Winter not-so Blahs

Usually I hate and despise January and February. It's cold, dark, and miserable. Today's the perfect example. It's pouring on the east coast, and dark, dark, dark to boot.

Somehow, I'm not wishing I stayed in bed another hour. Ok, well maybe I am, but I'm also energized. I have no idea why and am certainly not questioning it. I have so much to do, so much I want to do, that this particular winter isn't getting to me. I wish every day was like that, but I'll take what I can deal with.

Today I'm organizing some writing files into actual files, not piles of paper on my desk. Not so efficient that way. I'm also looking over those articles for my site this morning, which I'll post tonight or tomorrow.

I'd also like to congratulate my good friend AJ Hampton on publishing her 3rd story, Hostile Devotion! I've read her first one, Holiday Nectar which was funny, sexy, and just plain fun to read. I haven't read this latest one, but am really looking forward to it. Congrats, AJ!

Marketing

Along with momentum comes new and brillant ideas. Or at least new ideas. This week I'm working on my website. I'm also going to continue to make a list of places to submit. First things first: the site. I love the design, but it needs more. More articles, more on me, more on the stories. Just more.

I have some articles I've written on the Victorian Era, and one on world-building I want to look over again and polish before posting. Possibly thinking of one or 2 on the Birthrite universe itself. There's a lot going on in that world that requires a background that I don't include in the story. Must rework all that into a postable bit.

Progress

Have written 7 yes 7 pages of new and worthy stuff. I love momentum, and really wish it'd stay with me throughout the, um, lifetime. I'm thinking 7 pages a day I'd have this story whipped in a month. Of course it took me 4 hours to write and edit and rewrite those pages, but I do so love progress.

A new week!

OK, so it's Wednesday, but it's a new week and I have a new plan. Yes, it's remarkably similar to my previous ones (writing, plotting, editing) but not every plan can be totally original. I'm not Patton, contrary to popular belief.

I'm finally feeling positive about Birthrite - Morganna, have figured out how to tie it into Raven's story without it being to closely related, and think this stand-alone/series is coming together. Tonight I'm going to work on that, see how far I can get before this positive thinking evaporates, and keep on keeping on.

Weekly goal

I didn't make it. Whatever it was I had in the back of my mind, I didn't make it. I wrote for maybe an hour yesterday with just about 2000 words, and it was the first time I'd put anything coherent down in over 2 weeks. But hey, 2000 words is something. And they're keepable words, so that counts, too.

2008 goals

This year I'm going to divide my goals into months. 4 weeks to a month, hmm, maybe weekly goals? No, that never really works. I mean sure I can say I'll write so many words in a week, but then something happens and I start to stress over my lack of word count which leads to stress over goals, fear I'm not devoting enough time to writing...which all leads to me chucking it and thinking I shouldn't stress over this when there's so much else I can (and do) stress over.

Broad outlines of '08 goals:

• Finish Birthrite 2 - Morganna's story. It's all outlined and maybe 1/3 started...maybe 1/4 but it's started and I really do like the beginning.
• Continue to outline Birthrite 3 - Arabella's story. She might go through a name change, since she's already gone through a character change. But I really do like the name.
• Work with the idea I had last night on the overall arc of the story and see if it'll work. Then try to see if it'll fit into Birthrite 4 - Isadore's story.