It’s a stunner that April has arrived and it’s now time to dash into Spring like mad hares on the chase…  I’m not giving in utterly to this feeling, with other parts of life to attend to as well. My cup is overflowing in what feels like all areas of life at the moment. Last round I just completely disappeared. I was still writing, but I didn’t feel like blogging. And I let myself take that break. We’ll see how the Spring goes.

Instead of thinking how this abundance in life takes away from my time to pursue my writing goals (yes, that’s my thought pattern. blech), I’m going to try to embrace it, and forgive myself when I don’t produce words as fast as I’d like. The truth is, there are so many stories in this noggin that I don’t think I’ll ever be really happy with what I can accomplish in a day. Over time, those days build into something great, though — and something only I can do. I have to relish that feeling of success instead of beating myself up when I’m not moving fast enough.

If you haven’t seen Kait Nolan‘s post to start this round of A Round of Words in 80 Days, the writing challenge that knows you have a life, her message today is to Be Kind to Ourselves. It’s an important message, and one I’ve come to grips with on my own in the past year. Burnout is a bitch, people. And self-doubt combined with lofty goals can result in depression over time, if you don’t adjust your expectations and forgive yourself. Thank the Lord for all you’re learning, for all you are doing. Take time to refill the well. And don’t worry about sales. Don’t worry.

I’ll try to follow that advice this round.

And now maybe you think you’ll see some minimized goals? Er…no. I have a lot of stuff in the works. If I can let off some steam occasionally and come back focused, maybe you’ll be seeing it soon. 🙂

ROW80 Round Two Goals:

1) Publish Chaos Calling, the second book in my Foulweather Twins Trilogy. This book will go to beta readers this week, and be published by early May. It came back from editing really fast, and my editor demands the next book. Ha! Not written. 🙂 I’ll get there later this year.

2) Write Sheild!!!!!!! This is the fifth and final book in my Children of the Sidhe romance series. I’ve written about 3k, and have a complete outline. Plus this couple is hot. So I’m currently trying to really get to know what drives them so this draft will be a smooth one. My goal is 5k a week, although there will be some adjustments around the publication of Chaos Calling (goal #1).

3) Play with friends. That might sound strange as a writing goal, but I need to get out more. One of my wonderful girlfriends has been encouraging me for months to join a book club that’s made up of several other friends from the college era, and their friends. I’m going to do it. I need to see these people, and engage in real person speak. Having actual conversations is, after all, likely the root of good dialogue. Right? Heh.

So those are my goals. I’ll be interested to see if others pick up Kait’s theme. I think it’s helpful. She’s right that we aren’t machines. And who wants to be?

Have a great Spring! And remember to be kind to yourself.