A Journey Into Enlightenment (Part II)

Here we are in Tennessee, on our third official sit as a couple (and my fiftieth or so as an individual).  It has been a whirlwind of a fall and we are both looking forward to hunkering down for the winter up on Signal Mountain.

Now that I am finally and fully embracing the wonders of blogging and social media in general, I find that I can be more distracted than ever if I am not careful.  In the past I have had specific job duties, like mixing drinks or selling soaps or entering data…now I am mainly accountable to…me.  Yikes. 

Time to retrain my brain.  Time to walk down a different street!  If I want to make a living online, I need to be super organized and results-driven.  I need goals, and I need to accomplish them.  I can’t simply wait for someone else to tell me what to do, whether it be work related or otherwise.

So, each month I am going to hold myself accountable to not just me, but to all of you as well.  Each month I am going to post a goal (or four).  I know we are almost halfway into November, but I have been working hard on the following and feel the need share now, so here goes:

November Goals:

Blogsville: I am currently working with Lisa Sabin-Wilson (author of WordPress for Dummies) on this blog.  It is being completely restructured in order to be more user friendly and interactive.  You will see the new look this month (can’t wait to show you)!

Other Social Media: You can now find either myself or Caretaking Couple on twitter and Linked In as well as facebook.  I am not sure if I will be adding to or subtracting from this list – I am just going to have fun with each and see where my time is best spent.   Do you have a favorite?  If so, please share.

My Writing: Most of you know that I am taking writing classes and working on a book.  I have eight chapters outlined and three written.  I will finish Chapter Four by the end of the month. How many rough drafts does one woman need to write, anyway?

Health and Fitness:  I am looking into becoming a Beachbody Coach.  There is still a bit of research to do with regards to this.  I am considering Beachbody because I have seen the results in people who are consistent with it, and it is something I can do from anywhere in the US.  And it will hold me accountable!

The goals above are more challenging than I thought they would be but there is nothing else I would rather be doing right now.  Except for maybe going for a bike ride and getting to know the new neighborhood…another benefit of working from “home”.

Thank you for reading this, our 100^th blog post here at Caretaking Couple!  As always, I would love to hear from you.  Enlighten me ; ) Just leave a comment on any of my 100 posts between now and December 1 and I will enter your name into a drawing for a special CC gift from Tennessee!

Don’t Forget To Write

How fun is it that I found myself  in NYC the very same week that GWW (Gotham Writers’ Workshop) held their annual Winter Open House?  Much fun, for me and for Paul, who (being the gentleman that he is) escorted me to the classroom on Bowery (Lower East Side) then had himself a pint or two at McSorley’s Old Ale House while I learned how much there is to learn about writing. 

The first class (Nonfiction Writing) was taught by Pauline Millard, who had me at “I write for the The Huffington Post”.  I love that she stressed that in order to be a good writer, one really must read.  I can do that.  I know there is more to being a writer than reading a lot, but it’s a good start, isn’t it?

Ms. Millard gave us several writing prompts (my favorite being “Write about someone you can’t stand”).  A few brave souls shared their five minute manifestos with the rest of us (apparently we all have someone or something we can’t stand – relief all around).  She suggested we read On Writing by Stephen King.  Being the good (i.e. obsessive) student that I am, I decided I must read that book.  Now. 

Evan Rehill taught the second class (Creative Writing).  I enjoyed his teaching style (fired up) and the fact that he felt mortally wounded by a paper cut inflicted upon him last class. I wanted to know (and still do) what the tattoo on his inner wrist symbolized (it looked like a star that had lines missing).  Don’t ask me why I didn’t ask him – I don’t know why – just didn’t.  Maybe I will e-mail him.

Mr. Rehill taught that the words coming to life are what we give to the reader and gave us the following writing prompt:  “Pick an ordinary object and infuse it with magic”.  OK, got it.  Next prompt?  “Add conflict”.  What does my character want?  What is in the way?  Juicy.  Let’s make the impossible possible, shall we?

Now, of course, I want to take classes every Saturday in NYC.  The classes aren’t too expensive, but the travel (train, parking, subway, etc) would run a couple hundred a week, easy.  Alas.  GWW does offer classes online, which I typically shy away from…will have to think about it.  Meantime, thank you Gotham Writers’ Workshop for enriching my NYC experience!