Slay that Failure Dragon!
As a member of the Rome Construction Crew, I have goals and push toward those goals. So, this is a monthly update of my victories, failures, and somewhere in the middle. Not sure where to start, but let’s try it:
Writing
I did a lot of writing, but that’s really nothing different for me. Truthfully, I’m always writing, so this is a goal that I’ll always hit. Did I hit the amount of writing that I wanted to do? No. Did I finish all the idea outlining that I wanted to do? Uh . . . no. The problem is that I still think I’m that college student with all the time in the world. My life doesn’t work that way any more. So, I need to figure out smarter goals in this realm.
The latest books are also coming out different than the originals. It’s like the scenes are more compact and directed. The charm and ‘get to know you’ with the characters is no longer necessary, so they stay on track for the most part. I worry that I’m making a mistake, but my wife is telling me the 4th book is great with a lot less to fix. The first 3 had not much in outlining beyond game notes, but all the newer books have detailed outlines. So that might have something to do with it. I’m proud of them, but I’m not used to things running this smoothly.
Also, I’m still hoping to publish my second book in June. The cover art is supposed to be sent to me this weekend, barring any unexpected delays. So, I’m really excited about that and hope the sequel does better than the first one.
Family
This one has been a challenge because I’ve been struggling to get writing done. I will admit that I didn’t spend as much time with my son as I wanted. Though, he has led my back to my laptop a few times because he enjoys running into the dining room to give me a hug. It’s like interrupting daddy at the computer is a new game because he gets hugs, tickles, and kisses.
The wife is a different story, but that’s also a long one. We’ve both been working on our own projects most days. With our Tuesday celebration of 8 years without killing each other (anniversary for normal people), we are going to spend some time together. I think the issue is that both of us are trying to push various careers and hobbies, but we have limited time. Me with my writing and her with her scrapbooking, Etsy store, reading, napping, and everything else.
Exercise
This has been my worst month for the stationary bike. Knocked out by either the cold, family events, or back pain. The problem with me is that once I slip, I can keep finding an excuse to slip. Thankfully, the improved diet has been keeping the worst at bay. Still, I really need to take this goal by the throat and make sure it doesn’t get away. I’m at 189 pounds, which is down from 210 back in September. Might not seem like much to people that shed pounds with ease (the wife), but I’m doing this without a pre-made plan. I’m trying to find a way to lose weight and still eat the things I like. It means more exercise and portion control, so it’s a lot harder.
Reading
Yeah . . . I need to fix this issue.
The Future
I’m just going to stay the course and make improvements as things come. June is going to be a busy month with my anniversary, Nimby’s wedding, and the usual distractions. July might not be any saner with visiting family and the toddler’s 4th birthday. Life is just one big obstacle course some days.
Legends of Windemere 
You really are doing a great job on your goals. Keep it up
Oh, and I totally get how easy it is to keep finding excuses…I’m a master of that
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Especially when you’re trying to rationalize to yourself. That’s always the easiest.
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The lack of things to do when in college can get quite boring, too. It all has it’s up and downs! 🙂
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You run out of stuff to do in college? Man, times have changed since I was in there. 😉
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I don’t live on campus and funds are limited as they are. 😛 And Irish colleges are less wild than the US variety. 😉
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I had joined some clubs and my college was on a lake. So, I’d spend a lot of time finding a quiet spot by the lake to relax with a notebook.
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We’ve lakes but they’re man-made so it doesn’t quite have the peace-factor. 😦
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Stick with it Charles, the longer you keep to the course, the more it becomes a good habit.
I lost 21 Kgs in 2 years by portion control, changing the foods I eat and walking, always the walking … Jogging is for the young and energetic … 🙂
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I try to walk wherever I go, but they recently closed the nearby grocery store. So, my walks have taken a dive. At least I still have my bike.
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I agree with the exercise, Charles. Once you slip it is just so very easy to keep making excuses, and before you know it you are back where you started, or even worse.
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That’s what I fear. Far too easy to fall off the wagon.
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Charles, keep up the hard work! You really are doing an amazing job! (No really, you are). 🙂
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Thanks. Seems all of us are pulling the ‘I think I fell short on my goals’ posts today.
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Congratz on you yeah-we-didn’t-kill-each other-anniversary! ♥
Also, I think you are on the right track with your goals. I can’t wait until we can see the cover art! 🙂
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Me too. Fingers crossed that I can make next week a hype week for the sequel.
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Loved the way you divided your goals and wrote something about all of them. It’s time I gave a goal update too 😉 And I hope your next book goes off with a bang! 😀
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Me too. I’m more confident about this one than the first though. I have a general idea of what to do now.
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Yup. At least you will be better off Piscine Molitor with Richard Parker this time 😀
I mean, you might even reach the shores of Mexico! 😀
(And I hope you do!)
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That’s easy. Just get to Texas and toss a copy of my book over the border. 😉
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Lol! 😀
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You’re doing awesome, Charles! Looking forward to the cover art – that is exciting.
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I’m looking forward to it too. Got a great teaser back in April and I’ve been anxious ever since.
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that was genuinely endearing to read, charles and reassuring,as many writers forget that they lead such similar lives and share the same concerns as well as achieve similar victories. I can totally relate to your family life, my little boy has a similar interupting game with the same reward (which is frustrating for the writer in me but wonderful as a father). Congratulations to you and your wife for a wonderful eight years, you are clearly a blessing to one another. I have been with my wife for ten years and will be married for seven this August so I can appreciate what love can do for a man in terms of happiness and stability. It is great that you support each other, they say behind every successful man is a good woman (and an astonished mother in-law). Congratulations on all you have achieved, Charles, my growing tummy understands your exercise bike’s neglect and says “stuff it! Fat and happy, my friend, fat and happy”. So long as you’re healthy, who cares! Have a teriffic day and keep smiling 🙂
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Thanks. I’ll skip any mother-in-law jokes though. 😀 Though, I now think I’m going to present a dropped idea and see if people think it’s worth pursuing.
Healthy is the tough part. I’m working on that and I need to lose weight to get that. At 5’5”, being 210 pounds is not a good thing. Mostly, I don’t have much endurance to keep up with the toddler.
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You’re doing great…even at the simplest level, simply doing all of those things at the same time is challenging enough…but then to make progress on some of them and move forward is almost miraculous. Nice job 🙂
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Thanks. I should enjoy moving forward while it lasts. This summer sounds like it’s going to be hectic.
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Thanks for this post. I’ve stumbled across the RCC blog and was wondering exactly what y’all do. (I have left a comment for Green Embers.) You sound like you’ve accomplished a lot. (Oh, that weight and exercise thing … I feel your pain.) (Now I say) I’m lucky that my husband has become an avid amateur astronomer and astro-photographer. It used to bother me when he would choose to go stargazing rather than stay at home with me. Now I practically push him out the door because when he’s out, I get more writing done 🙂 Anyway, I digress. Again, you sound like you are doing quite nicely in attending to your goals 😉
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I wish I could toss some of these people out of the house. 😀 It’s rather crowded and until I start making ‘real’ money on the writing, people are looking at it still as a hobby.
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Life has a habit of getting in the way of living.
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