Welcome to another Life List Club Friday. Today’s our Milestone Party and you’re all invited. So come on in.
Have a glass of wine or maybe some sparkling cider. 
Don’t mind Larry. He’s already had one too many.
And over here are the cupcakes. 
Now for some dancing! 
Doesn’t anyone want to dance with me?
Okay, folks, it’s time for the speech…
The Life List Club Milestone Party is a chance to check in on our Life List progress every three months. Here’s mine so far:
Write 3 pages (or 750 words) of Morning Pages every day: I wrote 3 Morning Pages every day until a couple of weeks ago when I started feeling stressed by them. I’ve taken a break and will go back in another two weeks or so.
Write at least 1500 words a week on my novel-in-progress (outline included): This was a bit tougher to track because I’ve been working on my outline. Word count isn’t a very accurate reflection of the progress there. However, I did complete my outline, have storyboarded the scenes and am in the process of fine tuning them.
Continue to consistently post at least 3 days per week on my blog: I’ve been very consistent on this point except for a few occasions when the unexpected cropped up. In the future, I’d like to have a couple of “emergency posts” to put up when something like that happens.
Take Sundays entirely off from the web/blog/writing to be with my family: I’ve been doing very well with this one. I’ve had the occasional cheat day. The time off really helps to rejuvenate me for the week. In the future, I plan to build up a que of posts so that I can take a vacation or two and not have to worry about the blog.
Check into Twitter 2-3 times daily (except for Sunday): I’ve been fairly consistent at this too. Some days are a bit of a challenge with the homeschool schedule and other obligations. I need put up a post it note reminding me to take 15-20 minutes to check in online at least twice a day.
Additional goals: I need set some health/fitness goals. I’ve seen how much it helps my writing to set public goals and I need to have the same motivation for my health. I’m joining Round 4 of ROW8O. Also, I plan to set some reading goals as well.
Overall, I feel pretty good about my progress. I still want to do better for the next three months and start to set more goals for myself.
Do you have a Life List of goals? How’ve you been doing on your goals so far? Any plans for the next three months?
And now for even more fun…
Giveaways!!!
I’m giving away an e-book copy (Kindle format) of Larry Brooks’ Story Engineering. This book converted me from a panster into a plotter (at least for novel-length works) and I’m so grateful. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. The giveaway runs through 10pm California time on September 30 and is open to subscriber, current or new, who leaves a comment below. The winner will be announced Monday, October 3.
There are more fantabulous giveaways from the other Life List Clubbers!
Each of The Life List Club writers has a gift for one or more subscribers/commenters on today’s post. Check individual writers’ blogs for their details on how many winners will be chosen and when their contest ends.
- Jess Witkins: a signed copy of Bethany Wiggins’ Shifting
- Marcia Richards: package of prizes:
1. A copy of her flash fiction, Night Moves
2. An invitation to guest post or be interviewed on her blog
3. Winner’s name used for a character in her trilogy, The Dance and The Dancer - Pam Hawley: package including:
1. Winner’s choice of excerpt from her novel-in-progress or a copy of her short story Elevated.
2. She’ll interview the winner on their goals and ambitions for a future post in Hawleyville.
3. Option to publish a piece of the winner’s fiction/essay (up to 2,000 words) or do a guest post at her blog - Jennie Bennett:
1. A 10-page, in-depth critique
2. 3-book set: Oliver Twist, The Secret Garden and A Little Princess - Jenny Hansen: choice of prizes:
1. A guest post by Jenny on the winner’s blog
2.An interview of the winner on Jenny’s blog - Lyn Midnight: an in-depth critique of two chapters
- Diana Ligaya:
1. A copy of Joseph Campbell’s, the Hero with a Thousand Faces
2. An in-depth fiction critique up to 15,000 words - David Walker:
1. A copy of David’s short story, Bubba’s First Cruise
2. A guest post swap - Emily Moir: a 5-piece (4×6) photo series by Kate Moir
And now for a little karaoke…
Photo Credit (in order of appearance):
Steve’s Birthday Party by nhanusek, on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
snail & wine | shell-ebrations ? – explored by Adam Foster | Codefor, on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
cupcakes by Clare & Dave, on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cat Dancing by elycefeliz, on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Weekend Warriors by JD Hancock, on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Mees: Lucky and me have shared the responsibilities ! … by *katz, on Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Screaming Hairy Armadillo by Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Celebration of Light 2011 | English Bay by RickChung.com, on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Yawning Cat by Terri (I.hope.you.dance), on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Sonia G Medeiros 
You did great, Sonia! You accomplished some things and learned a few things…that’s what it’s all about! You’ve been a great asset to LLC and I look forward to working with you through to the next Milestone Party! I’ll be seeing you in ROW80, too! Keep it up, girl!
Congrats on your Life List goals, Sonia. You did an amazing job!
You go girl!
“I need set some health/fitness goals”
Just make like the Nike commercial, Sonia; JUST DO IT. 20 minutes a day and you’ll be right as rain.
Excellent photo shots! You captured Marcia and I dancing beautifully.
I’m impressed, you set some really well defined and limit pushing goals with your writing. I eagerly open myself up to support you in any way I can and wish you well! Happy milestone!
You did awesome!! But I think I’ll skip out on the karaoke, lol!
Those Picts totally made me smile 🙂
Congrats on tring so hard with your goals!
Great job Sonia. Good luck in the next three months.
Congratulations on reaching your goals!
I love your pics, especially the dancing storm troopers. I know a couple guys in the 501st, I’ll have to ask them if that’s them. 🙂
Love, love, love Larry the drunken snail : ). I’ve learned that even though they honestly do cut into my writing time, sticking to the LLC health/fitness goals I set has also helped me with my writing by making me feel generally better and stronger and just having a more calm and positive outlike. Handling stress better because I’m taking care of me has kept me from caving in to work-induced writer’s block for more than a few days here and there. I hope you have the same experience, and congrats and cheers for all you’ve done!
Good work, Sonia. It’s not among your goals, but somehow seeing your sweet face beside your Tweets always brightens my day a little.
Awww. Shucks. Thank you. 😀
@Marcia: Thank you. It’s been so wonderful being part of the Life List Club. It’s really helped me set my goals and I love the guest post exchange.
@Stacy: Thank you so much!
@Aj: I think you’re absolutely right!
@Jess:Thank you so much for inviting me to be part of the Life List group. I love it love it love it! And I always knew you guys were a bunch of party animals. 😀
@Jennie: What? Don’t you think that kitty could sing well? Looo-uuuvvving yuuu is easy cause your boootifuuuuul. Do n do do. Ooooooooooh! 😀
@Lydia: Thanks! 😀 I had a lot of fun picking ’em out. Maybe too much. LOL
@Mike: Gotta watch out for those storm troopers. They really know how to tie one on. 😉
@Kerry: Thank you!
@Pam: So true. Feeling tired and sluggish (no pun intended :D) doesn’t help the writing.
Congratulations on reaching your milestone!
I LOVE the pictures! And thanks for reminding me about morning pages! I’d totally forgotten about those, but I swear they help majorly! I should get back to doing those… Anyway, great progress, Sonia! You truly deserve to celebrate. Now let’s bust a move shall we…
Amazing job on goals, Sonia! Woo Hoo!
Don’t put me in the hat for the book. I just dropped by to say hello, and well, yes, I will have a tiny glass of wine, since I’m done with the day job, thank you!
I need to adopt some of your goals. 🙂 I think the fitness will be next on my priority list!
Congrats on getting to your milestone!!
@RLW: Thank you. 😀
@Lyn: Morning Pages are wonderful. I think I just got overwhelmed with the amount of writing I was doing daily w/ blogs and MIP, etc. I’m definitely restarting them soon.
@Elizabeth: Thanks. Have a great weekend!
@Janel: Thank you. I’ve been feeling way to tired lately. I need to improve my fitness so I can have more energy at the very least.
Sonia, I think you did wonderful on your goals. HUGE congrats on finishing that outline! And those beautiful cupcakes were magnificent. I’m on vacation…I had two. 🙂
Mmm! The sparkling cider is delicious!
And you homeschool! That’s so cool!
Way to go on all your goals. 🙂
@Jenny: Thank you. 😀 Have a wonderful vacation!
@Ellie: Thank you!
Great goals. Congrats on achieving them AND on being realistic when you couldn’t.
Wow – inspirational stuff! It strikes me as important that writing when you feel great about it is easy. It is the days that you have to drag yourself kicking and screaming to the computer, ignoring all the arguments to prove that it is on such difficult days that you produce your best work.
@Donna: I think I have a tendency to be afraid to set goals because I’m afraid I’ll fail. Then I go and set up myself up to do it. It got to be a vicious cycle. I’ve begun to learn with LLC and ROW80 how to be more balanced and it’s so much nicer than being stressed all the time. 😀
@Mark: Thanks! It is so easy to blow off writing days when the words aren’t flowing. Having to be accountable in public definitely gives me that push when I need it. I’m also figuring out that the writing for the day doesn’t have to be all about putting words on the page. It can be about outlining, storyboarding, character profiles, research, etc (as long as none of that is being used as a way to continually avoid writing :D).
#ROW80 is a great writing challenge/community. I’ve participated from the start and have “met” so many wonderful, encouraging people. C’mon, jump in… the water’s fine! It’s great that you kept up with your Morning Pages as long as you did. I did not last as long but I plan to get back at it after Round 4. Great job!
Thank you. This was only my first round of ROW80 but I’m hooked. I loved the encouragement and being able to encourage others. I love that I can set my goals and then adjust them as needed. Plus, seeing what others were doing both kept me from beating myself up too much and made me want to reach further.
I’m glad, Sonia, that all who wander are not lost! I’ve been looking all over your blog post for somewhere to leave a comment. Your blog is so “other” directed — which I mean as a compliment. It’s not all directed to Sonia Medeiros, but to all the other fascinating people who populate your blog. And all of this is in way of saying, “I wanna say hi to Sonia, but can’t find her at this party! Hey, Sonia!” Anyway, I found you. You are wonderfully loyal. You dropped by my blogsite just the other day to say hi, but I had been so self-involved doing the final edit on my novel that I wasn’t home to greet you. I’ll be there more often now, so drop on by. Meanwhile, I loved reading your flash fiction and your update on your Morning Pages. Thanks for all your inspiration.
Jay
Thanks for stopping by! I understand your being busy. I’ve had such a hard time keeping up with all my blog visits lately. Seems to go in cycles. Sometimes I’m able to visit all the blogs I want and sometimes I feel like I barely have a moment to come up for air. I appreciate the comments on my blog too. I didn’t think about having a “say hi” or “contact me” kinda box or page. Great idea though. 😀
Way to go, girl! As a slave to writing, I know how hard it is to refrain from turning on the computer, just once, just one second, a half a second even, on a Sunday. I’m glad you’re sticking to family time, but remember, you need ‘Sonia’ time as well. I’m not sure what your favourite time is, but my time is sunrise.
When I get up, I grab my coffee and sit on the balcony alone with the world nearly silent. Some days blue replaces black, sun replaces ever changing moons, airplanes merge with stars, people, routines or not, move about in their unique ways. I watch them walk, how they walk. Sometimes, something happens, something moves me, whether it’s the twist of a leg or a leaf, the bark of a dog, a car alarm, a moment of my own to taste or to awe.
Perhaps later I might share my experience with others as a creature sliding off a green leaf or as a drop of rain, a banshee bringing death or a lovers first kiss. It doesn’t matter how I write it, what matters is how I look, see, experience those moments with my ultimate muse: my imagination. 😉
What lovely descriptions! You really know how to put someone right there. 😀 Such a good point about the “me” time. I used to do the Artist’s Dates from The Artist’s Way but I haven’t done that in a looooong time. Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed. I’m going to have make time to do that in the next few days. Maybe it’ll rejuvinate the writing.
Thank you for all the great comments! I’ll be announcing the winner of the giveaway on Monday, October 3.