2024 GOALS – Second Quarter (the expurgated version)
Wait, what? Half the year is over??? I guess it’s time to look at my GOALS!!!!
Gotta say, not doing so well in a lot of categories. But not giving up! Some of these I expect to snowball once I get started, like WRITE SECOND STEAMPUNK NOVEL. But first, I’m finishing the first. My critique groups are almost through it. Writing and reading have been tough lately. There are days when I get home that I just crash. This seems to happen at least once a week and I lose the whole productive evening. I gotta get over that slump.
- PUBLISH FIRST STEAMPUNK NOVEL:
a. Finish rewrites, get novel up to about 80,000 words. In progress. My critique groups are looking at it and critiquing on Zoom and sending me notes. I am up from 72,000 words to 76,865.
b. Update first steampunk screenplay based on changes to the first novel.
c. Save up for an editor. This is not going so well. Money is tight all around.
d. Get an editor.
e. Make changes based on editor’s notes.
f. Acquire literary agent.
g. Get published.
- WRITE SECOND STEAMPUNK NOVEL: Gotta finish the first.
A. Go over second steampunk screenplay. It’s been a while since I set it down. Time to see if I can streamline it any further. I’ve already gone through the screenplay and decided where the chapter breaks are going to be.
i. Write Chapter One
ii. Write Chapter Two
iii. Write Chapter Three
iv. Write Chapter Four
v. Write Chapter Five
vi. Write Chapter Six
vii. Write Chapter Seven
viii. Witte Chapter Eight
ix. Write Chapter Nine
x. Write Chapter Ten
xi. Write Chapter Eleven
xii. Write Chapter Twelve
xiii. Write Chapter Thirteen
xiv. Write Chapter Fourteen
xv. Write Chapter Fifteen
xvi. Write Chapter Sixteen
xvii. Write Chapter Seventeen
xviii. Write Chapter Eighteen
xix. Write Chapter Nineteen
B. Start submitting novel to my critique group.
- WRITE SECOND STEAMPUNK NOVEL: Gotta finish the first.
- START WRITING MY THIRD STEAMPUNK SCREENPLAY: Actually, I already have the first 36 pages done. Gotta finish the second. The second is done and now that I left it alone for a few months, it’s time to look at it anew and see if I can trim it.
Start on my “String of Pearls” – that’s a whole other blog – and I have covered it.
i. Put those pearls in an outline. I’ve never been one for an outline, other than in my head, but maybe it will help me write the screenplay faster like having the screenplay helps me write the novel faster. This is something new I want to try.
ii. Start filling out the screenplay.
iii. Finish the first draft. This may sound obvious, but it’s a big deal to actually finish a project, even if it is the first (vomit) draft. - READ BOOKS
Read a book in January: 01/24/24 finished reading, “Filmed in Supermarionation”.
ii. Read a book in February: 03/11/24 finished reading the Star Wars novel, “Master and Apprentice”
iii. Read a book in March: 03/29/24 finished reading, “C. H. Spurgeon on Spiritual Leadership”. I am a few comic books behind, though.
iv. Read a book in April: 05/28/24 finished reading, “Adventures of Huckelberry Finn” by Mark Twain. A month late, by a got it done. Three comic books behind.
v. Read a book in May: 06/01/24 Graphic novel, “Primer” by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski. Only one day late.
vi. Read a book in June: A bit behind, should finish my current book this week.
vii. Read a book in July:
viii. Read a book in August:
vix. Read a book in September:
x. Read a book in October:
xi. Read a book in November:
xii. Read a book in December: - READ MY BIBLE: Every year my church encourages us to read the Bible in a year.
i. Keeping up with January’s reading: On Schedule.
ii. Keeping up with February’s reading: On Schedule.
iii. Keeping up with March’s reading: On Schedule.
iv. Keeping up with April’s reading: Starting to get a bit behind.
v. Keeping up with May’s reading: Still falling behind.
vi. Keeping up with June’s reading: Still falling behind.
vii. Keeping up with July’s reading:
viii. Keeping up with August’s reading:
ix. Keeping up with September’s reading:
x. Keeping up with October’s reading:
xi.Keeping up with November’s reading:
xii. Keeping up with December’s reading: - TRY SIX NEW COOKIE RECIPES:
a. Try a new cookie: Not yet. I keep making, or buying, other desserts.
b. Try a second new cookie:
c. Try a third new cookie:
d. Try a fourth new cookie:
e. Try a fifth new cookie:
f. Try a sixth new cookie: - GET DOWN TO 185 POUNDS:
a. Down to 192.7 by end of January: 4 Yeah, I went up after Christmas. But considering I was as high as 198.4, I’ll take it.
b. Down to 192.0 by end of February: 4 It’ those darn Girl Scouts! They get me every year!
c. Down to 191.3 by end of March: 6 Yeah, that’s not good. But in my defense, I was down to 194.6 earlier in the month.
d. Down to 190.6 by end of April: 8. 5.2 pounds behind goal, but at least going down.
e. Down to 189.9 by the end of May: 6. 4.7 pounds behind, but still going down.
f. Down to 198.2 by end of June: 0. Not doing so good this year. Keep bouncing around 195. This is going to be tough with just half a year to go.
g. Down to 188.5 by end of July:
h. Down to 187.8 by end of August:
i. Down to 187.1 by end of September:
j. Down to 186.4 by end of October:
k. Down to 185.7 by end of November:
l. Down to 185.0 by end of December: - MAKE SIX BLOOD DONATIONS: Did it last year, let’s do it again this year.
a. First blood donation: 2/10/24
b. Second blood donation: 04/06/24
c. Third blood donation: 06/08/24 Right on schedule. Can donate next on 08/03/24.
d. Fourth blood donation:
e. Fifth blood donation:
f. Sixth blood donation: - CREATE AND PRINT BUNSINSS CARDS: I want to have these by the time the West Coast Writers Conferences have their next in-person conference – or when my first book is published. Not yet. Probably won’t until I get an agent.
a. Take a new head shot.
b. Get a QR code for my website.
c. Design the card.
d. Have cards printed. - JUST A BUNCH OF LITTLE THINGS TO DO: Finally, there is always a bunch of little things that I mean to get to, but I never do. So, I’m putting them out here. If I do half of them, I’ll call it a win.
a. Reorganize bookshelf to my left.
b. Reorganize bookshelf to my right. DONE 05/25/24
c. Reorganize the three bookshelves in the living room.
d. Find our candy molds in our storage unit – hopefully before Christmas.
e. Finish all the exercises in the “Your Goal Guide” book.
f. Buy a new suit, I will need it when my book is published.
g. Make a video for my blog. I’d like to add videos, maybe a YouTube channel eventually.
Dennis
224th blog completed.
First Steampunk novel: 76,865 words. ß Past 76,000. Goal: 80,000.
Second Steampunk novel: 783 words.
Second Steampunk screenplay: 157 pages.
First Steampunk screenplay: Need to update with notes from the novelization.
Third Steampunk screenplay: 38 pages.
“Last weekend was a double-hitter as far as new meals are concerned. First, on Saturday, “Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole”. https://www.facebook.com/groups/837551391261384/permalink/976764294006759
That is a triple-hitter unto itself. Three kinds of recipes Dennis loves to collect, mac and cheese, meatloaves and casserole. This one was an instant winner. It’s basically a barbecue meatloaf with a mac and cheese topping. So, it’s basically its own side dish. It does tend to be a little greasy. You can’t pour off the grease because the whole thing will slide into the sink. Still, this dish will be made again and again and again.
On Sunday, “Million Dollar Chicken Casserole”. https://recipecs.com/gooey-mozzarella-biscuit-bombs/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1ozZW1_omWWlC_pcXGHLfTbpWzFCu93hU8VHhoASfjBXVS6cdIxJDIQkk_aem_IBgFONLPrLa3sogv2PDwww
This immediately became one of Kris’ Favorites and I have to agree. The only issue I have with it is that it does make a very flat casserole – about a half inch high in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Also, there are a lot of non-chicken ingredients. The flavor is wonderful, but the chicken does get lost. Next time Dennis will make it with five cups of shredded chicken, not three.
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