January 7, 2013

A Wake Up Call: ROW80 Round 1 Goals

Pardon me if I'm whispering, but Life listens carefully and mocks my best efforts. Last Wednesday, for my montly Insecure Writer's Support Group (#IWSG) post, I logically laid out my conservative plans for 2013: One Page at a Time.

A snippet...

So, each day I vow to move forward, even if it's only in some small way. But I also plan to be more realistic about time. When I overschedule myself, one small blip in the plan causes huge ripples. I don't build in any flexibility. This year, I will.

Usually New Year's is all about Yes. Yes to losing weight, yes to writing that novel. I will say yes to both of those, but I think it's more important for me to learn to say No. I truly believe I can achieve more by trying to achieve less.

Life was lurking around the corner, mocking my attempts at being conservative, knowing I don't know how to pull back. But this time, Life had an ace up her sleeve, and she played it.


This past Saturday night, after ignoring the flu for a week because I didn't really have time for it, my husband took me out to dinner... our first date night of 2013. We were discussing some of the commitments I was going to back down from this year, when the flu I'd been battling hit me like a ton of bricks. Feeling clammy and faint, we got our food to go and headed back to the car. My husband caught me three times. I then began shaking uncontrollably... five hours and some IV fluids later, and the longest date night we've had in a long time, I was sent home from the ER with stern warnings to stay in bed.

Yesterday, I stayed in bed all day. I haven't done that since... well, I can't even remember a time I was in bed all day. After canceling many things, I regrouped. I watched a movie with each of my kids. Quality time with kids: Check. I edited over 100 pages and more than caught up there. Check. I read, and almost finished, a book. Check. I even wrote 500 words. But most importantly, I realized just how much I have to reorganize my life.

So Life and I came to an understanding, which brings me to Round 1 of ROW80 2013.

Don't know about ROW80... A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) is the writing challenge that knows you have a life. We are all different and we all have different demands on our time. Why should we all have the same goal? The simple answer is that we shouldn’t. If you want to be a writer, then you have to be able to roll with the punches and adapt to your changing circumstances. If that means changing your goals when your life blows up, so be it. ROW80 is the challenge that champions the marriage of writing and real life.


This round, I'm setting attainable goals weekly. That way, Life and I can have a little sit down each week, and I can reevaluate.

For the week of 1/7/2013...

I am traveling to Colorado from Thursday, 1/10 through Tuesday, 1/15, so I'm going to have a light set of goals for this week. Light, but progress. 
  • Write 500 words minimum on my Depression Cookies follow-up.
  • Edit a combined two hours on Chasing Memories, my NaNo novel.
  • Finish an editing assignment due 1/10/13.
  • Finish Iduna's Apples by the lovely Jennifer Willis (the sequel to Valhalla, reviewed here), and read at least two more books, since I have travel time to fill.
That's it. Slow and steady wins the race, especially when you are recovering from the flu and travelling.

Wishing everyone a great Round!

11 comments:

Elise Fallson said...

Oh my gosh, Tia! How terrible. I really hope you are doing better now and please take care of yourself! Sending you lots of hugs! <3

Monique R. Howard said...

I'm sorry to hear that you were so sick. Sometimes life has a way to telling you to wake up and look around by punching you in the face. It hurts but it is what you need.

Glad you are better and good luck.

alberta ross said...

be kind to yourself and shame those spiteful sprites lurking around corners - hope you feel better soon. Keep the goals light and keep well:)

Jo Michaels said...

Life: "Slow down, Tia! Take it one page at a time."
Tia: "Yeah yeah, in your face, Life!"
Flu: "I'll force her to listen; just wait and see."
Life: "Thanks, flu."
Tia: *groaning* "Yeah yeah, thanks, flu! NOT!"
hehe

Sometimes life and the flu go hand-in-hand to make you take that minute you may need. Sorry to hear you were sick. You gotta take better care of you!

WRITE ON!

Nick Wilford said...

Hope you're feeling better! Goals are essential for motivation, but keep them moveable. Things in life have a habit of coming up with no notice.

Julie Jordan Scott said...

Wow! At least your husband still has the ability to make you swoon, eh? I know, I know, terribly not funny but I couldn't resist.

It sounds almost like your day in bed (under doctor's orders) sounds like a retreat day. Too bad you felt lousy!

You are such an inspiration, Tia - here's to a phenomenal... and not overdoing it... round one!

Anonymous said...

Tia, it's really good to see you re-evaluating and making sure you don't overload yourself. It is too easy to do. I did it at the end of last year and paid for it. Like you, this year I am determined to work in a lower gear.

Your goals sound great. Good luck with them. Just one step at a time, and remember, we are here for you.

Cheers,
Cate

Slay Belle said...

Hope you're feeling better!

Good luck on your goals this round.

Julie Glover said...

Bless your heart! What a way to start the new year.

I'm glad you're in ROW80 again. Cheering you on to get done what works for your life!

Sherrey Meyer said...

Tia, we've never met. This is my first time to consider ROW80, but I have yet to jump in. You see life in 2012 dealt us a couple of hard family blows and well, life blew up! And so I've committed to a "hiatus" of 90 days from blogs (I have two) and Facebook and lots of computer time. But I still want to push forward with my book and other writing. And tonight you have inspired me with your post today. I like the idea of weekly goals. Perhaps I'll jump in sooner than the end of March, thanks to you.

Eden Mabee said...

Many, MANY hugs Tia... I do hope that you can get the rest you need given how much you still have piled on you plate. At least there was a minor silver-lining here... You got those things done and you were able to enjoy some close time with family.

Please, take care of yourself.