End of 2011, Goals and Resolutions

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Published by: Kate7 on 10th Dec 2011 | View all blogs by Kate7

We are reaching the end of 2011 and I am reviewing everything I wanted to do, everything I have done and what I want to do next year.

At the beginning of this year I set myself the usual collection of ‘goals’ to try and reach by the end of the year. This involved things like attend aerobics (which I managed for three months before I accepted that I have NO co-ordination and was just embarrassing myself). I have managed most of these but some have fallen into the dust. I have not managed to finish learning to drive this year, nor did i attend a paralegal course I had my eye on. But these are triffiling matters as I accomplished more than I did not.

I finished drafting the 3^rd draft of Grey Wings. I managed to have a holiday (first one in 4 years). I have entered three different writing competitions. Finally I managed to keep my hand in on writing short rough stories at least once a week (these rarely get posted but I like writing them).

I had a promotion in April, more work and a higher wage which has been wonderful (I love my job) and although there have been the odd week where things have gotten on top of me I feel like I’m getting better and better each week. I’m very much looking forward to the Christmas party on Friday.

I wanted at the beginning of this year to pay off my credit cards and one of my overdrafts. However unforeseen things have happened as they always do and I could not do this. So I did the next best thing and re-financed. This has gotten rid of the epic levels of interest and while the debt is still there it is no longer crippling me on a monthly basis so I’m much happier than I was. I count this as a win.

As for 2012 I’m enthusiastic. 2012 years ‘goals/resolutions’ will be pretty similar to 2011 only hopefully better organised.

I am going to attend a gym, not a class like last time. Just me, my I-pod and a running machine. I’ve booked another holiday in July/August. I’m booking my theory test for February and hopefully a practical test for April/May depending on fitting in lessons.

I am going to send Grey wings off to the cloud when I get it back from my proof reader. Then hopefully make whatever changes are needed and start sending it out to agents before the end of the year. I’m not sure which of my novel ideas I am going to work on in 2012. Practicality suggests Amenti (cutes story about cats and Egyptian gods) as it has already been roughly drafted. But I am itching to play with my Ghoul Mya.

I’m sending my application to write my dissertation off hopefully by the end of the month. I’m just waiting on a reference and a re-draft of my personal statement. I am hoping to write on how the current government’s changes to ‘Conditional Fee Agreements’ that is ‘No Win, No Fee’ agreements is going to affect access to justice for the normal man. That’s how it stands at the moment. I’d be very interested in hearing what other peoples years have been like and what your goals/resolutions are for the next year.

Comments

10 Comments

by MinxieAD 5 months ago

You achieved a lot this year by the sound of things. And, the ones you didn't achieve, you had a good go at and are ready to rearrange and aim for them in 2012. Good luck in achieving them all. The cats/Egyptian gods story sounds interesting!

I wanted to edit my script and send it off again at around this time. I sent it off this time last year, with no joy. I haven't achieved that, but that's because I'm still working on it after learning the important lesson that these things can't and should't be rushed.

My year in general didn't go quite as planned or expected, so my next year resolutions will reflect that! Find a new job, write my screenplay 'properly.' Work hard on my new screenplay, return to my home, or find somewhere I can afford to live on whatever wage I may earn, and 'the usual' lose weight and exercise! I've made that last one so many times, but this time, I mean it! ;)
by Gerilyn 5 months ago

My resolutions at the beginning of the year were to train for the Great North run and change my job. Well I got made redundant so that kind of solved the job thing. I did train for the great North run but not as much as I'd hoped. Anyway- I somehow managed to run the entire 13.1 miles without coughing up a lung so that was ok too.

2011 has been the worst year of my life though so my resolution for next year is to not take things for granted and to be happy. x
by Kate7 5 months ago

Thanks MinxieAD, I'm hoping Amenti will be a good novel, the concept is interesting and my first draft (while short) turned out to be not to bad. It needs alot of work but it will be worth it. Like you I know that when you rush things like this it will go horribly wrong. Giving yourself deadlines can be a good motvator but it can cripple a piece of writting just as easily. Best to take your time and I wish you the very best of luck. I find years tend not to adhear to plans I know mine didn't. But we as humans are an adaptable lot. Lose weight and excercise are always on my list and mostly ignored. Best of luck finding a new job, i'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Geri - This has been a hard year for you. Being made redundant is a difficult thing to go through. But I'm sure you've come away a stronger person for it. Your resolutions sound very good, very apt. I'll keep my fingers crossed that 2012 is a better year full of pleasent surprises for you.
by MinxieAD 5 months ago

That's so true. We're lucky as we don't need to meet deadlines with our work, but on the other hand, if we don't set goals, we end up not doing anything. (I'm talking about me, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.) I want to write only when I really feel like it, but the more I write, the more excited I am about the story. It's finding that fine line, so you're not forcing yourself.

Good luck with Amenti. I went to Egypt years ago, and remember being told about that. A sort of inbetween place between heaven and earth! Should make an excellent novel!
by Kate7 5 months ago

I tend to set myself very unrealistic deadlines, I find it motivates me to start with but then as the deadline looms I start to rush and the quality of my work gets shoddy. So I can see botht the benefits and the downside of setting them. I sometimes have to force myself to start writting then once I'm going I can keep going for a while and then before I know where I am it's stupid-o-clock in the morning.

Amenti is indeed the inbetween place. It's a crucial location in the novel and such fun to work with. I find the mythology facinating and would love to visit the place, Egypt that is not Amenti.
by Liss 5 months ago

12 is my lucky number and 2011 was mostly shit, so I would like to:

Get a cat and for it to not die,
Pass my driving test and settle into a job/course.
by Kate7 5 months ago

Liss: Kittys are awesome, esspecally when they do not die. Dead kitties are very sad, so many hugs for you. Passing my driving test is also on my list for next year, so fingers crossed for the both of us. Best of luck getting settled in a job/course.
by Jill 5 months ago

Well done Kate and all the best for 2012's goal attainment.

2011 has been good in that respect for me too.
by Liss 5 months ago

Thanks Kate :) I too wish you many kitties and car successes xxx
by Kate7 5 months ago

Jill: Thanks, glad to hear you had a good year as well!!

Liss: Yay kitties XD

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