. I am doing the Goodreads Challenge again. Did 83 for 2016 so up to 85 for 2017, but in 2015 I read 117 books but I also got less writing done, lol. Congrats and Happy Reading
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  27. Love the title of your post. That sums 2017 up for me as well. What an amazing way to celebrate your 30th!! Have fun planning!

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  28. Like they say, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." More power to you for aiming so high!

    @mirymom1 from
    Balancing Act

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  29. Congratulations on having your story accepted for the 2017 IWSG anthology! What an honor! I look forward to reading your story, as well as those of the other talented writers included in the anthology, Sarah.

    You have a (to me) daunting list of goals for the new year. I'll speak to just one of them. 100 books! I managed about 26 last year, but I tend to pick big fat books. May I suggest that you read some fabulous children's picture books to help you reach that goal? There are amazing, profound, lyrical children books out there, and they can teach a great deal about good writing and life. You may very well have read these, but I'll throw out a few of my favorites: "Annie and the Old One" by Miska Miles, "Howling Hill" by Will Hobbs, "In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McRae" by Linda Greenfield, "The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me" by Roald Dahl, "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon, and "When Clay Sings" by Byrd Baylor.

    These books obviously reflect my tastes, but there are literally thousands of fabulous children's books out there. And while I'm at it, I have to give a shout out to fellow IWSG member Pat Hatt's adorable "Cassie and the Wild Cat: Bug in the rug!" Wishing you a very happy year of writing, reading, and an awesome 30th birthday!

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  30. Sarah, that's a busy list. I like the 100 movies. Does this include binge watching on Netflix?

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  31. Happy New Year!
    Congrats on placing in the anthology.
    Your goals are amazing! I say - go for it!
    I pledged 50 books last year on Goodreads, and I made it. This year, I've reduced it to 25 books because I need to allocate more time for writing.
    Being on the opposite end of the globe, I wonder if I'll ever get to see Hamilton...what a treat.
    I hope you have an awesome 30th birthday, Sarah!

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  32. My goal is simply a repeat of the previous year(s): publish a story. The only other possible goal would be to continue blogging. I currently have two blogs going, one general purpose and one writing related. At the moment, I'm more motivated for the writing blog than the general purpose one. With a 10 year anniversary coming up, I have to make a decision soon on what I want to do with my blogging.

    I Are Writer!

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