#writemotivation August Wrap-up and September Goals

The last week and a half has been crazy.  Between trying to find out what is going on with my pay checks and making sure Colin behaves in school, I'm lucky to have a few minutes to breathe.

I've had time to write, to be honest, but I have not been able to focus on writing very much.  I can sit here at my desk and open the file to resume the story and that's as far as it gets.  My concentration is next to nil.  There is so much on my mind, the character's aren't heard clearly, if at all.  That's why I've been more editing what I have now to get to know the story and the characters better before putting them through a blizzard deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

Really, it is worrisome when you haven't written any business when you are living on commission.  Thankfully, I'll have something tomorrow, one way or another, even if it won't get me near bonus.  Cross your fingers, I'll have more to write before the end of next week.

With all of this weighing heavily on my mind, I have to say that my son, mom, Dave, and the cats have given me much to smile about and keep up a positive attitude.  A few people at work know what's going on and they are right there helping me keep positive and work harder.  They are even going so far as helping me finesse my presentation and 'paint the picture' for our clients to understand the need for life insurance.

I can 'paint a picture' with my writing, but when it comes to speaking to strangers, those same words run and hide.  Sad as it sounds, it is very true.  It is also why I am seeking a part-time job as well.

Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlgoode/

1) Write two chapters to Black Friday 2. (Two chapters a month sound reasonable enough to keep this one around)

I did manage to complete this one.  When I had to stop writing for the night, I thought I had only a partial chapter.  Looking at it now, no more needed to be said.  Definitely completed.

2) Work on Dark Crystal contest submission

I gave up on this one.  I could not come up with anything that could fit within the theme, let alone within the word count required.  I may try a normal fan fic on my own time later.

3) Word on edits/revisions for the last half of SoNL

I did manage to work through one full chapter.  Consider this one done!

4) Keep trying to exercise twice a week

Yes, I have been exercising.  Not quite as much as I should, but this is all a good start.  Those who have met me know I am not in the greatest shape.

5) Work on edits for Black Friday for republication.

Would five chapters be good enough to consider checking this one off?  I did, though I started off seeking out character names and frequency then opened my red pens and made the pages bleed.  >.<

6) Study the craft of writing.

Done, done, done!  Still reading on the craft, too.

7) Get art and items prepared for August Elks Swap in Pryor.

No way I can afford to make it to the Swap and Shop any time soon.  I have to take care of other bills first.  Maybe sometime this winter.

For the month August, I did well.  Only two things could not be completed but nothing says I can't come back to them later.  I'm of myself for getting this much done with as crazy as this new job is and how much time it hordes.

No one said being an independent contractor would be easy.  *sigh*

Now, for September!

I'm keeping the goals simple.  I need to write as much business as I can so I can pull out of my financial hole and get my medical bills paid off.

1) Keep writing in Black Friday 2 (anything so long as it moves the story)

I've managed to get a little bit more written, but mostly I've gone back through what I already had to make a few corrections.  I'm also going to add to this editing on Black Friday.

2) Do revisions on SoNL

I've done another page.  I'm lucky to have this much done.

3) Keep walking.

Adding more exercise to this one.  Not just walking, which has been increasing little by little, but I'm going to add a short cardio workout a couple times a week.  Nutritionist's orders!  :D

#writemotivation Late Update Week 3

I know this is awesomely late this week.  The way things are looking, I am going to have to keep my lists short until I can balance my new job, writing, and home.  As it sits now, work and home are cutting deep into my writing time.

Selling insurance is not very easy to do.  We have several no cost items to help us get into the door, but once inside, getting people to go through the whole presentation becomes the challenge.  Most just want the no cost stuff (it isn't free.  Huge difference), and don't want anything more.  But, I do get several who will allow me to show them what we have to offer to help fill in the gaps in their existing insurance.

Mostly, I need to work on my presentation so I am asking for anyone who lives in NE OK to volunteer to sit through a full presentation.  Who knows, you find what I show worth buying, but there is no pressure to buy.  I only show the need for buying that first policy or getting additional insurance.

If I am to succeed, I have to practice, practice, practice.  Anyone with kids or a mortgage, please, let me practice with you.

Other than work, I have three restaurant reviews to go over.  One is a brand new place right around the corner from my apartment and the other two are very well established.

On to the goal check!

Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlg

oode/

1) Write two chapters to “Black Friday 2″. (Two chapters a month sound reasonable enough to keep this one around)

I have written part of chapter 12.  This one is coming from Nick and Nahana's POV and what they see while gathering wood in the building storm.  So, YAY, progress!

2) Work on "Dark Crystal" contest submission

Still a no-go on this one.  Barely times for my other WIP, so I'm crossing this off for now.  We'll see how things look come NaNo time.

3) Word on edits/revisions for the last half of SoNL

I have started on this one.  Only a few paragraphs into the second half of the book.

4) Keep trying to exercise twice a week

There is a lot of walking involved in this job, so, this is a definite yes.  Not to mention, I walk Colin part way, most days, to school.

5) Work on edits for “Black Friday” for republication.

Nothing done on this one, yet.

6) Study the craft of writing.

Been reading up on it this week!

7) Get art and items prepared for August Elks Swap in Pryor.

It'll be, at the very earliest, November before I can get to an Elk Swap Meet.  Bills come first, then my little hobby items can be stocked up.  I'll let you know when I have soaps and lotions ready for sale, or sampling.

#writemotivation Goal Check 1 and 2

Or is that 1 and a 1/2?  *shrug*

Anyway, there isn't much to report for last week or this week.  The main reason being is that training at work has me staying late; after six or seven in the evening but until after nine if I'm not very lucky.  The first few days were fine when we left at around four in the afternoon on a long day.

But, when we started actual field training, in which I made a nice sale at the first appointment (YAY!), I didn't see home until after dinner.  Call nights, when we go through referrals and leads sent in by the many unions around the state, to set up appointments the next day we could be there until nine which is the mandatory time when we HAVE to stop.  The 'No Call Law' made to prevent telemarketers and bill collectors from bugging you at all times of the night kicks in.

Before you say it, no, I am not a telemarketer nor am I soliciting life insurance.  Yes, I want people to buy (Mostly because I don't want to see them going through the hell I do because of no insurance more than for the money), but I am not pushing for sales.  I honestly do have some wonderful stuff that is no cost and very useful to the average person.  I wouldn't be calling them unless someone they knew pointed me in their direction.  At the beginning of that chain is someone who is/was in a union that started the ball rolling.

The company I'm with deals with unions and associations and will only go to people outside of them on a referral basis.

It is really a very niche market and AIL is running with it all the way.  I have to learn a lot about this niche and perfect my presentation before I'm allowed to step out and bug people on my own.  ;)

So far, I'm enjoying it and encountered only a couple of people who irritated me.  One was an elderly woman whose husband was injured and laid-up for a while.  The dramatics she put on (That so tired sigh with the back of her hand against her forehead and the mock pained glances toward her husband) were way over the top.  It was easy to tell she didn't want us there.  I could hear it in the tone of her voice and the clipped answers she gave.

Her husband was giving her those looks of 'would-you-stop-the-drama-before-I-kick-your-butt' kind of looks.  He was listening and being cordial.  He wanted us there.  I found his expressions amusing and, to be frank, if I were him, I would have said something about it with us there.

The one whom I have trained with the most in the field, and who helped me make that first sale, is a sweet gentleman.  He's patient and gave many good pointers which I've used.  He's young and married, but he's supportive and guides.  My boss, who I've also trained with makes me nervous and is far too much the alpha male.  He expects perfection out of the gate even though he says he doesn't.  His body language and attitude in general says otherwise.

If you've been in retail and fast food for as long as I have, you pick up on those or the job will chew you up and spit you out on the streets.  The same reasons why I don't like people is also why I enjoy the job.  Working is my only social time with others.  (I don't count write-ins as work.  That's fun-social which I need more of)

Tomorrow, I'll be in the field with a girl is, more than likely, half my age.  She's pretty, vivacious and bubbly without being annoying.  I can imagine her being a cheerleader in school with her get-up-and-go attitude to getting the job done.  She and I had one preset appointment each then we hammered out the rest (for eight appointments total) in an hour and a half.

So, that is what I was up to for the last week or more.  That will explain why I haven't done anything on my goals, too.  They're bad excuses, but they are true.

Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlgoode/

1) Write two chapters to “Black Friday 2″. (Two chapters a month sound reasonable enough to keep this one around)

I did get started on this one around the first.  Sadly, nothing was written at all in the last few days of July.  The way things look, until I can do presentations on my own, I won't be able to do much unless I manage to get home early or on a Sunday.  When school starts, I won't be doing anything after midnight so I can get up at six to get Colin off to school.

2) Work on "Dark Crystal" contest submission

The same on this one.  The only exception is, I just cannot come up with anything.  I have the premiss but the story isn't there.  I do like the character, however, so I may use her in one of my fantasy stories at some point, or see her cameo in a current work in progress.  Nothing at all last month either, so this one will probably be dropped until I can focus more on my writing again.

3) Work on edits/revisions for the last half of SoNL

I started re-reading this one to get an idea of where it's going.  This one, after I get the first half back for revisions, is going to be going through the wringer in a few other writer's groups I found on Facebook.  A few are critique and help groups for just such problems.

4) Keep trying to exercise twice a week

This one I can say I have been doing.  There is a lot of walking involved plus some extra on the side just to help keep my knees and rump from getting sore on call nights at work.

5) Work on edits for “Black Friday” for republication.

Some has been done, but not enough to put it in the green.  I need to do more than a word or two to call it progress.  But, at least there is some progress to speak of.

6) Study the craft of writing.

This one has been easy to do.  I've managed to read through four books on writing.  I've gone over speaking and dialects, show and tell, how to write a scene, and how to show emotion and action.  There's still more to read and many more books to buy when I have the spare change again.

7) Get art and items prepared for August Elks Swap in Pryor.

This one could not be done.  I had to work and Saturday's appointments were all in Bixby, OK.  A lovely little town with such a cozy friendly atmosphere and countryside that makes you want to kick off your shoes and go running through the fields.  *sigh*  When I finally build a house, it will probably be in Bixby on several acres of land.  I saw a plot there I would love to have, now, but there's no money for it and terrible credit to get it.

The September Swap will be out of the question for now.  I'm going to aim for November (Yes, during Nano) so I'll have some set back and plenty of change to get supplies I need to make soap.  Yes, you read that right, I'm making homemade soap.  For now, using a premade base until I can get the things I need to make it from scratch without ruining the good cookware.  There will be more than just homemade soap.  I'll delve into lotions, oils, bubble bath, and liquid soap as well.  Basic bar soaps are all I have for now.

#writemotivation Week 2 Update

*hangs head in shame*

I’ve been a bad little writer this week.  I haven’t touched my goals though the few things I have done are working toward two of the goals.  Honest!

Last week was also filled with appointments along with the normal Thursday fun-filled therapy sessions.  Between those and the heat, I felt wiped and not very inspired.

Colin had a visit with the surgeon who stitched up his foot.  There is a lot of what she calls isotropic growth, which means the scars building too much tissue and the oil rubbing isn’t helping as much as it should.  He has been prescribed a compression sock and massage therapy to help break up that excess tissue before it becomes permanent and affects the development of his foot and his walking/running later on.

Dave also had his doctor appointment the same day, after we sat at the place to get Colin fitted for the sock.  His went well.  He has maintained weight since the last visit which is good.  But, he has to talk to his other doctor to get the ball rolling for his gastric surgery and the options he has.

That was Monday.  On Tuesday, I went into the office and filled out the paperwork to get me listed on their payroll and went through a sample presentation.  There is a script I need to learn.  Only three paragraphs, to be honest, and the rest we can adjust to our own wording.  Also went over the rules and fun stuff.  All of that was being done while my laptop downloaded and installed the app which I’ll be using in the field and can customize to the people I’ll be talking with.

Wednesday, Colin has his first massage therapy session and we went over everything.  I was given instructions on how to use the stuff they gave us to work on his scars.  It’s barely been a week and we can see improvement already.

Thursday was normal, out all day with the normal therapy.  Friday, I was back at the office, Colin came with me because we had another appointment for him.  I didn’t get the script to go over on Tuesday and I forgot Wednesday until it was too late to catch anyone in the office.  Allison, one of the other agents, helped me out and gave a rough idea of what I’ll be doing over the next two weeks.

Everyone there is so nice and friendly.  They want to help all the newbies so they can succeed.  That vibe is just so strong there, I can’t help but to feel more confident in myself.

Anyway, on to what this post is about.  :D

Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlgoode/

1) Focus on Black Friday 2. Get at least two chapters written.

Nothing new written, yet.  I’ve backtracked some to gather pertinent information about who the named characters are and when they entered the story.  I’m also making sure I know what the general make up of the current group is so I can keep things balanced when I bring in the next group.  There will be many more, enough to make the resort into a small community with others coming and going, possibly taking some of the group with them.

Where they are now and the need to keep warm will cause some problems eventually.  Fires cause smoke and someone is bound to notice a thin plume of smoke rising, or several plumes, before the weather turns warm.

2) Pass the second half of the State Exam.

Done, done, doooonnnne!

3)  Get at least 10K on a submission for the Dark Crystal prequel for a contest for Dark Crystal.

I haven’t written a single word on this, yet.  *sigh*  I know what I want to write but I just cannot come up with a way to start the stinkin’ story.

4) Exercise twice a week. (I mean it this time!)

So far, yes, this one has been achieved.

5) Work on revising and editing Black Friday, the original book. 

This one is occupying my time.  I am, more or less, rereading the story to make notes of not just the characters and who has a name and who doesn’t, but events that happen.  Some of the timing is off, in my opinion, and needs to be adjusted to feel more realistic.  I also want to make certain scene less obvious since, as they sit now, they aren’t really needed in the story, but other spots could use more attention; such as when the main characters are under attack early on, the first hunt and a bit more life event happening while Karina is raising Nick and the rest of her young.  There’s also other things which need some explaining and making the ‘other side’ have more of a presence instead of the few times they are given.  Really, the bad guys actively try to go after Karina’s people, which is another reason why they are dying out.

Really, if anyone has read the book, the final fight scene is just pure drivel.  It needs to be redone in a huge way.  I’ll excerpt that chapter out to anyone who wants to give it a look and offer advice.

In the work I have done, I can see some of the influences from my favorite and most read authors,  I spotted some Piers Anthony and Jean M. Auel, and even a flicker of Anne McCaffrey.

This week, I have a few posts to make; one book review and two more interviews.  I enjoyed the interview with Hanna Gray Gordon from the NaNo group and it took a while to come up with the questions.  I just may do others.  There’s four different blogs these posts go to, so there’s plenty of people to see them.

I hope your week has gone well!

Black Friday Continues

A couple of the many buildings in their new home.

You thought you could get out of it that easily, eh?  Not very likely.  Muahahahaha!  Ahem.  Sorry about that.  ;)

I haven’t written anything new, yet, this week on Black Friday 2.  What I have done was at the last minute of June.  I must say that what I came up with works, if a bit slow and clumsy.  But, I have to say it gives more insight into the story and will back up a future scene.

This is how I felt when I found out the hearing was rescheduled /after/ it was supposed to be done today.

The two chapters which were written came from Takesha’s point of view while Karina and Marcus were up on the roof assessing damage before they could start patching up holes in the roof.  Nick and Nahana are out gathering firewood and kindling so they can have some warmth during their stay in the old abandoned house.

It isn’t really a house but the main building to a resort hidden away in the Appalachian Mountains.  A little research showed that if it was left unattended for about five years, weather would have caused some serious holes in the roof and what windows that were left to be very drafty.  Holes made from animals would be everywhere but the place would be serviceable in a pinch with some care.  A previous owner could have come by at one point to board up broken windows.

Trying to get that old and empty feel was not easy.  Also, trying to give Takesha that feeling of assertiveness to help keep their group in line while the leaders are busy wasn’t too hard.  She needs to be strong-willed, and not scared to hold back.  She’s an older woman who woke up one day looking like a fox with huge ears.  Not a lot will escape her attention.  Which is why I’ve decided she’ll be Karina’s right hand person.

Nick isn’t happy with what he finds out.

Eventually, a little of Takesha’s background will be revealed so we can all understand her better.  For now, like others in the group, they’re trying to figure out where they belong in the group and keep tensions to a minimum.

There are trouble makers among them now.  Joe, who is a weasel shifter and Mikey, who is a hawk shifter, will be the primary ones.  One of the two is well meaning and the other doesn’t like what happened to him and will do anything to bring shame to the group and see that the leaders get what is coming to them.  That one has a very skewed perception of what happened and is probably unstable to begin with thanks to his own actions in the past.

There will be a huge group before this book ends.  This was planned from the beginning but only a few will be used at any given time.  For now, it is barely manageable and I need to figure out how to tie in the previous book (which is being edited and revised now) to this one.

That’s all for now on Black Friday 2.  Not too much progress, but it is good.

Black Friday Resumes!

I haven’t written much on Black Friday 2in a very long while, but believe it or not, I recall exactly where I left off in the story.  Remember, I’m not a person who has good recall of anything, so be scared.  Be very, very, scared.

When I last looked at the draft, I left the ragged and cold group at the threshold of what will become their base of operations for a while.  Right now, the place is in need of some work, especially in the ceiling department.  Most, if not all, of the cabins in the old resort have gaping holes or no roof left and the main building is the only one that has four good walls and trees close enough they can get branches for a good fire and, hopefully, material to make a roof to keep out the snow and ice.

I know a few survivalists and if they had come across such a place with a group of people with little to no wilderness knowledge, but a strong will to survive, they said they would scavenge materials from other buildings to repair the main one then, when the weather allowed it, they would then work on the others and figure ways to get, or make, adequate tools to do the work needed.

Now, it wouldn’t be too strange if some tools were left behind by someone who may have used the place prior to their arrival.  Who knows what they’ll find in the other buildings besides old kills and evidence of other animals using the places for shelter.  Either way, the resort has been abandoned for at the very least five years.  Being tucked away in the mountains, anyone, or anything, could have been there.

This story does take place in our modern world, but there will be fictitious places, such as this hidden resort in the Appalachian Mountains.  The group has been on the Appalachian Trail and have taken refuge beyond the northern most point just before winter set in and closed off the pass.  They’ll have a few months to learn how to use their new bodies and abilities while they learn about what they are.

A couple of the many buildings in their new home.

Come spring, there will be a few changes which Karina will have to handle and preparing for now with the aid of Hathor.  Once Hathor leaves, Karina is going to become a central focus and have an intimate connection with the world around her.  She’s already sensing some of it now.

I am keeping this to a first person narrative.  The story is going to be told by Karina, mostly, but Takesha and Nick will be adding their two cents in to cover absences by the loner of a leader.  Maybe Marcus will also say a word or two but he’ll be quiet as far as what He sees until book three.

Yes, there will be a book three.  Book two introduces the therian (soon to be renamed to something else) people to the world and cover the reactions of humans, from the zealots to the those of who don’t care what a person looks like.

They will also have to deal with one of their who will turn them in to  the authorities and be double crossed himself.  He’s been introduced, but I won’t give away who he is, yet.  That’s a secret to keep you coming back.  >;)

Nick isn’t happy with what he finds out.

Human nature will be making a big mark in the series, starting with therians being treated as bad, if not worse, than the Native Americans and African peoples in the beginning of the nation.  History has a way of repeating itself until people learn the lesson and move on.  I’ll be needing to do some history research before I go too much further.

Got ideas to add?  How’s your writing coming along?

#writemotivation Update Week 3

I know, I did week #2 on Sunday.  That tells you the impact the state exam had on me and missed passing it by a few questions.

There's some good news concerning the state exam; I am rescheduled for Tuesday next week.  I need to focus more on the rules, regulations, and statutes, along with the basics of the insurance license.  I pass that test, I won't have to worry too much about the other because that is part of the training.  But, it does look good if I pass both of them.

Provisions, exclusions, and riders are not an easy concept to understand when it comes to life and health insurance.  Add in taxation and you really make a hard subject difficult.  Thankfully, I know the basics of those now and just need to focus more on the provisions, riders, and exclusions.  I also need to make sure I understand the differences between Medicare, Medicare+Choice, and Long Term Care.  There's enough similarities to confuse even a genius like Hawking.

Now, to show what I haven't done for June.  >.<

Header image and thumbnail photograph by Hugh Lee and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlgoode/

1) Set SoNL aside until feedback from critiques and betas are in on the first half of the novel

I can say this is done.  I have partial feedback in now.  I need to meet up with one and go over the material.  There's a couple of subplots I need to give some 'air time' to as well as adding more suspense.  I've got to print out those posts for easier reference.

2) Focus on Black Friday 2. Get at least two chapters written.

Same as where it was last week and the week before.  I need to study if I'm to pass the exam.

3) Keep up the job search. Four interviews minimum for the month of June

I guess I can honestly say this one can be crossed off.  I have the job, I just need to get over this difficult hurdle so I can begin work.  Like other specialized jobs, it is illegal to work without that license.

4) Exercise twice a week. (I mean it this time!)

Exercise has been done, just not quite the amount I wanted.

Half way there... sort of.  :)

How are your goals coming along?

May Wrap-up + June Goals #writwemotivation+ State License Exam

Well, things are finally starting to take a turn for the better.  Technically, I have a job now, but there will be no pay until after the training period is done and I pass the State License Exam for Health and Life insurance.  This is not an easy thing to do.  My first try, with studying at night before bed, I failed it.  A 47 on one partand a 53 on the other.  I need a 70 minimum to pass.  Yeah, I did not do good at all. /le sigh

Do not fear!  The company I will be working with is coaching me and allowing me a quiet place to study and take notes until I re-take the exam next Friday.  I intend on passing this time and with any luck, a minimum of an 80 instead of a 70.

If the quiz I just took on the most important of it all, the statues, rules and regulations of insurance in OK, is any indication, I’ll do fine.  I missed three out of 15 questions.  One of them was a stupid on my part.  The amount of time the State Ins. Commissioner keeps advertisements on file is 4 years, not 3.  I got the time period mixed up with another one that is very similar.  Easily done, but I should have gotten it since I had just finished going through that section and took many notes about the marketing and sales section.

This also means I will be learning more about sales and marketing, too.  I should be able to apply what I learn from insurance to build sales on my book (soon to be books).

May’s Goals:

1) Get a job or at the very least attend five interviews for a job.

Three face-to-face interviews and one phone interview done.  One was for the agency I am studying for.  I consider this one done.

2) Edit/revise five chapters of Society of Night and Lies.

It wasn’t quite five chapters before I decided to stop and send off the first half of SoNL to the beta readers.  Still, it is done.

3) Write two chapters of Black Friday 2.

I never did get around to writing anything for this one.  Total Fail.  :(

4) Exercise twice a week.

Kind of did, but not each week.  I did manage one day per week.  I call it a good start.

All in all, I did accomplish a lot in May.  A portion was dedicated to studying for the failed exam which did hinder things a bit.  Thankfully, I did manage to find some kind of work.  Just have to jump through the hoops before I can start earning again.

June Goals:

1) Set SoNL aside until feedback from critiques and betas are in on the first half of the novel

Done, and well, done.  I already have some feedback in.  There’s going to be some revisions on the opening and what is going on so you see my MC as more than some depressed alcoholic daydreaming when she’s not.

2) Focus on Black Friday 2. Get at least two chapters written.

I won’t start on this until AFTER my exam date.  My primary focus needs to be on getting some income to support my writing.  I’ve a few ideas already on how to move the story along.

3) Keep up the job search. Four interviews minimum for the month of June

I think I can call this one complete.  I am feeling good about the exam and how well I’m handling the practice quizzes.  B’s are better than F’s any day of the week.  This one will be modified to pass the exam.

4) Exercise twice a week. (I mean it this time!)

With warm weather here, this one will be easy.  There’s going to be a lot of swimming and nature walks for me and Colin.

I’ve collected the writing prompts from the Writemotivation G+ community.  I’ll be posting them sometime this weekend here and in the group.  I am curious what you all thought of the prompts from last week.  My favorite was the prompt “Hush, little one, it’s going to be fine…”  It came out so sad.  Did you feel the emotion in that one?

Pray for me as I study my tail off this week.  I need all the help I can to pass this exam.