My Week In Review

First week of school is over! I never expected to say those words again, but in order to get the day job I want (you know, the one before I'm a famous NYT Bestselling author), I need to get certified and increase my skills and knowledge. However, after five straight days of school, my poor brain is mush. Fifteen extra hours of my week went toward school. Fifteen hours! (silent scream) I hope to find a better time management system in the coming weeks.

My goals for round two include:
1) Polish my steampunk novel so it is ready to send to an agent. Survey says: Yes - since Wednesday I've deep-edited the first 10 pages.

2) Complete rough draft of steampunk WIP#2. Survey says: Didn't get to touch this.

3) Blog at least 3 times a week. Survey says: I got in two, pushing for three in the next weeks.

4) Exercise 3 - 4 times a week. Survey says: All 5 days! And then some, because of all the extra walking and taking stairs at the college.

5) Submit steampunk short story. Survey says: I expect to sub one of my stories by Wednesday.

6) Read 30 minutes daily. Suvery says: Yes. Right now all of my homework includes a lot of textbook reading. But I am reading The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade.

On a side note: My review of Dead Iron will go live on April 19th at Clockwork Reviews.

I also have a lovely cold, thanks to my most generous classmates who were coughing all around me on my second day. It's not keeping me from goals or getting work done, but I am kind of cranky ;)

Still, I'm on track.

How about you? Did you accomplish what you were looking to do this week? Need help to stay motivated? Crave encouragement? If so, join ROW80. All the info is at that link.

And to end my post I'm leaving you with some steampunkery goodness:

Steampunk Darth Vader

Steampunk iMac Mod


















Marie Andrews

Finding Serenity or Eye of the Storm

Waving hello from the dirigible. Clear skies, but if I look through my brass telescope, I see what may be clouds forming in the distance. Things have been going well, I've stayed productive, I'm getting a lot accomplished. I even worked out 4 days last week - the most since early November before holiday hooplah blew all that high octane energy right out of me.

But things are going well. So I get skeptical. I have to wonder if I've found a great system that works for me, or is something looming that I can't yet see. I don't know.

GOAL UPDATE:
My goals for this check in were:
1)Edit 8 pages per day - Did 10 pages on Wednesday and Thursday. Less on Friday and today - difficult scene that I worked, reworked, reworked again - slowed me down - but the scene rocks now so I can't be too upset. I'm still ahead of what I'd hoped to accomplish.
2)Write for minimum of 30 minutes per day - Yeppers!
3)Write 1 new blog article - Done
4)Stop by fellow author blogs - Done
6)Exercise 20 minutes minimum each day - I worked out everyday except Tuesday.
7)Read - finished Hostage by Robert Crais. Started and finished A Blue so Dark. And just started The Two Minute Rule by Robert Crais. So yes, I've been reading a lot!
8)Get plenty of sleep - yes

Another goal-busting week. I'm happy. Did I mention that I'm skeptical?

Steampunkery of coolness to share:

Steampunk Aperture portal gun is epic

To read more about its awesomeness, click Here

Steampunk Wall Switchplate I could use one of these in my office. Love it!

And there never seems to be enough time, but I wouldn't mind checking the time once in awhile if I had an ultra cool wall clock like this one here

If you're looking for an exciting book to read that blends western and steampunk, this is it: Dead Iron by Devon Monk. Seriously. Read it. So good! Review coming soon.


Okay, I think that's it for me this week. Hope everyone's kicking some booty with their goals!

Marie

Mixed Bag Wednesday and Progress Report

Happy Wednesday!

This week's productivity has me ahead of schedule :)

Writing, edits, reading, and reviews are all moving along smoothly. I've written 5k, edited 20 pages, and am devouring books :) All good! Coming soon are my reviews for The Falling Machine and Dead Iron - both highly recommended!

In Steampunk News:

Apparently the upcoming Rush album Clockwork Angels is being made into a steampunk novel by author Kevin J Anderson. To read more about this project, click Here - Should be very interesting!

The family and I watched Priest the other night, interesting movie that I feel they could've done more with. Good fun. Cool gadgets and weapons. I've always enjoyed Paul Bettany - though my favorite with him is A Knight's Tale :)

And check this Mechanical Valentine out: Mechanical Valentine - how cool is that?

And finally, for my in-depth review of Phoenix Rising, stop by the Clockwork Reviews page at Nevermet Press found Here

Hope your week is going well!

Marie

Personal Drive - SUV vs Prius

The drive to success can be powerful. It can propel one to run on a dangerous amount of fuel. I liken it a bit to an SUV. A big, mighty gas guzzler than can intimidate and bust through all types of obstacles. It's an ambitious vehicle, allowing you to hit that euphoric high as you pass through one destination after another at lightning speed, and make you feel like the king of the road.

There is another kind of drive, a calmer steady drive, where the end result of that desired success isn't any less - but the motivation is healthier. I liken it a bit to a Prius. The drive is less demanding, less rushed, and allows you time to appreciate your traveled path.

I've always been an ambitious person and waffle between the drive in an SUV and the drive in a Prius. There truly is a thrill to driving in the fast lane. Still, the Prius is more my style. When I slow down and take care of my engine, I run better. By going at a sensible speed, I'm able to arrive at my destinations refreshed.

But on the occasions when I do get caught up and decide to take that SUV out for a joyride, I remind myself that there is a price to that fuel guzzler, and ask myself is it one that I want to pay.

And speaking of cars, here's a sleek steampunk car that I wouldn't mind taking out for a spin!

And onto my brief week in review:

Since Sunday I've been coasting along on cruise control. I've edited, written, read, visited fellow ROW80ers, met my daily goals, and taken care of myself by eating well and exercising. It's been a calm ride, one where I'm able to stop and celebrate my accomplishments. I hope your week has been a good balance of productivity and personal growth. To the ROW80 crew - I'll see you on Sunday!

Marie Andrews

ROWing Through Wednesday

Happy 1st of February! Not only did last month fly by, I can't believe that I spaced my Sunday ROW check-in. I quite literally spent the entire day drinking tea and reading. I never do that, but it was a total pamper day. I'd like another day like that soon!

In many ways I feel January was more of a testing the waters month. A time to get myself back in gear and back to healthier habits. Very much a time of learning and a time of being good to myself. Much as I wanted to jump right in, I found more success by easing into everything.

So I look at February as a time where I can push myself a little more. I need to tweak some goals, and at the same time, create some challenges.

This week has been productive, successful, and on track with my current goals. My story Iron Butterfly will be in the digital emagazine from Nevermet Press as well as in the print anthology. I'm working on the sequel to Iron Butterfly, along with a couple other short stories. And of course continuing my work on the novel. No shortage of things to do. Fingers are crossed that my steampunk horror short will be accepted.

Also this week I'll be stopping by fellow ROWers blogs, to encourage and support. Whatever your goals are this week, I hope you stay good to yourself, and don't forget to schedule some fun too!

Marie

ROW Check-In and Progress Report

Happy Wednesday everyone! Happy Check-In day to all ROW80'rs - I hope your week has been positive so far :)

I'm psyched to share that I've been writing up a storm. It feels good to have a positive progress report to share. While novel edits are slow-going, I'm not letting it get me down. I'm working on two short stories and a novella.

I'm also almost finished reading The Falling Machine: Society of Steam by Andrew Mayer. I'm enjoying it very much! I'll be writing up a review for it soon. To read more about it, click Here. Have you read it? What did you think? I'm looking forward to reading the next in his series.

I've also been staying productive, working out, eating healthy, and making sure to unplug once in awhile.

I look forward to stopping by other blogs to see everyone's progress.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful support you have given me the past couple of weeks!

Marie

Sunday Progress Report

*Waving to all my fellow ROW80'ers*

Since Wednesday I've just about completed edits of a steampunk short story that I plan to submit soon. I've also been busy commenting on fellow ROW80 participants' blogs. And well...unfortunately the edits of the novel are slow-going. I'm finding a challenge in wishing I could remember how I'd worded things from the first set of edits that are no more. I have a feeling that once I get beyond that, the edits will flow smoother. But until then, I don't know how well they will go. I have the best of intentions when I open the file and start to edit, but within minutes the frustration begins.

Fortunately I have many backup systems in place so the complex of losing everything again isn't there. But what I wouldn't give for those edits to magically appear.

All I can really do is look forward. Somedays that sounds easier than others.

I am also enjoying work on the sequel to my short story Iron Butterfly. It gives me comfort when I'm grumbling about the edits. :)

So in short - I've kept busy and accomplished most of what I wanted.

The rest will work itself out, though not as quickly as I'm comfortable with.

I'll be sure to stop by and comment this week.

Marie