New Year's Goals - A Look Back

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People may be divided into two categories.  There are the "January 1st presents a new start on the world and I must have a list of goals written down in order to embrace the new year," and there are the "Eh, it's just another day and goal setting is pointless" type of people.  I'm of the former group.

I wake up January 1st ready to exercise (aerobic and weight training, with yoga and pilates thrown in for flexibility), eat healthy, stay in closer contact with family and friends, learn to cook, find time to meditate, bond with the cats, volunteer my time, and step up my writing career.

Then it turns noon and I'm pretty  much over it.

Kidding.  I will have 2006's neatly typed list of goals for the year hanging on the bulletin board to the left of my desk, just as the list for 2005 hangs there now.  So what were my goals for 2005 and did I reach them?  As usual, some were reached, some surpassed, and some never even made it to the forefront of consciousness.  Here then, is a brief review of Dena's Writing Goals for 2005, with commentary.

Income Goal

  1. Earn XX,XXX dollars. - Done.  I almost doubled my income from last year, with the August book project on cats really being what it took to get me to my goal.  Probably would have fallen short, otherwise. 

Media Goals

  1. Sell my writing to 8 new magazines/newspaper/websites - I sold to 5 new markets w/out much effort.  If I focus on this next year, I bet I can double that.
  2. Write 3 grants - At the end of last year I thought I might want to move more into grant writing but have since had a change of heart and didn't pursue.  Finished helping 1 client with a grant.
  3. Write 3 speeches - Wrote 2, but established an on-going working relationship with one of the people where we're looking to collaborate on future projects.

Visibility Goals

  1. Sell articles to 2 high profile magazines or newspapers. -Done.  Novel & Short Story Writer's Market was a coup (in the writer's world), and Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul used my "Can You See Me?" piece for promotion in newspapers across the country.
  2. Marketing blits for Lessons In Stalking - in progress as we speak. =)

Publishing Goals

  1. Publish Lessons In Stalking - Done
  2. Market "Millicent Powers Picks a Pet" to publshing houses - My middle-grade manuscript.  Done.  An editor at Random House has agreed to take a look.
  3. Write & Publish book on public speaking - Woefully behind on.  This goal will be moved forward to the coming year.
  4. Establish my own publishing company - Done. Spotlight Publishing lives and breathes.

Personal Writing Goals

  1. 2 hours of novel writing every morning before moving to other work.   - Ha, ha, ha, ha ha!  Whoooo!  Good one!
  2. Check e-mail only after 2-hour morning session is complete - I am weak. That's another BIG goal for the coming year.  I spend way, way too much time on e-mail and it's counterproductive
  3. Teach a writing class. - Done.  I taught two - magazine writing and creative writing
  4. Attend 2 writer's conferences.   - Done.  And I presented at both of them.
  5. Improve web site - Done, plus added this blog and the Lessons In Stalking site.
  6. Outline and complete a new novel - I have one started, but not completely outlined yet and certainly not written.
  7. Look into writing books/articles on pets & divorce - a project I was excited about for awhile and then dropped.  Not completed.
  8. Volunteer with Feral Cat Society of Greensboro - I gave it my best.  I called, left messages, sent e-mails and mailed them letters, offering them my skills as a volunteer.  Never heard from them.  I've since left messages for my local humane socieity to volunteer there, but also have not heard back.  But this is a goal for the coming year, to volunteer with animal rescue/shelter groups.

There are personal goals of course - "mediate every morning for at least 15 minutes" has been on the list since 1994 with no noticeable improvement. But I remain optimistic.  The old year draws to a close and new year is ready to breath fresh life and energy into each and every one of us.

Bring on the exercise videos.  I'm ready to meet it.

The Unofficial Book Launch Review

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I say "unofficial" book launch review because I'm still jazzed and think I need some time to process.  Plus, I'm spending all day prepping for a class I'm teaching tomorrow and don't have the time to sit down and write the blow-by-blow entry I really want to.  I'll save that for when the pictures come in.  (My friend Michael Cable took a ton and he's a semi-professional photographer so I can't wait to see them).

First thing: the food was marvelous. The cake was a wonder.  They iced the top of the cake in my book cover, putting tiny paw prints around the edges.  I'm so happy with it I wrote a thank-you note to the Harris Teeter Bakery that did it.  They need to be congratulated on a job well done.

My worries about not having enough food were groundless.  I was shoving subway sandwiches, cheese, and cake at strangers in the Green Bean by the end of the night.

Pam Cable did my intro and did a fabulous job.  She had ordered a beer beforehand and I was teasing her that didn't she want to do my intro before she started drinking so she wouldn't be all weepy? (She had all of 3 sips before she introduced me, I'm sure). Then at the end of her intro she did tear up a little,which was so sweet, and a little funny too.

I honestly don't know how my book reading went.  I'm going to have to find an honest friend to tell me. My voice was so loud in my own ears I really couldn't hear if people were talking, listening, laughing, etc.  I read "Dibbs!" and it seemed to take a loooong time to get through it.  Blair taped it though, so when I gather my courage I'll view it and see what I think.  (I dislike watching myself on video or TV).

The rough book count is 31 books sold, one over goal, so I'm extremely pleased. One misstep I didn't foresee was that I'm not set up to take credit cards.  Two people needed that option and though I sent them to my website, it's always better to get the sale while it's there vs. hoping it will come back.  With a little foresight, I'm sure I could have arranged something with the Green Bean so they could take credit card sales for me.  Next launch, maybe. =)

The most fun of the evening were the people who turned out.  I am so touched by friends who stopped by when I know it was out of their way, or a bad time.  My former supervisor Larry S. was there with his wife and members of her family. My dear friends Dean & Mariela arrivedwith a bundle of pink roses and hugs for me. Mariela and I used to write together 4 years ago and I would talk about my cat book and she would talk about her memoir.  My book is out and Mariela is completing her MFA and her book will be done within the year, so it's wonderful to watch our dreams come to life.

Many friends were there from the Women's Resource Center (special thanks to Dale Jaques for passing out raffle tickets), our new next door neighbor drove 45 minutes into town to say hello and buy a book, which I thought was amazing, and many friends from former jobs, classes, and life were there.  Melody Watson who designed my Lessons In Stalking web site was there, as was my illustrator, Linda Santell.  Lots of WGOT members too, which meant a lot to me.

My good friend Rachel who lives in Seattle was also there--via phone.  She had Mariela call her when I started my reading so she could "be there" for me and I spoke with her almost as soon as I got off the stage.  Very fun.

Gregory Alan, the guitarist, was amazing.  Exactly the right blend of mellow undertones that relaxed everyone yet still gave an energy to the room.  I bought his CD and heard a lot of people buzzing about him throughout the night.

And the cats.  Two of the most beautiful cats to walk the earth came with Allyson, a volunteer, from Happy Hills.  These were cats that were given up and it shows because they are the most calm, loving creatures.  They didn't get adopted, which broke my heart.  One was all black named Jordan and one was a pastel gray and white named Spooky (this picture doesn't do him justice).

Spooky was a lover.   Linda held him and he had his arms wrapped around her neck as if hugging her. Toward the end of the night, I was by his cage petting him, and he leaned in toward me and we nuzzled noses, and then he gave my nose several soft, sandpapery licks.  (Was I dying inside?  Yes, I was).  Then he brought his little paw up and tapped my face several times - on my nose, on my cheek, and on the chin.  This is a cat just begging to be brought home and loved.  He is made for sofa living.  And honestly, if I wasn't married, this cat would be home with me right now.  No doubt in my mind.  Probably Jordan too.  I love Lucy and Olivia to pieces but neither of them are "lap cats." Both of these cats were, in a big, furry, lovable way.   Oh--my heart.  It hurt to watch them leave in cages.

And that's the book launch at a glance.  Again, I had a ball and am so grateful for everyone's love and support.  And I still hold hope that maybe the kitties will be adopted soon.

Heart Attack On A Subway Platter

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Thank God I'm the type of person who follows up.  For my book launch, I'm having Subway do a couple of party sandwich trays, along with some cookies.  I stopped by last week to place the order.  I called them a few minutes ago, just to verify that the order would be ready by 5 tonight.

"Oh, I'm so glad you called!" said the woman who answered (who also happened to be the woman I spoke to last week).  "Somebody took your order down and we couldn't find it.  Hold on a minute," and I heard her turn to a co-worker and say, "It's that woman whose order we lost calling." 

"Oh good," said the co-worker.

I can't complain because she was just as nice as she could be as she retook my order.  "What would you have done if I'd just shown up without calling?" I asked.

"Oh, we can get those trays ready really fast.  We'd have taken care of you."

That's a good worker.  She was very calm and made me feel--even though they'd lost the order--that I was in capable hands.

Figuring lighting couldn't strike twice, I called Harris Teeter to make sure the cake would be ready.

"What's that name again?" asked the woman.

"Harris," I said.  "It's a cake with the cover of a cat book on it. I left a copy of the book with you." 

"Uh-huh. And um...what was the name?"

They found that order though.  I also did a last minute food panic and bought a cheese tray for a ridiculous amount of money.  But I'm still worried I don't have enough.  Part of the problem is I have no idea how many people will show.  Who knows...I could be eating subway leftovers for a week.

That's all.  Just thought I'd share my moment of panic.