ROW80 2012 – Round 1

ROW80, what can I say other than it is a fabulous writing group, which encourages writers to take up manageable personal writing goals for a duration of 80 days, click here to find out more on what is about; Kait Nolan is the brainchild of this wonderful concept.

The last round I participated in (ROW80 2011 – Round 3) I noticed how confusing it was to to access my ROW80 progress therefore, I devised to create a page with links to the relevant posts and check-in points -as well as my progress so far -and how close I am towards the goals I have set for myself.  I also concluded with an on reflection section at the bottom of the page where I noted down my hindsight’s so far and what I will aim for in my next goals.  This page was a vital instrument in my progress and hence here I am now compiling this all over again!  I sincerely advice you to do the same, you will not regret it.

For this round I will update this page fortnightly and post it as a Sunday Check-in (I don’t want to be overwhelmed so early on in 2012).

And here we start!

Here’s my goals (all in chronological order), progress, posts, check-ins, Social Media & ROW80 and my reflections…

*Please note that the information on this page (especially the sections below) is subject to updates as I continue with trying to meet my targets.  Please feel free to scroll down to the update which interests you (they’re all dated accordingly -you just need to find them).

Initial ROW80 Goals (set on 4th January 2012):

• Sponsoring:  It’s that time again, ROW80 2012 has officially kicked off and this time I’m going to tackle ROW80 differently; firstly I’m a sponsor (yay!) and so I plan to visit my designated team and cheer them along and part with some words of wisdom so please keep a lookie-outie for when I grace your lovely blogs. 
• Blog:  To avoid the massive blogosphere-burn-out-syndrome I will be aiming to post two blog articles a week (if I am up to it and have time to spare, then an extra post here and there may materialise; but I’ll not be focusing too much on making that happen as I plan to start 2012 stress-free.  I do not want a repeat of last year’s panic attacks). Saturday I will unveil my new blog schedule.
• WIP:  By the end of ROW80 2012 (round one) I want to be in a position where I am in the process of publishing an ebook (a compilation of short stories).  To start this off, over the next few weeks I will select 8-11 stories which I hope to edit until it’s nearly perfect.
• Tie-loose-ends:  Before I went AWOL I had a few articles planned that I never managed to complete and post; therefore I intend to sort them out and post them as initially planned:

1. Fun Game – It’s in Your Head.
2. Guest blog posts and Author Interviews I was arranging before I vanished; there’s a few people I need to get back to therefore, I will be contacting them and scheduling their articles in the relevant Friday/Sunday slot.
3. Catch-up on my emails (there’s a few).
4. My Critique buddies and I need to have a catch-up (email me if I don’t get round to emailing you first).
5. I never managed to finish that beta-reading I signed up for; therefore I plan to complete that by the end of January.

• ROW80 Related Aims:

1. Create a ROW80 page under the Social Interactions menu.
2. Provide weekly/fortnightly updates (depending how stretched I am).
3. Visit my allocated team and do what we ROW80′ers are best at doing:  Cheer, Cheer, Cheer! 
4. Write an Inspirational post by the end of this week.

This is my now amended ROW80 Goals (amended on 13th July):

I jumped into the round last minute as I had taken a rather long extended break from everything which meant I needed to rethink my goals to make sure I can achieve them; here’s the slight amendment (with achievements ticked off), I will ensure I go over my goals again as I continue this round:

• Sponsoring:  It’s that time again, ROW80 2012 has officially kicked off and this time I’m going to tackle ROW80 differently; firstly I’m a sponsor (yay!) and so I plan to visit my designated team and cheer them along and part with some words of wisdom so please keep a lookie-outie for when I grace your lovely blogs.  - ON TARGET WITH THE SPONSORING (SEE THE LINKY NO’S 01, 11, 21, 31…etc’s)
• Blog:  To avoid the massive blogosphere-burn-out-syndrome I will be aiming to post two blog articles a week (if I am up to it and have time to spare, then an extra post here and there may materialise; but I’ll not be focusing too much on making that happen as I plan to start 2012 stress-free.  I do not want a repeat of last year’s panic attacks). Saturday I will unveil my new blog schedule. – DONE DONE DONE!  SCHEDULE COMPLETED – NOW I NEED TO STICK TO IT!
• WIP:  By the end of ROW80 2012 (round one) I want to be in a position where I am in the process of publishing an ebook (a compilation of short stories).  To start this off, over the next few weeks I will select 8-11 stories which I hope to edit until it’s nearly perfect. – WILL START WORKING ON THIS ON MONDAY.
• Tie-loose-ends:  Before I went AWOL I had a few articles planned that I never managed to complete and post; therefore I intend to sort them out and post them as initially planned:

1. Fun Game – It’s in Your Head.
2. Guest blog posts and Author Interviews I was arranging before I vanished; there’s a few people I need to get back to therefore, I will be contacting them and scheduling their articles in the relevant Friday/Sunday slot. – DONE DONE DONE!  EMAILS SENT -WOO HOO!
3. Catch-up on my emails (there’s a few). – 80% DONE!
4. My Critique buddies and I need to have a catch-up (email me if I don’t get round to emailing you first). – EMAIL SENT, AWAITING RESPONSE.
5. I never managed to finish that beta-reading I signed up for; therefore I plan to complete that by the end of January. – SCHEDULED IN FOR THIS WEEK, AUTHOR CONTACTED *dances a merry jig*

• ROW80 Related Aims:

1. Create a ROW80 page under the Social Interactions menu. – AS YOU CAN SEE IT’S DONE!
2. Provide weekly/fortnightly updates (depending how stretched I am). – DONE! DONE! DONE!
3. Visit my allocated team and do what we ROW80′ers are best at doing:  Cheer, Cheer, Cheer!  - ON TARGET!
4. Write an Inspirational post by the end of this week. – WRITTEN & SENT!

My New ROW80 Goals for the Next Week and a Half is (amended 25th January):

I’ve come across a few ROW80’er bloggers who have SMART goals; therefore, I thought I’d use their tactic and see how I fair this week –fingers-crossed it works.

• Blog:  Write and schedule in five blog posts by Sunday 5^th February 2012. – DONE (whoopie-diii-dooo)
• WIP:  Type up the longhand I wrote on my WIP a few weeks ago & finalise the short stories I am going to work on.  I’ll aim for a minimum of 200 words per day and see how I fair. – LONGHAND WRITTEN UP, SHORT STORY SELECTED (I’M STARTING WITH MOON OF CHANGE, WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT).  WORDCOUNT I’VE DONE 1000/2000 WHICH ISN’T GREAT BUT I DID RE-WORK MY WIP AND SPLIT IT INTO TWO BOOKS (AS IT WILL BE A TRIOLOGY EVENTUALLY); THAT SADELY DROPPED MY 18,000+ WORDCOUNT DOWN TO 12,000+ ;( (I KNOW IT’S STILL PROGRESS).
• As a Sponsor:  Continue to visit my allocated team and cheer cheer cheer (if you’d like to ask anything about your goals etc., please feel free to contact me or any of the other fab sponsors).  Want to cheer the fab ROW80′ers too?  Click here and ensure you’re heard. -DONE, DONE DONE!
• Artwork:  Allocate one hour a day on my unfinished triptych I started a few years ago. – ERMM, NOT SO GREAT ON THIS GOAL; ALTHOUGH I HAVE DUG OUT MY SKETCHBOOKS AND HAVE BEEN RE-FAMILIARISING MYSELF WITH WHERE I WAS LAST AT.
• Exercise:  30-45 minutes per day –be it a brisk walk in the park or yoga-based exercises at home. – THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET (WELL, I DID GO FOR A BRISK WALK TWICE; BUT THAT WAS NOT TO THE PARK).
• Social Media:  Visit Twitter, Facebook & Google+ three times a day; spending no more than 30 mins at a time.  Read three blogs a day (except the days I cheer my ROW80’ers). – SORT OF ON TARGET, MY INTERNET CONNECTION HAS BEEN SLOW SO IT’S HINDERING ME SOMEWHAT.
• ROW80/Writing Buddy:  I’m looking for a ROW80/writing buddy –just so I can be accountable for my goals as I have noticed some days are harder to stick to my goals than any other –so if you fancy pairing up with me in order for us to egg each other on then please contact me or leave a comment (whichever suits you).  Let’s make 2012 a year to remember! – I AM CHUFFED TO BITS TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE SUPERB DAWN MONTGOMERY OVER AT DAWN MONTGOMERY WRITES IS MY ROW80/WRITING BUDDY; ACCOUNTABILITY HAS HELPED ME STAY FOCUSED AND THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT DAWN HAS BEEN FAB AT KEEPING ME IN CHECK.

My Revised Goals* until 19th February 2012 are:

• Blog:  Write and schedule in six blog posts by Sunday 19^th February 2012.
• WIP:  Aim for a minimum of 200 words per day and see how I fair; I plan to take part in #WIP500 soon(ish).
• As a Sponsor:  Continue to visit my allocated team and cheer cheer cheer (if you’d like to ask anything about your goals etc., please feel free to contact me or any of the other fab sponsors).  Want to cheer the fab ROW80′ers too?  Click here and ensure you’re heard.
• Artwork:  Allocate one hour a day on my unfinished triptych I started a few years ago.
• Exercise:  30-45 minutes per day –be it a brisk walk in the park or yoga-based exercises at home.
• Social Media:  Visit Twitter, Facebook & Google+ three times a day; spending no more than 30 mins at a time.  Read three blogs a day (except the days I cheer my ROW80’ers).
• The Fourth Writers Platform Building Campaign: I have volunteered to take part in administrating duties for the fourth campaign; therefore, as it kicks off I plan to spend approx an hour (give or take) until I know what is a reasonable timeframe for this project.
• Online Course:  I’ve also re-enrolled onto a course I had taken on last year; however, I was unable to commit to it due to my unplanned AWOL; I am fortunate to be able to start it again.  If you want to be part of the class, then hop on over to Lawson Writer’s Academy Courses; I’ll be in this class: The Triple Threat Behind Staging a Scene; the start date is currently delayed due to the snow.

*I really want to stick to these goals; hence the reason it has not been amended as such.  Should I not suceed in sticking to it, I will make drastic amendments on 19th February 2012.

How Did I Fair with my Goals (26th February 2012)?  Let’s See:

• Blog:  Write and schedule in six blog posts by Sunday 19^th February 2012. – I MANAGED 4 BLOG POSTS FOR MY BLOG AND A GUEST POST FOR ROW80.  NOT THE SIX POSTS I WAS AFTER.
• WIP:  Aim for a minimum of 200 words per day and see how I fair; I plan to take part in #WIP500 soon(ish). – NO, NO, NOOOO IT JUST DID NOT HAPPEN; I MANAGED A MEAGRE 1241 WORDS *CRIES*
• As a Sponsor:  Continue to visit my allocated team and cheer cheer cheer (if you’d like to ask anything about your goals etc., please feel free to contact me or any of the other fab sponsors).  Want to cheer the fab ROW80′ers too?  Click here and ensure you’re heard. – NOPE, I FAILED THIS TOO; WELL, THE LAST TWO CHECK-IN’S -I HOPE TO RECTIFY THIS AND DIVE INTO YESTERDAYS’ CHECK-INS’.
• Artwork:  Allocate one hour a day on my unfinished triptych I started a few years ago. – NOPE, NOT EVEN A TINY SKETCH.
• Exercise:  30-45 minutes per day –be it a brisk walk in the park or yoga-based exercises at home. -ISH, DID SOME WALKING HERE AND THERE; COULD IMPROVE THIS A BIT MORE.
• Social Media:  Visit Twitter, Facebook & Google+ three times a day; spending no more than 30 mins at a time.  Read three blogs a day (except the days I cheer my ROW80’ers). – THIS IS A BIT OF A HIT AND MISS AT THE MO.
• The Fourth Writers Platform Building Campaign: I have volunteered to take part in administrating duties for the fourth campaign; therefore, as it kicks off I plan to spend approx an hour (give or take) until I know what is a reasonable timeframe for this project. – ON TOP OF THIS, SO THAT’S ONE GOOD THING *YAY*.
• Online Course:  I’ve also re-enrolled onto a course I had taken on last year; however, I was unable to commit to it due to my unplanned AWOL; I am fortunate to be able to start it again.  If you want to be part of the class, then hop on over to Lawson Writer’s Academy Courses; I’ll be in this class: The Triple Threat Behind Staging a Scene; the start date is currently delayed due to the snow. – STARTED & SUBMITTED MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT AND IN THE PROGRESS OF ASSIGNMENT NO TWO! *HURRAH*

It’s been a mixed couple of weeks with its highs and lows; really did not feel like doing anything and this reflected badly on my goals (as you can see above).  Having said that, I realise I am just adding too much pressure on myself; therefore, I plan to slow the pace down so I can breathe again.  I will revise my blog & writing schedule and give more emphasis on my WIP as that is what needs my full focus -keep an eye out for the changes over the next few days.  In the meantime:

My Revised Goals (26th February 2012) for the next few weeks are:

• Blog:  Write articles and post them when you can, ensure it is posted on the appropriate themed day.
• WIP:  Aim for a minimum of 200 words per day and see how I fair; I plan to take part in #WIP500 soon(ish).
• As a Sponsor:  Continue to visit my allocated team and cheer cheer cheer (if you’d like to ask anything about your goals etc., please feel free to contact me or any of the other fab sponsors).  Want to cheer the fab ROW80′ers too?  Click here and ensure you’re heard.
• Artwork:  Allocate 1-3 hours a week on my unfinished triptych I started a few years ago.
• Exercise:  30-45 minutes per day –be it a brisk walk in the park or yoga-based exercises at home.
• Social Media:  Visit blog commenters’website and return comments.  Visit Twitter, Facebook & Google+ three times a day; spending no more than 30 mins at a time.  Read 1-3 blogs a day (except the days I cheer my ROW80’ers).
• The Fourth Writers Platform Building Campaign: I have volunteered to take part in administrating duties for the fourth campaign; I am emailing prize donors and updating the prize list as and when I receive a response -1-2 hours as and when required.
• Online Course:  I’ve also re-enrolled onto a course I had taken on last year; however, I was unable to commit to it due to my unplanned AWOL; I am fortunate to be able to start it again.  If you want to be part of the class, then hop on over to Lawson Writer’s Academy Courses; I’ll be in this class: The Triple Threat Behind Staging a Scene.  – To complete assignment number two and start reading and working on assignment three.
• Quiet Days:  I need down time; therefore, twice a week I plan to just step back and spend time with family & friends.

Final Progress-to-date:

 

My Check-ins (in chronological order):

1/4 Check-In – I’m Baaaaack -with a ROW80′er Sponsor Promise

1/8 Check-In – ROW80 2012 – Round 1 (Progress-to-date-page)

1/11 Check-In – Life ROWed a Wobbly at me…and it’s all looking Super!

1/22 Check-In – ROWed Under -it’s been Difficult…

1/25 Check-In – A Story…  Looking Good on the ROW80 Front

2/5 Check-In – My progress-to-date. . . so far so good?

2/8 Check-In – Different Styles, Indifferent Ways

2/22 Check-In – Savvy Salutations’ to…ermm…the Tagged Person

2/26 Check-in – It’s a wee slow, my progress-to-date (this page)

 

On Reflection:

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As you already know, thoughts and comments are encouraged as always -even if it is just a word -as ‘all good discussions start with just one word‘.

 

• Social Media:  Visit blog commenters’ website and return comments.  Visit Twitter, Facebook & Google+ three times a day; spending no more than 30 mins at a time.  Read 1-3 blogs a day (except the days I cheer my ROW80’ers).
• The Fourth Writers Platform Building Campaign: I have volunteered to take part in administrating duties for the fourth campaign; I am emailing prize donors and updating the prize list as and when I receive a response.