Plans? I got'em!

Okay, I said I'd post resolutions for the year. Though I'm calling them my plans. Silly I know, but in my head resolutions are wishy-washy things you SAY you're going to do at the beginning of the year and then never think of until the following year--and beat yourself up because you didn't accomplish them. LOL

So here is my list of 10 "plans" for 2011. :) And you SO have permission to call me out on ANY of these!

1. Finish 10YOM (10 Year Old Manuscript) and submit it! I'm soooo close.
2. Write EVERY DAY. No excuses. I don't even care if it's 100 words. I find if I do this, I stay on track (and usually write more than 100 words!), but if I let myself slack off, it snowballs. Then it's been days, or eek, weeks since I've written. None of that in 2011. :-D
3. Blog regularly. I've been doing better the last couple weeks, but I can soooo do better. 
4. Attend at least one conference. hehe this is an easy one since I've already registered for Authors After Dark. Though maybe I can even fit in another one. 
5. Move more. I'm not going to say "lose weight" or put a number on this. I just need to move my rear end more. Being a writer, I sit in front of a computer many hours a day. I need to get up and move. 
6. Start treating writing as a career, instead of something I squeeze in when I have time. Because, really, how can I expect others to take my writing seriously, if I don't show that I do. 
7. Learn to say "no". I'll admit, this one gives me hives. LOL I think it fits in with taking my writing seriously. I tend to give in and help someone out even though I really do need to sit down and write. This one is going to take some work, but I'm a determined woman. 
8. Be more social. I think writing itself is an isolating profession, but hey, we are in 2011, and there is plenty out there to keep in contact with readers, other authors, etc. We have facebook (ahem, and not to dink around on games like cityville :-/ ), twitter, blogs, etc.
9. Be more organized. This applies to writing things, but also around the house. The clutter drives me nuts and I find it hard to focus. I won't bore you with my decluttering plan, but I have one. LOLOL
10. Remember to take time and appreciate what I have. Let's face it, I have a pretty darned good life. Yes, I'm busy, and things tend to be unpredictable and crazy. BUT I have a wonderful husband who supports what I do. I have four beautiful kids. I'm lucky enough to be able to pursue a career I love. I need to remember that more!

So there you have it. My list. Anyone else make resolutions/goals/plans for 2011? What are they?

Hugs
~J

HAPPY 2011!!

I canNOT believe it's 2011. I'm working on a resolution/goal list. I'm big into lists, I'll admit. :-) I think I might even post my writing related goals--nothing like putting it out there to keep me accountable. :-D An exciting thing about 2011--my husband and and I will be celebrating out 15th wedding anniversary. *gasp* Hard to believe he put up with me for that long. LOLOL Honestly, I love the man more than life, and I'm so lucky to have him in my life. *cue sappy music*

At this very moment, I'm chilling in the hotel room after spending the day with my parents and family. Two of the four kids are off spending the night with friends and/or cousins, the other 2 are snoozing across the room, and the hubby is close to snoring. :-) I had a wonderful vaca with Gwen Cease and the time spent with my family has been so great--I'm almost sad to go home tomorrow. Though I know I'll be happy to be home. Even if I have a blue million things to do.

One thing I *get* to do is talk about a fantastic giveaway coming up. I can't go into details right now (THAT has to wait until the 3rd). However, I can say, I'm teaming up with 5 incredible authors--Devon Rhodes, Bronwyn Green, Kris Norris, Gwendolyn Cease, and Suzanne Graham--and we are going to ring in 2011 right! So stayed tuned!

For now, I'll just say: Happy New Year! I wish you much happiness and success in 2011!

Hugs,

~J

On Vacation...Woohooo

I've been on vacation the last couple days. The day after Christmas I got on a plane (so won't go into the drama of the airport security which resulted in my missing my first flight--I want that to be distant memory!) and I headed to Louisville for a few days with my bud, Gwendolyn Cease.

OMG we've been having so much fun. The funny thing is we haven't been doing much of anything. Really. I got to sleep in each morning--what a treat! We've hit Starbucks a few times, had DELICIOUS Gigi's cupcakes. Serious sugar rush that was so worth it. But mostly we've just been having out, visiting and writing. It's been serioulsy awesome.

Sadly, I'm leaving tomorrow. :( The family is picking me up from the airport, and I don't even get to go home. LOL We are immediately driving to the UP of MI to see my parents and sister for New Year's weekend. If I could have arranged to fly to the UP instead of hours on an airplane followed by hours in the car, I would have, but *sigh* can't be helped. I am looking forward to the time with family, though. :) Then it's back home in 2011 and back to the routine of school and activities and all that.

Now, I'm off to hang out with Gwen, maybe fit some more writing in before I have to go to sleep--because it's an EARLY flight. *groan*

Hugs
~J