2025 GOALS Third Quarter Review

I have to admit, I’m not doing as well as I had expected.  I have finished my first book, but I’m not as far along on my second one as I would like.  I’ve only read five books this year, but I still could catch up.  I haven’t kept up on my Bible reading or my new cooking recipes.  And as of this morning, I weigh four pounds more than I did at the beginning of the year.  But I am up on my blood donations.

Let’s take a closer look…

Get published:  My first steampunk novel is as done as I can get it.  But there are still a few steps to go.  1) Update the screenplay it’s based on – I write everything as a screenplay first.  DONE  2) Save up for an editor.  3) Get an editor.  4) Make changes based on editor’s notes.  5) Acquire a literary agent.

Write second steampunk novel:  I’ve already written the screenplay.  My critique groups have read it and it does need some editing.  So, do the editing first.  I’ve already gone through the screenplay and have decided where the chapter breaks are going to be.  And it looks like there will be 19 chapters.  If I can do a chapter every three weeks, I should be done by the end of the year.  And of course, submit them to my critique groups as I go along.  Have completed up to chapter five, have given up to chapter three to my critique groups.

Start writing the third steampunk screenplay:  It is a trilogy.  I’ve never been one for an outline.  I’m a string-of-pearls writer, which technically is a form of an outline.  But maybe writing out an outline would help me write the screenplay faster, much like the screenplay helps me write out the novel faster.  It’s a method I want to try.  If I can end the year with an outline for the third screenplay, that would be a win.

Read a book a month:  I just about stopped reading because I was devoting all my time to writing.  But as a writer, you should read – especially in your genre.  For two years I read a book a month, then last year I only read eight.  So I want to get back to 12 books a year.
     #1  01/27/25  Finished reading, “Exploring the Evidence for Creation”, by Henry Morris III
     #2  02/12/25  Finished reading, “The Privilege of Persecution”, by Dr. Carl A. Moeller and David W. Hegg.
     #3  03/12/25  Finished reading, “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting” by Debra Eckerling.

     #4  05/30/35  Finished reading, “Hollywood be Thy Name” by Ray Comfort

      #5  06/19/25  Finished reading, “The Lost Mind” by Christopher Pike.

      #6  06/30/25  Finished reading, “The Harvy House Cookbook” by George H Foster & Peter C. Weiglin.
                I haven’t read a book since this.  I tried to start meditating at night.  But, being tired from work, I would usually doze off.  So, I haven’t been doing that either.

Read my Bible:  Every year my church has a through-the-bible program.  By March or April, I start falling behind.  Then I get so far behind that it becomes overwhelming to catch up, and I stop.  I’m going to change my schedule around and see if it helps me this year.  Changing my schedule didn’t help.  I’ll try again next year.

Try six new cookie recipes:  I wanted to do this last year, but didn’t try a single new cookie.  I want to try new cookies before I make them for Christmas so I know if they’re good.  Let’s try this again.
     #1  Cake Mix Christmas cookies – Not a winner.

Get down to 185 pounds:  I have lost a pound a month before, but last year I really blew it.  I went from 193.4 at the end of 2023 to 199.6 at the end of 2024.  This year, I’ll have to lose 1.2 pounds a month to reach my goal.  I have to be more disciplined and stop going for seconds.  I’m not doing well on this one.  Currently, I’m at 204.0.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s hard to lose weight when, A) your hobby is cooking, and B) you’re a foodie.

Make six blood donations:  Did it last year, will do it again this year.
     First donation 02/22/25 – Completed 15 gallons.
     Second donation 05/03/25
     Third donation 07/06/25
     Fourth donation 08/30/25 
     Fifth scheduled for 11/01/25.

Have business cards made:  Wanted to do this last year, but didn’t.  It would be nice to have them for in-person conferences, but I probably won’t really need them until I get published.  There are a few steps to this:  1) Take a new head shot.  2) Get a QR code for my website.  3) Design the card.  Nothing yet.

Just a bunch of little things to do:  There are always a bunch of little things you want to do, but don’t find the time for because they are not big things.  Last year I completed two out of seven.  If I get to half of them, I’ll call it a win.  1) Reorganize bookshelf on my left – again.  2) Reoroganize bookshelf on my right.  3) Reorganize the three bookshelves in the living room.  4) Reorganize the six draws in my desk.  5) Find our candy molds in our storage unit.  DONE 01/19/25.  6) Purge out storage unit to try to move to a storage space half its size and save money.  DONE 02/02/25, Well, ¾ the size, but it still saves us money. 7) finish at least 12 of the exercises in the “Your Goal Guide” book.  8) Buy a new suit. I will need it when my book is published.   

Since my car accident I now have a new goal:  Find another car.

Dennis

290th blog completed.

Second Steampunk novel: 17,747 words.  Chapter Five done.

Second Steampunk screenplay:  157 pages.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Updated with notes from the novelization.

First Steampunk novel:  77,546 words.  Completed until an editor reviews it.

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.

“Tonight’s culinary experiment was One Pot Cowboy Spaghetti  https://iamhomesteader.com/cowboy-spaghetti/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNFCNlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxOGhXS1FIM0t1V3NmTjZ4AR6XdEpowrDfRdKl6Ggss740BxPwuZwdXtm5PqC5uLOW1IhTcgM9iEPICke_lQ_aem_D6O1ohqmIGfGSNqbC_CoKg 

This isn’t so much a spaghetti dish, it’s more of a stew or a goulash, but what ever you call it, it was good.  Kris’ only recommendation (and I agree):  MORE CHEESE!  Remember the Cherry kitchen rule:  There is no such thing as too much cheese.

This was also a meat fest with bacon, kielbasa and ground beef.  And it may only have two teaspoons of hot sauce, but it gave it a nice little kick.  Served with fresh-baked Rustic Bread, it made a nice Sunday meal.

Spaghetti is not the center of the dish, so I would say it would work well with other pastas.  Maybe bow ties next time.” – Vincent Reinhart