Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer
Somehow - it's almost July.
School's been out for a couple of weeks. We're settling into our summer routine, different this year than in the past. We've had our Lake Superior Vacation (Memorial Day weekend). We've had our first Front Yard Waterpark Day and our first sunburns. We've signed up for the Summer Reading Program at the library and we're making our way through the 100 Picture Book Challenge.
I suppose it's time to set some goals for the summer. I've decided to go Big Picture and not worry so much about specifics and deadlines. It's summer, right? Lazy, hazy, crazy days and all that?
Here goes.
WRITE. I will write every day, whether it's a blog post or a query letter, much-needed revisions or that scene I've been putting off in my WIP.
CONNECT.
READ. Oh, the list is long.
RETREAT. I'm looking forward to my now-annual mini-retreat on Gull Lake in August. Three days in Cloud 9 country while my husband attends a conference. No kids. Just me, my laptop, a few cameo appearances with Hammer Guy, a lake. Also Lakes Latte, a great coffee shop in Pequot Lakes, and Rainy Days Bookstore in Nisswa.
Other things: play with my kids, eat lots of fresh vegetables, drink beergaritas with my neighbors. I've also recently embarked on a de-cluttering project that will take most of the summer, I would guess: I'm sorting and organizing and purging as if we were moving. We're not, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the stuff.
To recap: Write. Connect. Read. Retreat. I'm going to go with the flow and have a good time.
How about you? How are you coming along with your summer goals?
School's been out for a couple of weeks. We're settling into our summer routine, different this year than in the past. We've had our Lake Superior Vacation (Memorial Day weekend). We've had our first Front Yard Waterpark Day and our first sunburns. We've signed up for the Summer Reading Program at the library and we're making our way through the 100 Picture Book Challenge.
I suppose it's time to set some goals for the summer. I've decided to go Big Picture and not worry so much about specifics and deadlines. It's summer, right? Lazy, hazy, crazy days and all that?
Here goes.
WRITE. I will write every day, whether it's a blog post or a query letter, much-needed revisions or that scene I've been putting off in my WIP.
CONNECT.
- YA Lit Chat: I've been a member for a couple of years but have not really utilized my membership. That's all about to change. I've updated my profile and have started to make connections. Look at my new badge to the right =====> and click on the link to learn more about the organization. It's fantastic.
- MNYA Writers: Our critique group has cycled through the first round of critiques in three months' time. We all survived and we're thriving. It's a great group of dedicated YA writers who are committed to their craft. We all live in the Twin Cities area and meet up once a month. I am already a little behind with one critique but plan to wrap it up ASAP! I'm up next with a re-write of the first 30 pages of WAITING FOR THE SUN.
- SOCIAL MEDIA & BLOGS: I'm slowly nursing my twitter habit back to life, commenting on blogs, connecting on facebook and goodreads. I'm also going to give Pinterest a whirl.
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| The pile is almost as tall as Pink Tower! |
RETREAT. I'm looking forward to my now-annual mini-retreat on Gull Lake in August. Three days in Cloud 9 country while my husband attends a conference. No kids. Just me, my laptop, a few cameo appearances with Hammer Guy, a lake. Also Lakes Latte, a great coffee shop in Pequot Lakes, and Rainy Days Bookstore in Nisswa.
Other things: play with my kids, eat lots of fresh vegetables, drink beergaritas with my neighbors. I've also recently embarked on a de-cluttering project that will take most of the summer, I would guess: I'm sorting and organizing and purging as if we were moving. We're not, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the stuff.
To recap: Write. Connect. Read. Retreat. I'm going to go with the flow and have a good time.
How about you? How are you coming along with your summer goals?
You've inspired us to chip through 100 picture books. I even shared your post with my playgroup friends. We'll see just how close to our goal we get. The girls are really read and re-read kids.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to make my first Waldorf doll. There's a class coming up that I really want to get to. I need to be crafty. It just feels good.
AND speaking of feeling good, I need to get back to Yoga.
You can do it! We're already more than a quarter of the way there. We read and re-read a lot, too (right now Birdy is really into Miss Nelson is Missing), but I've found lots of fun new (to us) books at the library.
DeleteWant some yoga DVDs from my collection? I can't do it anymore with the vertigo.
I hope you get your crafty time. :)
I'm so interested in hearing more about YA Lit Chat. I'll have to remember to ask you about it when I see you. Your retreat sounds heavenly. I'm getting a little mini-retreat myself in July, except I'm staying home and Beloved Husband is leaving.
ReplyDeleteSo far YALITCHAT is great! The retreat is a really nice break from the realities of life (which seem to be weighing me down quite heavily today). Your kind of retreat sounds pretty good, too.
DeleteCongrats on setting goals. I'm seriously in love with YALITCHAT. The folks there have been amazingly helpful. I'm even a group moderator so stop by and check out Perturbed Parents next time you're on the site.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
DeleteThanks for stopping by. I'm actually a member of Perturbed Parents - it's the first group I joined when I first signed up in 2010. :) I hope to be a more active participant!
I've been enjoying YALitChat also. I can really lose some time reading on that site :)
DeleteNice to connect in blog form also! Hellooooo ladies!
www.gregorific.com
Hi Sara! I hope you do well with your very organized list of things to do -- it seems to me you're doing well already simply because you have a list. I can't even get that much together... Good luck with everything! :-)
ReplyDelete~ Laura at YAlitChat
http://lexacain.blogspot.com/
Hi Laura! Thanks for stopping by. I will check out your blog and look you up on YALITCHAT. :)
DeleteYour retreat sounds amazing! I'm jealous. Your new background is certainly summery too (sorry I'm not sure how new it is, I'm trying to reconnect with people I haven't visited for a while). As for my goals, if I got my WIP to a polished state by the end of the summer, it would be great, but I'm fine with however long it takes. Only a week behind on finishing the first draft so that's an OK start, I guess!
ReplyDeleteHey Nick, nice to see you again! The new background IS new - only about a week. Thanks! I think you have the right attitude about your WIP - however long it takes. That's where I am with my WIP, too. You can't rush greatness, right? Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot about my summer goals. I'm trying to keep my planters alive and learn about the stars with my kids. I'm new to blogging also and so it will be a challenge to post regularly. I want to build some bookshelves too. And! And! And!
ReplyDeletewww.gregorific.com
~m
Good goals, Megan! And good luck with the new blog!
Delete