Weight: 147

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
I wrote another email to the SKIES program contact with some questions. I'd love to teach PMC here, but that'll only happen if I can get them to buy a 220V PMC kiln and maybe some other tools for me. I had to leave my 110V kiln back in Ohio. I also want to know if local nationals who work for the US government can attend, because one of George's German coworkers would like to attend a short story workshop with his teenage daughter. It would be so cool to be able to teach both, and to allow LN employees and their families, too!

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Nope. October starts tomorrow, so I'll have to start planning the next novel without finishing last year's. *shrugs* I have yet to finish any novel, so I shouldn't be surprised. But with only four more chapters to go, I will actually finish Ludicrous at some point.

I just finished a batch of "Invalid Item"  to surprise George when he gets home from work.
 

Weight: 148

It was 150 yesterday, but that's not surprising, given the weekend we had: http://holroyd.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/our-first-real-bierfest/

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
I called yesterday, and no one's signed up, so I doubt there'll be a workshop. On a positive note, though, I contacted a woman this morning about the possibility of becoming a contracted instructor of creative writing and jewelry for after-school programs. I need to come up with a list of questions for her, and think more about how it would work. It'd be cool to get paid for it!

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Umm...no. I wrote a *little* bit yesterday, but had trouble getting into it. *shrugs*
 

Weight: 147

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
Nope.

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
No, but I mowed the back yard.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Nope.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Nope. Just one of those days with no motivation for much of anything. I'm surprised I managed the mowing.
 

Weight: 145

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
No, but the latest Utility Fog Press anthologies are nearing the copy editing stage, so they'll keep me busy for a bit. Also, I requested testimonials from a few people to add to my site, since I currently only have one on there.

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
Heh...no.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Nope here, either.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 1,092 words for a total of 76,710 words and I finished chapter 16! Only four more chapters to go...

I took the "get rid of stuff" goal off here, but I managed to get rid of an extra set of dishes today, so that's something outta here.

I went to the new Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (KMCC) today. I'd been before, but they finally opened the BX part of it this past Monday. It's HUGE!!!! The whole thing is like a mall, but the BX part is just massive. While there, I finally found a curtain that works in the kitchen window, although I'm not quite done with that window. I should take a pic of it and post it tonight on http://holroyd.wordpress.com...Now I need to bust a move on getting new furniture and dressing the rest of the windows!
 

Weight: 145

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
Passive marketing: the author of the epic historical novel I just copy edited copied me today on two emails he sent to writers' organizations to which he belongs, praising my work and rates, and recommending me!

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
Nope, but I walked some glass jars and bottles down to the recycling bins, took a jug back to the wine shop to get the deposit back, and stopped by a little shop and got a decoration for the kitchen window.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Nope.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 903 words today for a total of 75,618 words. Not as much as I should've written. I should've finished out the chapter. *shrugs* Eh, well...

I forgot to note yesterday that I wrote another Textbroker article, for a client for whom I'd already written two other articles.
 

Weight: 145.5

Saturday 145.5, Sunday 146.5

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
I have another potential project in store, but I have to wait on the author to have the time to get organized.

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
Umm...nope.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
No, but if I even end up having a workshop, I'm just about ready for the first class.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Nope, didn't get any writing done today. There was a traffic jam (stau) on the A6, so it took a while to drive George to work. Then I had to clean the house and take a shower...and then George and I had an adventurous afternoon! http://holroyd.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/note-to-self-avoid-rodents-on-leashes/
 

Weight: 148

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
I seem to be copy editing a novel piecemeal at the moment. She started by sending me eight pages because she said she didn't have enough money for more than that. Okay, so I edited those and sent them back when the eCheck cleared. Now she's sent me the next six pages, which she'll get back when this new eCheck clears. I'm going to get nickel-and-dimed to death with PayPal fees at this rate, but I don't want to totally scare her off. {e:frustrated}

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
Nope.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
No, but my ad finally appeared in the Announcements section of the Kaiserslautern American newspaper, both in print and online. Maybe someone will actually sign up now...

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Nope. I had a busy morning, attempting to get my international driver's license, only to get to the downtown German license office and find it closed today. So much for driving to Cora (giant store in France) tomorrow. George and I will try for our licenses again next week.
 

Weight: 146.5

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
Nope and nope. Rainy, crappy day.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Nope.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 1,048 words for a total of 74,715.

Not a great day. Feeling lonely, depressed, missed George. But it was very nice when he came home from work.
 

Weight: 146.5

Walk for at least a half hour or go to the gym
Not today, but I went to the gym yesterday and did 30 sit ups and rode a recumbent bike for 30 minutes, burning around 230 calories.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
I called the library yesterday. Still no one signed up. I tried to request an interview on AFN Radio, but they told me that a member of an official organization has to make publicity requests. So the library would have to send it, not me. But the librarian hasn't responded to my last email. It's looking like this workshop may not happen at all. I'll have to try to find other venues, and I think I'll make it 13 and over next time around. Maybe teenagers will show more interest than the adults have.

UPDATE: Okay, so I've started making notes. I've got most of what I need for my first week's lectures on elements of a good story, and a discussion of fiction genres. I'll probably keep adding, and I need some examples...but I also need to come up with an exercise to help attendees find their preferred genre...any suggestions? I suppose I could leave that out, and just let them see what they come up with as they start writing. Do you think it would be too restrictive/pigeonholing to have them think in terms of one genre as they start writing a short story? Dunno...Hmm...

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
I didn't write today, too busy researching getting our international driver's licenses. But yesterday I wrote 820 words for a total of 73,667 words.
 

Weight: 146

Yesterday it was 145.5!

Walk for at least a half hour
Nope. No time, and it's a nasty rainy day today. I plan to try to get to the gym tomorrow, though...

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Nope. Still hard to get excited about something that may not even happen.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 1,233 words today for a total of 72,847. I was mistaken about where I'd stopped being detailed enough with my phase outline. It's the last half of chapter 19 and all of chapter 20, so I'm still good for a while.
 

Weight: 147

Walk for at least a half hour
Walked for about 30 minutes, and found a new trail through the woods up the hill. I noticed a couple points had round white markers with the number seven on them. After that, I noticed similar markers with different numbers on posts and poles around the village. I wonder if they're some sort of walking circuit markers or something. It'd be cool to find a map of them if they are.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Nope. Hard to get excited when no one's yet signed up for it.

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 2,187 words today and finished off chapter 15 for a total of 71,614 words. I'm up to the point now where I need to go back to the outline and start adding phases to flesh out the remaining five chapters. We'll see how far I get with that tomorrow. I probably won't get much writing done until I finish the outline.

I got the car's oil changed this afternoon, picked up a power transformer from the Furnishings Management Office, then went to the commissary, so I had a busy afternoon.
 

Weight: ?? forgot to weigh at 6:00 this morning.

Walk for at least a half hour
Walked for nearly 45 minutes.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
I found out yesterday that not a single person has yet signed up for this. So I put an ad in the local paper myself (the librarian told me they were going to, but I didn't see it in there last week). I also put an ad on the Ramstein Yard Sales website. Maybe I'll get a couple people to sign up. If not...why bother with notes?

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 2,594 words for a total of 69,427.

Bad day. 'Nuff said.
 

Weight: 148

It jumped up to 149.5 on Saturday morning, then was back down to 147.5 the last two days.

Write 1 article per week (Orato, Helium Marketplace, or Textbroker)
Meh. There hasn't been anything good on Helium Marketplace or Textbroker lately, and I'm having trouble with logging into Orato. I don't really like any of them right now, so this goal may just disappear.

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
*May* have another couple projects...we'll see...

Walk for at least a half hour
This goal may change to something about getting to the gym twice a week...was supposed to go today, but too many things to do around the house. I'll still try to get the walk in this afternoon, though, and try for the gym again tomorrow.

Cut down on the amount of stuff in our house
Practice guitar at least three times a week

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
I need to call the library to see if anyone's actually signed up for this yet. I haven't heard anything from them since the announcement went up on their website. Yes, yes...I still need to research my lectures and make notes!

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 1,983 words today for a total of 66,833. I'm plowing through chapter 15, and will hopefully finish it before the end of this week.
 

Weight: 147.5

Write 1 article per week (Orato, Helium Marketplace, or Textbroker)
Nope.

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
Nope. George suggested a while ago that I wait until I've got a couple more projects under my belt before I invest in a site. It's a good idea...I just get so impatient!

Walk for at least a half hour
Nope. Still nasty and rainy.

Cut down on the amount of stuff in our house

Practice guitar at least three times a week

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop


Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Nope. I had the car today, so driving him to work took out a chunk. Then I had to sweep the house, then I went in to meet him for lunch, then had errands to run this afternoon. *shrugs* Can't do it every day.

Jen's coming over tonight to take a look at our house, and talk about what we want to do with the design. The plan for tomorrow is for the three of us to meet early and go to a once monthly flea market nearby to see if we can make a start on decorating. George and I already have a sofa and possibly an armchair in mind, but the house is pretty much a blank slate. Should be fun!
 

Weight: 147

The lasagna I made last night, and will eat more of tonight, will probably show tomorrow morning.

Write 1 article per week (Orato, Helium Marketplace, or Textbroker)
Still nothing.

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
Still gathering other URLs.

Walk for at least a half hour
Nope. It's been rainy most of the day.

Cut down on the amount of stuff in our house

Practice guitar at least three times a week
Was supposed to...but didn't.

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Yikes!

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 2,287 words today, for a total of 64,850 words. I finally finished chapter 14 of a planned 20. I'm approaching the part where my phase outline stopped being as detailed as it should have been, so I may need to take some time out to finish the outline.
 

Weight: 147

Write 1 article per week (Orato, Helium Marketplace, or Textbroker)
Still haven't seen anything to write.

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing

Walk for at least a half hour
Walked for just shy of 30 minutes.

Cut down on the amount of stuff in our house
Practice guitar at least three times a week

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Damn, I need to start this...

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Wrote 1,179 words for a total of 62,563 words. I managed to finish the scene I'd started on Friday, finally.

Rough time lately. Feeling isolated. Causing me to shut myself off from George apparently, though it's hard for me to see it. But he's definitely feeling it. I need to find some kind of exercise class or something to get me out of the house on a regular schedule and around other people. I'm far more social than George is, and this isolation is really not turning out to be good for me.
 

Weight: 148 or 148.5...at 6 AM, I wasn't awake enough to remember. *shrugs*

Write 1 article per week (Orato, Helium Marketplace, or Textbroker)
I still haven't seen anything interesting enough to write it.

Research marketing/promotion methods for copy editing
Gathering other URLs for comparative research. I found one this morning that I like better than the rest. I'll have to figure out exactly why, and if I want to copy those parts.

Walk for at least a half hour
Yeah. Right.

Cut down on the amount of stuff in our house

Practice guitar at least three times a week
I actually did play today!

Prepare lectures for Short Story Writing Workshop
Yikes! I need to do this...

Finish 1st draft of News From Ludicrous
Well...I didn't actually write any of the story today. But I realized that, where I'm at, I had three more bit characters to name, but I haven't been keeping a list of all the other bit characters. I don't want to repeat any of the names, so I spent some time this morning scrolling through and finding all of them to note them.