Right, just over two weeks ago I had a go at those stupid lists of the 'best', my reaction to was to knock up a list of things I was going to do over the following two weeks, a proper list; a 'to do' list. I'm gonna check in and see if making that list helped me get where I wanted to go.
Did I hit my targets?
I'll go point by point, knocking down those tent pegs like an unruly twelve year old in a packed camp-site.
EAT WELL
What does that even mean dude? LOL! Well, if I mean (which I think I did) to eat what I wanted, keep things in moderation and try not to be the biscuit king then the answer is Yes, yes I've done okay. Dinner's are always taken together as a family and I haven't burnt any of those in the two weeks. I've chowed down on snacks, sure, but the main meal times are all good.
If I'm working on a site or with a contractor food goes out of the window to get the job done, especially if plastering, and so as I have been tragically quite these past two weeks it has meant I haven't bumped lunch so we can finish half an hour (always a stupid plan).
GET SOME EXERCISE
I used to be regular on the weights when in my early twenties, never a big guy but I did enjoy the process and the results of targeting workouts every day. When I did my stint as a house husband I let that slide. Five years later and I started on sites, the work builds you back up but also grinds you down pretty badly.
I started back this week on basics; chin ups, sit ups, press ups, trying to get back to some kind of basic shape so I can have a platform to work from. It's gonna take time but I'm going to take it slow and see if I can get back in shape. I've got more weight on me now in general so I think there's more to convert into muscle.
I started back this week. I aim not to stop now.
WORK MORE, TALK LESS
The first week I stayed off twitter and used that time to edit. YES!
MAKE THE TALKING I DO MEAN MORE
The second week I did what I could to get the word out about my self-published book. I chatted with people, got the retweets rolling and took pointers from people who offered advice. Job done!
The second week I did what I could to get the word out about my self-published book. I chatted with people, got the retweets rolling and took pointers from people who offered advice. Job done!
COMPLETE ALL THE TASKS I NEED TO ON MY FIRST BOOK
A week after making this list I felt I'd finished. Properly finished. Yeah, I'm my own editor at present and so there will always be things that can be improved and stray spelling mistakes here or there, perhaps even the odd typo. I know I'm not the best writer in the world and that goes double for editing, but I think the finished product I had was finished enough.
When I know more I can improve it, I'm sure of that, but I think it's the best I can right now and that is good enough for me. I think that does say something as I was about to publish weeks ago but nagging doubts made me go through again and I picked up plenty of minor mistakes and improved the work generally. I am happy with it now, ready to give it to people and hope that they like it too.
RELEASE SAID BOOK ON THE KINDLE AND TRY NOT TO VOMIT FRO NERVES
I didn't puke but I did publish. :-) I'll be doing posts on the process and what I did right and wrong a.s.a.p but for now know that it's out there and I didn't back out or puke. I have felt a mixture of highs and lows since; being happy to walk around town head held high one day and questioning why I was stupid enough to think it was a good idea.
Having said that here's a link. If you buy it I hope you enjoy it, if you do popping a review on the Amazon site and maybe on your blog would be very helpful indeed. :-)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BLANK-CANVAS-ebook/dp/B00CQS9U5U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368959232&sr=8-1&keywords=Blank+Canvas+kindle
Self doubt is a bitch and I don't think I'll ever shift it.
HELP THE KIDS OVER THEIR CHICKEN POX
We had Fluff (7) and Petal (5) down with the nasty pox and they were okay to be honest. The t.v stayed on, they hugged pillows on the sofa while smothered in Calamine and dosed up with Calpol and anti histamine's and it wasn't too bad.
A tip from a tweep was to put some oats in an old stocking (I had plenty about as robbing banks is well dangerous nowadays so I don't do that any more) tie it up and dump it in the bath. The oats make the water cloudy and it helps with the itching! The kids were much relieved after their baths and that was a godsend.
Sadly just as Petal and Fluff are getting over it Dot (3) and #TrojanHero (4 months) have picked it and both are pretty covered in those horrible spots. :-( Oh well.
READ SECOND BOOK THROUGH AND START TO MAKE ALTERATIONS NEEDED
I have indeed started the first edit on the second book. It's unconnected to the first and is a lot more complicated. There are more characters, more issues, a greater level of effort required on ever level and that is great! The trouble is that because it is generally more complicated and adventurous it's harder to work on.
My wife has read it and thinks it's clearly better than Blank Canvas (the first book) but agrees it needs work. So I start from a better base than before but I'm also looking at a really hard climb. The days when I'm really confident and up for it have seen me make indents, but the muddy, self doubting days see productivity crawl to a very slow pace as I question every decision I made while writing the book in the first place.
Can we swap brains for a while please?
WATCH SIX MOVIES FROM THE SHELF OF UNLOVED DVD'S
I am a bit behind on this one as the other things have taken up the time but I have managed a few. Immortals, Aliens and one of the Naked Gun films down, bringing me to a total of forty three dvd's left to be watched. Its an on going battle but I'm still adamant that nothing comes in till they are all conquered. That should save money and stop me from random, comfort movie buying.
Saying that I really want Life Of Pi and Django Unchained! I better start earning money and caning the list!
BE THE BEST PERSON I CAN BE
Erm, well I haven't been really naught or anything and I have tried quite hard so maybe I've done this. Not sure.
COMPLETE THE DECORATING OF THE TEENS BEDROOM/MOVE HIM BACK INTO THE ROOM
CHECK! He's been back in a week and the room is still relatively clean! Good skills!
MAKE LOVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Well I haven't been making war, had no time to ;-)
So, it's a success for the most part. Did making this list help me? Did it drive me on? No, but it did allow me avenues to focus on, reminded me what was actually important and that it is sometimes the small steps that lead to the big changes.
The only real thing that's changed in the last two weeks is that I self published a book. To many that would be minor or perhaps even a slightly bitter pill, having not been able to sell it to a publishers or even secure an agent and yet it's actually huge.
How did I get to this moment? I locked myself in a room and wrote and thought and wrote and didn't give up. I sent early drafts to agents and waited for responses and saved every rejection and I didn't give up. I took that piece of writing and kept editing and editing and editing and I didn't give up.
I think the secret to life is simple really; try to work out what you want to do and don't give up. When you get knocked down get back up and get back on the path.
God I hope that's how it works.
I have indeed started the first edit on the second book. It's unconnected to the first and is a lot more complicated. There are more characters, more issues, a greater level of effort required on ever level and that is great! The trouble is that because it is generally more complicated and adventurous it's harder to work on.
My wife has read it and thinks it's clearly better than Blank Canvas (the first book) but agrees it needs work. So I start from a better base than before but I'm also looking at a really hard climb. The days when I'm really confident and up for it have seen me make indents, but the muddy, self doubting days see productivity crawl to a very slow pace as I question every decision I made while writing the book in the first place.
Can we swap brains for a while please?
WATCH SIX MOVIES FROM THE SHELF OF UNLOVED DVD'S
I am a bit behind on this one as the other things have taken up the time but I have managed a few. Immortals, Aliens and one of the Naked Gun films down, bringing me to a total of forty three dvd's left to be watched. Its an on going battle but I'm still adamant that nothing comes in till they are all conquered. That should save money and stop me from random, comfort movie buying.
Saying that I really want Life Of Pi and Django Unchained! I better start earning money and caning the list!
BE THE BEST PERSON I CAN BE
Erm, well I haven't been really naught or anything and I have tried quite hard so maybe I've done this. Not sure.
COMPLETE THE DECORATING OF THE TEENS BEDROOM/MOVE HIM BACK INTO THE ROOM
CHECK! He's been back in a week and the room is still relatively clean! Good skills!
MAKE LOVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Well I haven't been making war, had no time to ;-)
So, it's a success for the most part. Did making this list help me? Did it drive me on? No, but it did allow me avenues to focus on, reminded me what was actually important and that it is sometimes the small steps that lead to the big changes.
The only real thing that's changed in the last two weeks is that I self published a book. To many that would be minor or perhaps even a slightly bitter pill, having not been able to sell it to a publishers or even secure an agent and yet it's actually huge.
How did I get to this moment? I locked myself in a room and wrote and thought and wrote and didn't give up. I sent early drafts to agents and waited for responses and saved every rejection and I didn't give up. I took that piece of writing and kept editing and editing and editing and I didn't give up.
I think the secret to life is simple really; try to work out what you want to do and don't give up. When you get knocked down get back up and get back on the path.
God I hope that's how it works.
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