End of Third Quarter Goal Check

One more quarter to go.  Let’s see how I’m doing.

Get published:  These are the steps that have been a challenge for me.  1) Save up for an editor.  DONE.  Now in the final proofreading stage.  2) Get an editor.  3) Make changes based on editor’s notes.  4) Acquire a literary agent.

Write second steampunk novel:  Being without a computer for a month put me behind schedule.  Being tired from work has also hurt my productivity.  And then Kris had emergency surgery.  I still have only 6 out of 19 chapters written.  Still hoping I can finish the first draft by the end of the year.

Outline third steampunk screenplay:  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:  On schedule so far: 
     #1  01/09/26  Finished reading, “The Star Group” by Christoper Pike.  No, not the Starfleet Captain.
     #2  02/14/26  Finished reading. “More Movie Memories” by Craig Miller.
     #3  04/21/26  Finished reading, “Juniper Fairchild and the Alterwhere”, by Gene Turnbow
     #4  06/10/26  Finished reading, “Magic at the Grand Dragonfly Theater”, by Brandie June.
     #5  06/20/26  Finished reading, “Lion’s Den”, by Neil Citrin.
     #6  07/05/26  Finished reading, “Rails of the California’s Central Coast”, by Walter Rice, and Emiliano Echeverria. 
     #7  07/30/26  Finished reading, “Tears of a Thousand Years”, by Glen W. Olson
     #8  09/02/26  Finished reading, “Delving into Lower Decks”, by Valerie Estelle Frankel
     #9  09/27/26  Finished reading, “Parallelities” by Alan Dean Foster.

Read my Bible:  Every year my church has a through-the-bible program, but I always fall behind and the give up.  Still on schedule to be finished by  the end of the year.

Try four new cookie recipes:  Last year my goal was to try six new recipes, but I really only make cookies around Christmas.  I did try two new ones, one was a winner and one was a loser.  This year I’ll try for four.  Still none yet.

Get down to 194 pounds:  Last year, I actually gained 4.4 pounds.  I started this year at 204 pounds.  I’m going to try to lose a pound a month and get down to 194 pounds.
      Here, I’m a big loser.  Actually, not a loser at all.  I started at 204 pounds and right now I’m at 206.4 pounds.  I go up and down a little, but I always seem to hover around 205 pounds.

Make six blood donations:  Last year I only reached five donations due to my anemia, but I’m over that now.  Here, I’m doing well.
     First donation:  February 15, 2026
     Second donation:  April 25, 2026
     Third donation:  July 3, 2026
     Fourth donation:  August 29, 2026.  16 GALLONS!
It will be tight, but I can still make six donations this year.

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) Reorganize bookshelf on my right.  3) Reorganize the three bookshelves in the living room.  4) Reorganize the four drawers in my desk.   5) Buy a new suit. I will need it when my book is published.  6)Try four new restaurants.  I’m thinking like, Irv’s Burgers, Hot Pot and Texas Road House.   I’ve tried two, the Anime Café in Tarzana and the Cracker Barrel in the Camarillo Outlet Mall.

Dennis

340th blog completed.

First Steampunk novel:  76,285 words.  Reconstruction complete.  In final spell check and edit.

Second Steampunk novel: 18,234 words.  Will need to be reconstructed.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Will need to be retrieved from backup and updated.

Second Steampunk screenplay:  158 pages.  Will need to be retrieved from backup and updated. 

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.  Will need to be reconstructed.

I bought some new ice cube trays.  Glad they come with instructions, now I have a new recipe.