Looking Towards September

I had several many goals, both writing and non-writing related during August. Let’s see how I did, shall we?

How’d I Do, August?

Let’s start with the writing goals first:

1. I finished the revision pass on my current WIP and created my spreadsheet outline for the draft so that I can visualize the story structure and figure out what edits I need to make for my next revision pass, which will take place in October. The printed out outline is currently occupying prime realistate in my living room.
2. I sent out a couple more queries for my completed project, but I’ve pretty much exhausted the agents I wanted to query for this project. And while I haven’t secured representation yet, I not feeling particularly dejected. I knew going into this process that this particular book was going to be a hard sell. It’s very long, longer than most agents and publishers are willing to risk for a first-time writer, and it’s not a stand-alone, which is again something that’s hard for a first-timer to sell. Overall, I feel good about the experience. I worked through my query anxiety. I got some really complimentary rejections that asked me to submit future work. Once my next project is ready to query, I have a feeling I’ll be more confident in the querying process and I have a good idea of which agents liked my work.
3. I kept submitting short stories during August, that’s about what I can say about that.
4. I wanted to revise two or three more short stories and I did that. I now have a pretty good pool of finished stories to send on submission. I finally feel like I’ve got a handle on how these short story things are supposed to function, which is fun.
5. I wrote one new short story. In fact, I wrote more than one new short story. I wrote three.
6. This is the one goal I didn’t really get to. I was going to do some prewriting for a project I want to get into next year, but I ended up getting distracted by life stuff and short story stuff, so I’m postponing this goal for now and that’s okay. Circumstances change and I’m not going to beat myself up over it (honestly, I’m not).

Now, for the non-writing goals

1. I finished one of the two sewing projects I wanted to finish and I’m almost finished with the second. I just need to finish the collar and hem it and it’ll be good to go. The project I did finish is fabulous and I’m super proud of it because it’s one I took from sketch to finished product and the finished product actually looks like the sketch and I’m super pleased by that fact. I didn’t actually pattern it, I’m not ready for that, but I took elements from various patterns in my collection and put them together to achieve the desired outcome and I’m quite thrilled by the result. What do you think, folks?[insert photos]
2. I didn’t make much progress on organizing my wedding, but that’s okay because I already have a venue secured. My dress arrived in the mail and it’s perfect and we’re keeping things very low-key, so I don’t need to stress too much just now about all the things I haven’t done. That’s not to say I won’t need to start stressing soon, but just not yet.
3. I’ve been applying for jobs in Australia. I’ve even had an interview that went fairly well and received an email from one place saying I was perfect for the job, but they’d already filled the position and could they keep me in mind for future openings? Overall, this has been a frustrating process, mostly because the jobs I’m ideal for are super busy in December and I’m not going to be in Australia in December because I’m going to be in the US visiting family and what-not and I’m not about to lie to get a job only to turn around and say, “Hey, you know how you asked me if I could work over the Christmas shopping season and I said yes, well, Psych!” That just doesn’t strike me as a good idea.
4. I’m halfway through setting up a freelancing profile. I’ve really been dragging my feet on this because it’s something new and different and I like being good at things and I don’t know if I’m going to be good at freelance copywriting and that’s scary so I’m procrastinating. I’ll get there though. I will, I swear. Really.
5. I did manage to hang out with people other than my person and his family. Not much, but I did it and I’m going to keep doing it.

What’cha Got For Me, September?

Again, I’m going to divide my goals between writing and non-writing, since that’s how my brain works. Writing first, because, priorities.

1. I’m gonna be a little crazy this month. In one of the writers Facebook groups I’m in, someone mentioned that they were going to be trying to submit a short story every day during the month of September. At first, I said, “Gosh that’s insane.” Then I said, “Could I do that?” Then I replied, “Emily, that’s crazy.” But I persisted, “What else am I gonna do? I don’t have a job, I’m between revisions on all my novels and I don’t have the energy to start a new novel. Why not?” And I didn’t have an argument for that. So, yeah, during the month of September, my goal is to submit one short story a day. To that end, I have seven stories more or less ready to submit, giving me a little time to quickly scribble out some more before I start lagging behind. I’m hoping that this exercise will help me with breaking out of my perfectionistic tendencies and allow me to really hone my short story writing abilities and even if I don’t succeed, I’ll still have written and submitted more short stories by the end of the month than I’ve ever done before and that’s not nothing.
2. You know that outline I mentioned up above, the one that’s taking over my living room? Well, I’m going to break out the colored (or coloured if you’re of the British English inclination) pens and cover that thing with notes until I figure out what my goal for my next revision pass is.

And that’s it for my writing-related goals. I’m going to hold off on querying during this month. I don’t think I can handle short story anxiety and query anxiety at the same time and I don’t need to. I can take a break. And this month I’ll be hearing back from my writing group about another finished novel, so I’ll need to take some time to look over those notes and devise a revision plan for that, but I’m not going to start those revisions. Not yet.

Now, on to the non-writing goals.

1. I’m going to schedule a Doctor’s appointment so that I can get my anxiety meds refilled. I’m getting towards the end of the prescription I got filled in the US and I need to not let my anxiety get in the way of managing my anxiety. I’ve been on meds for over a year now and I’m a much better functioning human being because of them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a bundle of nerves, but the meds help me to stop catastrophizing before I work myself into an anxiety attack. I’m much calmer when it comes to driving and going out to do new things. I’m not nearly as tired all the time from anxiety. I feel so much better and I can’t allow myself to get in the way of my own progress.
2. Keep working on wedding planning.
3. Finish the sewing project I’m almost done with and start a new sewing project. I don’t anticipate I’ll be doing too much #sewcrastination during this month, but I do find that I’m able to work through story problems during sewing, so who knows.
4. Finish setting up the freelancing profile.
5. Keep getting out to do fun things both with my sweetie and on my own, because I’m an adult and I have a train pass gosh dang it.
6. Get a haircut. I’m trying to grow my hair out a little for the wedding, but things are getting a bit ridiculous. I need a bit of a tidy and a thinning out of my ridiculously thick hair, but I’ve been procrastinating because finding a new hairstylist is something that gives me anxiety.

And that about some up my goals for the month. If anyone wants to lend there support and set up writing dates (online of course) let me know.

Thanks for reading.