Half of the year has zipped past — more, for those of you who start your writing year in August or September.

So it’s time to do some evaluations.

Normally, I’d go back to the questions I asked last fall and answered early in the year. However, last fall was so tumultuous, with the sudden decision to move, Elsa’s death, ad the move, that I never wrote any.

My goals, dreams, and resolutions for 2011 were, basically: Survive and Thrive.

I’m getting there.

Now that I’m settling in to my new life, the life I wanted, dreamed about and envisioned.

But I’m asking myself questions, mostly due to the fact that, during the current Saturn Retrograde, I’m having some growing pains in terms of my career.

I came up with the following questions:

1. Are you happy with the way your career (or careers, if you have a writing career and still carry a day job) has evolved over the past months?

2. What, if anything, do you want to change, in the balance of the year?

3. How are your personal goals coming along?

4. What ideas/positions/elements of your work or your life have you outgrown these past months? There’s nothing wrong with dropping or changing goals if they no longer fit your vision for your future.

Think about these for the next few weeks, and we’ll reconvene mid-month to discuss them.

Here’s what I hope to get through in July:

12-15 pitches
July Newsletter
Continuing promotion on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT
Finish and submit THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
continue ANGEL HUNT edits
work on ELUSIVE PRAYERS revisions
Continue getting out backlog of short stories
Teach Reading/Reviewing for Craft for Savvy
Teach Revise in Company for Savvy
Prep deconstruction workshops for fall
Continue Mermaid Ball Preparations
Continue Centerville Beautification Preparation
Jazz Concert
Brochure and mailing list
Update Annabel Aidan site with new information
Update Devon Ellington site with new information

What’s on your agenda?

It’s already the end of June — I can hardly believe it. It was a busy month, but a good one.

I’m feeling some growing pains in the overall vision of my career, so I took a lot of time to assess and re-assess and try to find the root of where I’m frustrated with certain aspects of work, so I can resolve them positively.

Here we go:
June Wrap-up:

Done:
Pitches: 2 (accepted), 1 still waiting
Submissions: 4
June Newsletter
RT to CT
Wrote my column (my final Lit Athlete column)
Confidential Job #1
Stanley Cup Final
Belmont Stakes
Costume Imp’s visit

In Process:
THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Garden
Proposal for my Senator
Brochure and mailing list
Back rehab
Slots for year-long workshop
ANGEL HUNT revisions
Planning for Mermaid Ball
Planning for Centerville Beautification Events

Moved or Dropped:
Party – cancelled due to date conflicts
Anthology story — it wasn’t going anywhere; since it was not contracted, no problems

Unexpected Additions:
Promo work for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT
Rewrote & submitted short story to a different anthology
In person interviews with potential new clients
Booked several more jobs for September
Yoga on the Beach
TV appearance for A of R
2 interviews for new clients

Disappointments:
I wish I’d been able to push hard enough to finish SPIRIT RESPOSITORY

Successes:
The release and warm reception for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT

June is shaping up to be an incredibly busy month, between the writing, the book launch, and numerous guests.

So here’s what else I have to get done:

Pitches: 12-15
Finish & submit SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Teach Write in Company for Savvy
Confidential Job #1 as it comes in
RT to CT
Belmont Stakes
Stanley Cup Final
NHL Draft
Keep working on Garden
Finish proposal for my Senator
Write my column
Write 3 articles
Promote A of R
Brochure
Mailing list
Finish and submit story for anthology
Back rehab
Finalize slots for year-long workshop
Get back to ANGEL HUNT
June newsletter
Polish lectures for Revise in Company
Polish lectures for Reviewing for Craft
Party
Costume Imp’s visit
My mom’s cataract surgery
Mermaid Ball prep
Beautification Gala prep

May was a busy month, but a good one. Working in the garden feels great, although there’s so much to do, I always feel like I’m falling behind.

I was also faced with some Saturn Retrograde challenges — the direction in which I want my career to go in the next few years is changing, and I’ve had to give some serious thought to the adjustments that entails — disengaging from several clients, seeking new ones, but doing so gracefully and positively, not out of anger. So often, we leave because we’re fed up and have waited too long. I want to make the shift as I know I’m outgrowing these particular assignments, so I can leave positively, not negatively.

Wrap Up For May:

Done:
Pitches: 5 (too few)
Deconstruction Workshop for Savvy
Setting as Character for Savvy
2 site gigs in CT
1 additional RT to CT
Work for Confidential Job #1 (w/new editor)
Kentucky Derby
Preakness
Stanley Cup Playoffs

In Progress:
THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
A of R swag
Brochure
Mailing list
Story for anthology
Submitting short stories
Back rehab
Finalizing slots for year-long workshop
PR for A of R
Proposal for my Senator
Garden

Undone/dropped/moved:
May newsletter

Additions:
Committee meetings for local organizations
New project ideas
A lot of thinking and decision-making on the way forward.

Disappointments:
Did not finish SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Cranky lawnmower

Successes:
Happy with the pre-launch work on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT

April dashed past so fast, I barely noticed it leave! I’m glad it’s finally warming up a bit and things are blooming.

I wrapped up April in this fashion:

April Wrap-Up

Done:
Only 5 pitches — must up that this year
Advanced Workshop for RWA
2 rounds of edits and final galleys for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT
Got lawnmower — and even started using it

In Progress:
Setting as Character Workshop for Savvy (runs until almost end of May)
Millennium Trilogy (reading it)
Work on SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Choosing A of R swag
A of R Media Kit — have to update per edits
Submitting short stories
Garden work — won’t that always be a work in progress?
Rehabilitate back
Catch up with applications for year-long intensive (more have come in)

Dropped/Moved:
April Newsletter never got done
Finish new brochure
Create list for local mailing
Work on anthology short story for July submission

Additional:
Unpacking
Notes for Annabel Aidan book not connected to A of R world
Helped with Butterfly Mosiac at wildlife Sanctuary

Successes:
A of R is with the publication, in production for release

Disappointments:
April just kind of moved along. I’m not really disappointed by anything, just trying to get everything done. I was frustrated by a client, and won’t work with that particular client again, but things happen.

While I was in it, April felt somewhat frustrating, but now that I look back, it was better than I expected.

And on to May, which is a busy month, full of traveling:

To Do List for May:

12-15 pitches
May newsletter
Finish SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Teach deconstruction workshop for Savvy
Finish Setting as Character workshop for Savvy
Work on A of R swag
Finish brochure
Create list for local mailing
Work on Anthology short story
Keep submitting short stories
Keep working on back
Finalize last few slots for year-long workshop
Start PR push for A of R
2 site gigs in CT
1 additional RT to CT
Work for Confidential Job #1 as it comes in
Finish proposal for my Senator
Keep working on the Garden
Kentucky Derby
Preakness
Stanley Cup playoffs

March was better than I expected in many ways, as far as creative fulfillment and networking, but a back injury and a cold derailed me from several things, including a play deadline. Fortunately, I have another chance to submit to them later this year, so I will put the play aside until summer.

Once things came back on track with ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT, the rest I’d planned for April had to be re-shuffled, but that’s part of the freelance life — one must be flexible.

March 2011 Wrap Up

Done:

Queries: 7 (4 of which were picked up)
Submissions: 5
March Newsletter
Taught Unstick Your Book workshop
Polished lectures for Advanced Dialogue Workshop
Polished lectures for Setting as Character Workshop
Ostara celebration
Ornamental Grasses Lecture
Writers’ Group Dinner
Boston Horticulture Show
The Confident Freelancer Teleseminar
Costume Imp’s visit

In Process:
Edits on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT — process has begun
Work on THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Lectures for Millennium Trilogy Workshop
Garden Design
Correspondence
Submitting short story backlog
Fearless Ink site update

Postponed/Dropped:
Play — rescheduled for November submission — should start on it again in July.
HISTORICAL INFLUENCES — back-burnered due to other commitments
OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK revisions on hold until after A of R done
ANGEL HUNT — moved to June
Unpacking — couldn’t, due to back injury
Spring cleaning — couldn’t, due to back injury

Unexpected Additions:
Cover art for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT
Media kit for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT
Author discussion
Requests for a couple of additional proposals

Disappointments:
Back injury
Getting sick
Having to move the play back to fall

Successes:
The Confident Freelancer

April looks good. I tried to pare it down a bit, to be more realistic. I want it to be busy and fulfilling, but not crazy-making and frustrating.

April To-Do List

12-15 Pitches
April Newsletter
Teach Advanced Dialogue Workshop for RWA
Teach Setting as Character for Savvy Authors
Finish Millennium Trilogy lectures
Edits for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT
Work on SPIRIT RESPOSITORY
Decide on A of R swag
Finish media kit for A of R
Keep submitting backlog of short stories
Garden work
Get lawnmower
Rehabilitate back
Catch up with applications for year-long intensive workshop
Finish new brochure
Create list for local mailing
Work on anthology short story for July submission

Much of what I’m doing this month builds on what I started last month, which is always nice to see. As much as I appreciate the first of the month being a fresh slate, sometimes one wants to see progress, not just fresh starts!

March To – Do List

Queries: 12-15 (including large proposal packages due)
Play due at the end of March
Keep working on HISTORICAL INFLUENCES
Do edits on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT — I better hear from the editor, my contract says they are due on April 1!
Finish OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK revisions
Work on ANGEL HUNT
Continue work on SPIRIT REPOSITORY (once A of R edits are done)
Teach UNSTICK YOUR BOOK workshop
Polish lectures for Advanced Dialogue Workshop
Polish lectures for Setting as Character Workshop
Write lectures for the Millennium Trilogy Deconstruction Workshop
Garden design
Continue w/correspondence
Continue unpacking
Spring cleaning
Ostara celebration
Ornamental Grasses Lecture
Writers’ Group Dinner
Boston Horticulture Show
Work on submitting backlog of short stories
Brainstorm about new brochure
Teleseminar
March newsletter
Fearless Ink site update
Costume Imp’s visit

As usual, February brought unexpected opportunities — everything from car problems to a request for a partial manuscript to booking 7 more workshops.

Two big things that came up, affecting items on the list, where the need to “re-envision” things I thought were simple. The YA novel turned out not to be a YA novel at all, and an editor’s suggestion got it on the right track to be the best it can be. It’s no longer appropriate for the slot at which it was originally aimed. When it’s done, I think it will be a good book, but I can’t help feeling like I missed an opportunity and I “should have” been able to adjust to the requirements. However, since there was no contract in place and no money had changed hands, there was also no bad feeling, and an invitation to submit other material in the future.

The other “re-envisioning” I have to do is for my freelance brochure. What focus do I want it to take? How aggressive do I want to be in marketing myself locally? Which local business organizations do I want to join in order to progress? Since I’m spending so much of my time working on fiction and teaching, should I back off the business writing for awhile? Although the business writing tends to be higher paid and quicker turn-around. But, since my priority is fiction, I don’t want to get pulled too far off course into other things.

A lot of “doing” got done in February, but there also needs to be time spent reflecting in March, and making decisions on where I want my career to go in the next year, and in the next several years.

I watch many business freelancers walk away from their desks at 5 PM; the minute the clock stops, they are no longer engaged with their work. Fiction writing isn’t like that. Fiction writing is always with you, a part of you is always writing, even when you’re doing other things. Many business freelancers talk about making sure their work doesn’t interfere with their lives and that life comes first. Fiction writers integrate life and work, because it’s from life that the work springs.

February 2011 Wrap Up

Done:
Queries: 12 (8 accepted)
Submissions: 5
Imbolc celebration
2 site jobs in CT
Devon Ellington website updates
Assignment for Confidential Job #1
March newsletter (ahead of putting it on the To-Do List)!

In Process:
Play due in March
Garden design
OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK revisions
Proposals for workshops and for-hire assignments (not on original list)
Rearranging storage area
Unpacking bedroom & office
Post-holiday correspondence

Dropped/Postponed:
ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT edits — still waiting for editor’s notes
ANGEL HUNT revisions — moved to March (after play is done)
YA novel re-envisioned as adult novel; reworking it.
THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY — moved to March
Rework brochure — need to find focus

Unexpected Additions:
Booked 7 new workshops into April of 2012
Booked year long intensive
Invited to present in-person in fall
Possible teleseminar
Car problems

Disappointments:
Rejected short story
Car problems

Successes:
The additional workshops
Agent request for a partial manuscript

February’s a short month and I’m working two site jobs out of town, so I decided to keep the list in line with the limitations.

February 2011 To-Do List
12-15 Pitches/Queries
Finish YA and get out the door by end of month
Start play due at the end of March
Keep rearranging storage area
Keep unpacking office
Keep unpacking bedroom
Work for Confidential Job #1 as it comes in
Continue with garden design
Finish post-holiday correspondence
ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT edits — as soon as I hear from my editor
OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK revisions
THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
ANGEL HUNT edits
Update websites
Rework freelance brochure
2 site jobs in CT
Imbolc celebration

January was a busy month, and I’m fortunate that I both got a lot done, and was flexible enough to let new opportunities come in without completely derailing the most important things on the list. As usual, it was filled with rearranging and shuffling priorities. Overall, I’m happy with the month, I had fun and have gotten into a good writing rhythm here in my new space. I’m looking forward to February.

January 2011 Wrap Up

Done:
Pitches: 5 (much too low for the month — but so far, 4 out of 5 are picked up)
New Year’s Day Ritual
Taught Stephanie Plum Workshop
Live chat Jan. 12
New class proposals
Costume Imp’s visit
Twelfth Night party
Keep up with private diary and Gratitude List
Taught One Story, Many Voices workshop
Double-checked teaching schedule to make sure I had dates, etc. correct (I didn’t)
2 RT to CT
Stayed on top of bills, complaints, filing
Holiday decorations down and packed
Ornament Hospital
Planned Imboc celebration

In Process:
YA due on Feb. 28
Rearrange storage room/start unpacking boxes
Unpacking office
Unpacking bedroom
Garden design for spring
Catching up on post-holiday correspondence

Dropped/Postponed:
Lawnmower purchase -moved to Spring
ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT revisions — still waiting to hear from my new editor
THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY — moved to February
ANGEL HUNT edits–moved to February
Rent PO box –moved to February or March
Rework brochure/do freelance mailing — moved to February or March
Start work on short story

Unexpected Additions:
Work on Samantha Light piece
Attended raptor release
Attended herbal seminar
Attended tree identification walk
Got car serviced
Attended plant identification seminar
Revised HEX BREAKER and got it out to publisher
Started revisions on OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK
Worked on Jain Lazarus Adventures Character bible
Worked on Jain Lazarus Adventures series outline
Work for Confidential Job #1
A LOT of snow shoveling

Disappointments:
That I’m not farther along with the YA — no one’s fault but mine
Hurting my back slowed me down

Successes:
Good workshops
Staying on top of most of the work

Here’s what I need to get done this month. What about you?

New Year’s Day ritual
Do the ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT revisions as soon as I hear from my editor
Teach the Stephanie Plum workshop
Teach One Story, Many Voices
Live chat on Jan. 12
Double-check teaching schedule to make sure all dates are correct and confirmed
Work on some new class proposals
Costume Imp’s visit
Twelfth Night party
Work on:
THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
The YA due on Feb. 28
ANGEL HUNT edits
Rent PO box for business
Rework brochure
Do freelance mailing
Start work on a short story
Rearrange the storage room/start unpacking boxes up there
Finish unpacking my office
Finish unpacking my bedroom
2 round-trips to CT
Stay on top of bills. complaints, and filing
Work on garden design for spring
Take down holiday decorations and store properly
Set up “Ornament Hosptial” and fix broken ornaments so they are ready for December of 2011.
12-15 pitches
Novel queries
Play queries
Buy a lawn mower
Keep up with the private diary and with the Gratitude List
Plan Imbolc celebration
Catch up on post-holiday correspondence

Last year was so far off-track from what I expected that I lost track in February and never really caught up. Many wonderful things happened, but unexpectedly. For that I am grateful, but there were no questions in fall (everything was about the move), so I simply took some time to think in the past week or so about how I want to form my 2011.

Goals:
Query, market, and sell the backlog of writing
Do everything I can to make sure that ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT is a success when it releases
Write 3 novels
Finish at least 3 WIPS and prep for submission
Write 6 short stories
Write 1 play
Spend the time and learn enough to create a beautiful garden
Re-design my websites
Move hosts
Grow my freelance writing business in both the fiction and non-fiction elements
Continue and grow the teaching aspect of my work
Find a good local yoga studio and attend class regularly
Start putting aside money so I can own my own house
Add another cat to the household when the time is right
Volunteer with nature and animal-oriented organizations in the area

Dreams:
Earn the bulk of my income from fiction and plays — and that it’s more than enough on which to live comfortably
Own my own home
Remain healthy

Resolutions:
Have more fun!
Stay true to my writing.
Continue to work my way out of debt and then remain debt-free
Grow and deepen my yoga practice even more, and add other enjoyable elements to my fitness regime
Keep a Gratitude List to remind me of all the good things that happen each day