"Just Hit Send" September Challenge

[Lavinia]

I know I'm a couple of days early, but I told you I was excited for September to finally be here. Kids in school, weather cooling and back to a sane routine. I love it!

So I decided that I'd start the September thread before the end of August. Crazy...I know!

The theme this month is; Be an Over Achiever! I just made that up. You like it? Me too. Let's go *beyond* this month. So you've never queried your dream publication? This is your month. You've never written a feature article? Do it! You've been lurking around, reading about others' success? This is YOUR month!

In honor of the beginning of a new school year, lets be the over achievers we never dreamed of being. Let's go above and beyond. Let's annoy our classmates with our attention to detail. Let's surprise our teachers by sitting in the front of the class and soaking it all up. Let's be who we dream of and live our dreams. Go Team!

Who's with me?

Post your monthly goals here. But you don't get to work on them until September 1st. We'll be like the runners waiting for the sound of the starting gun. And when it finally goes off...watch out!

Karen-bob

[SouthernFriedJulie]

Great idea!

I hurt myself while moving in my mom's stuff, but I'm going to make some goals.

I want to up traffic at two blogs I am working on. Family Resource and BigPlansBigCrash. More traffic=raise.

I want to really pump my Valkyrie persona. She seems to be popular, so if I pump her enough, more jobs, maybe eventually a book from collected posts or musings.

On top of those, I want to raise my income. I want to make exactly $1,000 more than what I am now, and not just for September, but monthly.

As last month, anything else is icing!

I can't wait to see everyone's goals. Everyone is such an inspiration.

[Lavinia]

Julie- I was thinking of a goal having to do with my blog too, like challenging myself to post every single day. I wonder if there would be other bloggers who would want to take the challenge.

What is it with me and challenges? Sheesh! I guess it's that they work!

Maybe it's good to have this going a few days early. We can start some dialog about goals before actually posting them, maybe get ideas from each other.

Potato salad is calling me (to make it that is). Gotta go!
Karen-bob

[ritinrider]

SFJ and L-B, I like the idea of a blog challenge. I just started mine, and fool that I am, I started two. The first one was just because. The second one is to start a platform for my book. So far neither one has much traffic, but then they haven't been up all that long. I really need to post on the second one every day, the other one can slide with every 2 or 3 days. So, long story short; yes, I'd be game for a blog challenge.

I think I may try L-B's idea of posting weekly goals. Since I managed to meet last month's goal, just barely, I'm thinking of doubling it for Sept. Which would mean 7 queries (nothing for the newsletter, it's a quarterly pub.) and an entry in Joanne's contest. Plus the blog entries.

I'll figure out later how to break it down for the month. I know I'm giving myself permission to not send anything out the first week of Sept. (9-1 to 9-9) The next week may not be a whole lot better, his birthday is the 12 and our gdaughter's first is the 14th. Still, I can't take the whole month off, and it'll help me to focus on writing.

So, what does everyone else think about the blog challenge thing?

[wyntermoon]

Have you checked the blogging forum here at AW? Great people and if there isn't one going already I bet you'd have a ton lining up to join!

[abra-c]

I'll get on the blog challenge wagon! I started one last month. I'm still trying to shape the tone and daily posts would force me to do that now than later.

I didn't know there was a blog section to the forum.

Starting to think about my goals for September as well. I need to be more prolific with queries and writing the articles. I've been top heavy on apply to on-going biz writing work, but I need to find a balance. I think I will double my query goal, and reduce the number of jobs I apply to, but try to make each ap irresistible. I'll post my goals tomorrow.

Thanks for jumping the gun on September. It's good to think about the goals for next month as this one comes to an end.

[Lavinia]

abra c-
You're welcome.
You're welcome. (ha ha)

[Lavinia]

OK...I moved the BLOG challenge to the blog board on AW. Go check it out and sign up. Gosh- I'm starting challenges all over the place...what else is left? How about lose 10lbs? OK...maybe not!

Come join me,

Karen

[limitedtimeauthor]

Originally Posted by abra-c

I didn't know there was a blog section to the forum.

Go back out into the main lobby and take the elevator down a few floors. You'll see it. Big sign on the door.

ltd.

[limitedtimeauthor]

Okay. Goals for September.

1. Write for 3 locals. Pester other local.
2. Query to regional (bigger than locals). No wimping out.
3. Website up. No excuses, darn it!
4. Blog every week at Mama Needs a Book Contract.
5. Go on vacation. <big, happy face>
Umm. I think there's more, but I have to strategize a little bit first. Oh! Okay, that's a goal:
6. Organize and strategize for increased business AND productivity. (That's actually a very big job.) Might help to read my "Big 3" books about freelancing, namely: How to Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, Jenna Glatzer; How to Publish Your Articles, Shirley Kawa Jump; The Renegade Writer, Diana Burrell and Linda Formichelli. (My apologies to anyone sick and tired of me listing them, but newbies come along everyday.)
7. Declutter. (Huge one. )
Oh, and...
8. Write article Lavinia gave me the idea for! Yippie!
9. And round up info and write that other article.

(ETA: Now it's ten! That's many more than last month's 2 or 3. I hope everyone is still planning on being supportive! I might need it!)
10. Apply for that regular gig.

I'm so glad I can't start on these for another whole day. Maybe I'll get some cooking done. Pizza! Bread! Enchiladas! Birthday cake! Yay!

ltd.

[Symphony]

Right! I've been waiting for this. And you thought you were early with the September deadline posting? Ha! I've had my 'mini-goals' in my signature line for September up there for the last fortnight!!! (mind you - was that an excuse for taking the rest of August 'off'??) Nah! Submitted two stories this week so I'm quite happy with that for summer writing schedule. With the 4 kids around I find it impossible.

Raring to go for September. Somebody mentioned blog. I'm off to take that elevator and knock on the door, too ... Still new to all this so, to be honest, every piece of writing is a challenge. Keeping my goals 'safe' until I see how I'm doing. In the middle of setting up my own business, too, so must be realistic.

This forum (i.e. you guys who make up the forum) are so motivating, I'm eager to get started already. 'Tis a very steep learning curve coming on here. But I've not been totally idle, either - taken advantage of one of the 'absolute' classes - Writing the Short Stuff with Christina Katz. Another goal will be to finish the course.

So ... BLOG! Yep - that'll be one goal. The rest are in my signature, waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting ...

Symphony

[wyntermoon]

Just a quick note on blogs - those bad boys can boost your google rate in no time! Remember to put your name on each and every tag/label. I have a slow cooker blog that is currently at the top of MSN and high up on google with absolutely no work on my part. Don't forget to link to your website too -- you do have a website, right? LTD????

Ok - September goals:

• 500+ words a day on novel
• 5 articles/fillers JHS
• find a home for old articles
• find an agent for Goblin PB

[Mysti]

For me, as I stated and have posted in my signature, hitting send just won't be happening for me this month with everything else taking place. My goal for September is to find the balance with Animal Fair and Broker Agent so that I know what time I have to devote in other directions (freelance, blogging, book writing/editing, illustrator issues) and blog as often as possible - minimum of 4 days a week on both blogs. Blogging is going to be the biggest challenge, at least for the next few weeks.

[limitedtimeauthor]

Originally Posted by wyntermoon

you do have a website, right? LTD????

Oh, sure. It's right here on my laptop. Not that anyone else can access it!

I had one, but when I switched providers I decided I needed to learn a little CSS and HTML, so I got an open-source template and tweaked.

And tweaked.

And tweaked.

And tweaked....

Meanwhile my domain name and web space are sitting there languishing in Cyberspace, malnourished and neglected, but paid for.

It's all Websites that Suck's fault! They make me paranoid!

ltd.

[SpiderGal]

Can I begin with a brag?

[limitedtimeauthor]

Well, duh. Of course you can!

But you have to wait until tomorrow.

I'm kidding! What is your brag, SpiderGal?

ltd.

[Annie O]

Hi guys...God I did miss you all - I've been busy sorting my blog out - boy, don't ya get obsessive when you start one? Anyway, I'm raring to go for this months challenge as I fear my other writing projects are slipping away! HEY, COME BACK! So for this month:

Goals for September

► Blog everyday and get more traffic to my site: www.dancingwiththesandman.blogspot.com

► Write at least 2,000 words on my WIP

► Finish my Jack the Ripper website.

► Send off at least 40 GCs.


Hey, by the way - where'd you get those fancy signature boxes Wynter, Lavinia and Julie? I want one.....can I, please, please, can I, please, wontcha let me have one!

[SpiderGal]

OK. I would have done it anyway. :P

I just landed a book reviewing gig with a national magazine in India. Yay!

Be back with September goals soon!

[limitedtimeauthor]

Oh, that's great. And you probably get Free books too!?

ltd.

[Lee_OC]

September goals:
I plan to hit send at least 25 times this month, and I'll continue with my weekday blogging.

[GrammarScribe]

All right, this is my first time participating in JHS. *deep breath*

Goals for September:

Write 10 articles for Suite 101 (I'm a contributing writer there, and I'd like to beef up my content a little).

Hit send on 10 magazine queries.

Start a blog.


I'm trying to keep my goals fairly simple and straightforward because September's going to be a busy month for me. I'm just getting my feet wet as a freelancer, plus I work 40 hours a week at my *real* job, I'm taking two night classes, and I just got cast in a community theatre production.

Best of luck to everyone else!! Can't wait for September to start!

[Mysti]

Fantastic goals everyone!!

With a big "GO FOR IT!" from the cheering section!!!

[Lavinia]

wynter- I didn't know there was a google or MSN thingy to check. Where is that and what does it mean?

Karen

[ritinrider]

Originally Posted by Lavinia

wynter- I didn't know there was a google or MSN thingy to check. Where is that and what does it mean?

Karen

And what do you mean "put your name on each and every tag/label" come-on help a tech dummy out here. Please?

[Lavinia]

I am going to post weekly goals again. I feel like it makes me more accountable for my time spent writing. So here goes;

September 1 - 7
1) JHS 5 Times
2) Send cafe' article
3) Enter boomer contest
4) Send pages to agent
5) Apply for 2 New Jobs
6) Write XX consecutive hours every day
7) Find home for blog piece and send in

Long Range Goal (monthly):
Make $500 more than last month.

That's it for me guys and gals. Now let's get to it!

Karen-bob