First Quarter GOAL Check

The first quarter of the year is behind us.  I’m not sure how that happened, but here we are.  Time to check up on my progress on this year’s goals.

Get published:  These are the steps that have been a challenge for me.  1) Save up for an editor.  2) Get an editor.  3) Make changes based on editor’s notes.  4) Acquire a literary agent.  No progress here, but maybe soon.

Write second steampunk novel:  I figure my second screenplay will break down into 19 chapters.  I have already written the first five.  If I write a chapter every three weeks, I should finish and have time for rewrites by the end of the year.  Here’s how it would break down:
     End of first quarter:  finish chapters 6, 7, 8 and 9.  Well…  no progress here.  My computer is still dead and I’m waiting on a hard drive power cord from China to see what I can retrieve from my old hard drive.
     End of second quarter:  finish chapters 10, 11, 12 and 13.
     End of third quarter:  finish chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17.
     End of Fourth quarter:  finish chapters 18 and 19 and do final rewrites.

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.  Not yet.

Read a book a month:  I’ve already read one book.  Okay, I started it last year, but it still counts.
     #1  01/09/26  Finished reading, “The Star Group” by Christoper Pike.  No, not the Starfleet Captain.
     #2  Not sure of the date, it’s in my old hard drive, but I did finish reading, “More Movie Memories”, by Craig Miller.
            Book #3 is a long one.

Read my Bible:  Every year my church has a through-the-bible program, but I always fall behind and the give up.  We read generally four chapters a day.  Right now, I’m 23 chapters behind.  Which isn’t bad considering a month ago I was 80 chapters behind.

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.  None yet.  Actually, I haven’t tried many new recipes of any kind.  We’re going through a back-to-our-favorites phase.

Get down to 194 pounds:  Last year, I actually gained 4.4 pounds.  I started this year at 206 pounds.  I’m going to try to lose a pound a month and get down to 194 pounds.  This moning I weighed 207, one pound more than when I started.  Getting under 200 pounds is being a real challenge.

Make six blood donations:  Last year I only reached five donations due to my anemia, but I’m over that now.  One down so far.  Should do the next one in about a week.

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.   Not yet.  Don’t need them 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.  Try four new restaurants.  I’m thinking like, Irv’s Burgers, Hot Pot and Texas Road House.  None yet.

 So, so far, not that great, but nothing I can’t catch up on.  The year is still young, gotta keep trying.

Dennis

315th blog completed.

Second Steampunk novel: 18,2343 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.

This past month LASFS (Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society) had the grand opening of its new club house.

To celebrate, they had a panel of three writers; Gene Turnbow, Craig Miller and Larry Niven, on how LASFS influences and inspired their writing careers.

“Imagine, if you will, three professional authors all coincidentally tied to the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society…”