Hi everyone!
I compared last week to being in a fast moving kaliedoscope. This week, like being strapped onto the front of a 300-mile-an-hour bullet train. Here is how my week, and goals went–fast and missed a few stops, but not because I was looking at the scenery.
ROW Goals
1) Write 500 new words of fiction a day, or the equivalent (3500 words) during the course of the week. Word Count: Zero OR 7519. College pretty much made me decide to eat this goal for the week. The 7519 is my word count for various Business and English class projects (more on that in goal #2). Since the second half of the coming week is college free, I know I’ll get in the writing. No worries here, just an small adjustment for one week. Reducing this weeks goal to 2000, done between Thursday and Saturday.
2) Meet all college deadlines with my best work. I’ve met all deadlines, passed all tests and quizzes with 100%’s, and an on track with all assignments. Over the next four days: 3 quizzes, finalize the last major homework (due today), two long-form essays, and of course, the finals for both classes–on the same day. Should be fun. *calm smile* This goal is my priority until semester’s end on Wednesday, and then–Freedom!
3) Spend 15-30 minutes a day, up to 3 hours a week, writing or editing blog posts. Ship (publish) when ready. This goal is on hold until the end of the semester, which means at some point between Thursday and next Sunday, I should be able to get in time for blog writing. My hope is to post at least one non-Resources, non-ROW post during that time. Goal Change: Original goal suspended until August 1, then back to work.
4) Pick one stalled project (I have a few) and get it ready to ship. “Project 1″ is continuing forward, with multiple job interviews and interest–past the fingers crossed stage and now in the contingency planning stage, which is a very good sign. Given all the above, I think I was overly-optimistic about getting time for “Project 2.” However, by midweek I’ll be free to move forward with this project. Goal shift: Draft & polish the first article belonging to “Project 2,” between Thursday and Saturday.
Overall, I’m pleased with the week’s results. I am definitely looking forward to the end of the summer semester and a chance to reconnect and move personal projects forward. Since that all ends on Wednesday, I’ll be sure to drop a quick update to all of you as the dust settles. And now, off to finish that homework I mentioned was due today.
How was your week? Be sure to get out and support your fellow ROWers, it may be the best visit many of us get this week.
Peaceful Journeys!
Gene Lempp ~ Writer 
I remember all of the writing I had to do the last time I was in school. It’s so time-consuming. I hope you indeed can get in some of your own writing next week!
Suh-weet grades, though! You’re kickin’ it. Have a marvelous week, Gene.
Truly time consuming, however, I will say that going through these classes has refined my personal discipline as regards time use and organization. It has also helped me to get past a point of personal perfectionism–no time to be perfect, get it to “best of my current skill” and move on. Thanks for the support, Julie. 🙂
Wow, well done! You’ve had a good week in terms of achieving goals and you sound super-organised. All the best with moving ahead with your stalled projects. 🙂
Oddly I thought I was super-organized before I took these classes, but now, yeah, I’d say I’ve improved on that front dramatically. Thanks, Lisa. 🙂
You must be the star student! Good for you – never thought you would do less than 100%! Freedom from you class schedule will be sweet! Enjoy!
Well, I am at the top of both classes–and yes, I am truly looking forward to Thursday, but only so I get concentrated on pulling the concepts I’ve learned in the past two months into my creative writing and business endeavors. There really are no days off. Thanks, my friend. 🙂
Congrats on your test scores and getting your assignments all in! Sometimes the writing just has to slide to accommodate other work, and sometimes, we can let other work slide to accommodate more writing – so have fun doing that next week!
Priorities are what they are, can’t complain since I know the time away now will equate into better results on the writing/business front for the rest of my life. At least that is the hope. Thanks for the support, Jennette. 🙂
Go Gene! You are doing well. My sisters have married and had children, now they’re back at college. Well, one’s at University now. I studied psychology as a mature student too, so I know it can be so much harder to juggle one’s own life with student life (esp. workload). Keeping my eye on the ball (the desired outcome) maintained the bubble in my belly to get to the finishing line with a yummy grade. But it also helps to throw in some fun. *reflective smile* Best of luck and happy Summer break. 🙂
Fortunately, my local college has many of its classes online which gives me a bit of flexibility. I definitely have my “eye on the ball,” which helps get through the frustration that often comes from fatigue and such. Thanks for the cool comment!
It sounds like you had an amazing week. Congrats on getting so much done. And I think any writing keeps those writing muscles flexed and ready to be used.
Actually, I think my overall writing, and definitely the rate at which I can form a coherent thought has increased dramatically since going back to college. While I haven’t been able to write what I want as well, I know that when I do engage the fiction once more that I’ll be producing better, cleaner material than before. Thanks for the support, Tia. 🙂
Gene,
I love the way that you adapt your goals to suit what life has in store for you.
Congratulations on your grades and coming freedom, and here’s wishing you a luxurious long weekend of writing!
Life is not static and due to this fact, our goals should not be static either. This is something I learned over previous rounds of ROW and other attempts at “goaling” myself. I’d highly recommend the concept/method to everyone. Thanks for the good wishes and support, Shan. 🙂
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