It’s funny how one month can look so different to another. I had a couple of months there where everything felt hopeless and I wondered why I do what I do and then along comes the next month and for whatever reason, everything looks a bit different. A bit sunnier. That was May for me.

My goals for May were:

• Read How to Change by Katy Mildman
• Second drafting of Saving Sally Jenkins
• Submit to QLD Publishable by 9th May.
• Watch Romantic Novelist Association Video on What Makes A Bestselling Novel.
• Check in on my social media and add any extra posts required.
• Make a task card for how I get my newsletter and posting done with due dates to start writing earlier and a big picture map of what I’m wanting to achieve.
• Do Something Brave. This one is going to be to go out to my local newspaper and see if they will put an article in.

See below how I went.

Annual Goal: Read 6 x non-fiction books.
May Goal: Read How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Yeah… this didn’t happen. I got about a quarter of a way through and realised I was reading it more to achieve my goal than to actually enjoy the book. It was interesting but I wasn’t in the right head space for it. I’ve decided to let this one go until the end of June as I am reading a lot of fiction at the moment but then I will try again in July. The next one I have lined up is Andre Agassi’s book Open which seems to keep popping up for me.

Annual Goal: Write two books using my new schedule.
May Goal: Start second drafting Saving Sally Jenkins and submit first three chapters to Queensland Writers Centre Publishable Comp
While my timeline for drafting Saving Sally Jenkins has veered wildly I did get a solid three chapters down and was able to submit it to the QWC comp. Having this deadline made all the difference so much so I have decided to enter the Richell competition with Saving Sally Jenkins with a due date of 7th July 2023. I have to write a synopsis and chapter outline for this which I think will really push me along.

I didn’t have this in my goals but I did also manage receive my copy edits back from my editor and go through them all getting me to a point that Awaiting Annie Jones is complete bar a proofread!

Annual Goal: Develop my understanding further of beat writing.
May Goal:
No specific goal for this one and I think it will come to when I start writing I will be more focused on this. I do have a South Australian Romance Authors (SARA) meeting in June and we are discussing beat writing which I think will be invaulable. Also, I have read several really well paced and tight fiction novels which has given me a few aha moments of “Oh, so that’s what you’re meant to do!”

Annual Goal: Nail social media.
May Goal: Check in on my social media and add any posts required
This did not happen and I just know I will leave it all to the last minute again. It may be one of those tasks that is just done that way. I don’t like spending a lot time on my social media so if I have one big stressy stint each three months I would rather this than constantly checking and tweaking it.
With the launch of Awaiting Annie Jones coming up though I need to make a lot of posts and schedule.

Annual Goal: Give more in my newsletter
May Goal: Make a task card for how I get my newsletter and posting done with due dates to start writing earlier and a big picture map of what I’m wanting to achieve.
While I didn’t make a task card I did set aside some time to really nut out what I want to achieve with my newsletter and wrote a purpose. I think I have to accept my process for my newsletter is not going to purpose but it is getting there in small steps. My next step really needs to be spreading my blog posts onto Goodreads.

Annual Goal: Do Something Brave
May Goal: Ask my local newspaper abut putting an article about my books in.
While I didn’t contact my local newspaper I did go to my old netball club and do a speaking session on my writing career so far. If that doesn’t count as being brave then I don’t know what does! I loved it and it gave me a real boost. June is definitely newspaper month particularly with Awaiting Annie Jones coming out in July.

Goals for June will be:

• Hone the first three chapters of Saving Sally Jenkins
• Write a synopsis for Saving Sally Jenkins
• Write a chapter overview for SAving Sally Jenkins
• Attend SARA beat writing discussion.
• Create social media launch posts for Awaiting Annie Jones
• Create a launch plan for Awaiting Annie Jones
• Update next three months of social media posts
• Get one month ahead on my post writing.
• Do Something Brave! I will ask my local newspaper and see if they will put an article in.

I seem to have high hopes for June. Wish me luck!