naiyaazurewater

Here is my ongoing list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in 1001 days (starting January 1, 2011, ending September 28, 2013) along with the key that I will use during my regular check-ins:

Normal Text - Haven’t started goal
Italic Text - In Progress
Bold Text - Task Completed


( My 101 in 1001 )

The bishop slid forward. "Check."

She sucked on the lollipop thoughtfully. The board was nearly empty; she was trapped in the corner.

He grinned and rested his elbows on the ivy-covered stone. "Well?"

It always ended this way: peril with no obvious escape.

"Just give up, Amy." He advised gleefully. "You know you've been beaten."

Clarity. Finally. There was only one move left.

"Checkmate." She slid her queen forward.

He stared at the board in shock. She slipped the ring off her left hand and hung it over the neck of her queen.

"It's over, Mike."

Things that made me smile on:

August 26, 2011:

1) A quiet day at work
2) Beers and appys with my coworkers
3) A sunny day
4) A quiet drive to camping
5) A fire and s'mores


August 27, 2011:

1) Hanging out with friends
2) Swimming, even if it was freezing
3) Sunshine
4) Stargazing
5) Cuddling under a blanket


August 28, 2011:

1) Watching the boys swim
2) Taco salad
3) Candy
4) Snoozing in the car
5) Geeking out over broadway with a friend


August 29, 2011:

1) An invigorating day back
2) Wearing a skirt and a floaty shirt
3) Four boxes filled with the last year of work, ready to go to the client
4) A small self-celebration
5) A joking e-mail conversation with a former colleague


August 30, 2011:

1) Lunch with a coworker
2) Maintaining professionalism
3) Baby pictures from a coworker
4) Planning a holiday in November
5) A quiet night at home


August 31, 2011:

1) Running some errands
2) Enjoying the rainstorm
3) Some excellent home cooked food
4) A quiet evening when I was supposed to be sailing
5) Criminal Minds on PVR


September 1, 2011:

1) The start of fall
2) The simple ease of using my bus pass again
3) A homemade latte and some quiet time on the bus
4) A quiet day
5) Finding peace in a slightly gloomy day


September 2, 2011:

1) The anticipation of a long weekend
2) A quiet office
3) Cleaning up loose ends at work
4) Finalizing information that the field needed
5) A quiet night at home


September 3, 2011:

1) A long sleep-in (until nearly noon)
2) A quiet morning
3) Snuggles from my boy
4) Productive cleaning in preparation for the painters
5) Sending out my novel for feedback


September 4, 2011:

1) Another sleep-in
2) A trip to the Farmers Market
3) Fresh fruit
4) A productive day at a coffee shop
5) A quiet evening re-reading some old writing


September 5, 2011:

1) A lazy morning
2) More productivity, both at home and at Starbucks
3) Getting some planning done
4) Supper outside on a patio
5) Finishing the knitting on my sweater

Things that made me smile on:

August 18:

1) Moving back to my home for a few nights
2) Kitty snuggles
3) Tea
4) A quiet day
5) Editing


August 19:

1) Dropping off my lawnmower
2) Tea and editing!
3) Ambiance
4) Sunshine
5) Sushi


August 20:

1) A zoo visit
2) A good long walk
3) Reasonable weather
4) Watching the tiger stalk small children through the glass
5) A big daddy markhor up close


August 21:

1) A quiet day
2) Flowers!
3) Friendly support
4) A write-In
5) Finishing editing my novel


August 22:

1) A quiet first day back at work
2) Being productive
3) Japanese food cooked in front of me
4) Good news on a personal front
5) Truly delicious shrimp


August 23:

1) People who support me
2) Many compliments
3) A caring ear
4) Toast and coffee
5) Candy


August 24:

1) More support
2) An interesting and semi-helpful meeting
3) Support from my supervisors
4) Chicken Shawarma
5) Supper with my love


August 25:

1) Exciting baby news
2) Resolution on some issues
3) Getting something big that was nagging me done
4) A quiet evening
5) A beautiful sunny day

Things that made me smile on:

August 10, 2011:

1) A quiet drive
2) Food I didn't have to cook
3) A day of not needing to think too terribly much
4) A rainstorm
5) A comfy bed


August 11, 2011:

1) More food I didn't need to cook
2) Surviving a long meeting
3) A quiet drive back
4) Friends visiting
5) Kitty snuggles


August 12, 2011:

1) A quiet day at work
2) Mostly finishing the to-do list
3) A quality discussion with a coworker
4) Lasagna
5) An early bedtime


August 13, 2011:

1) A latte in the morning
2) A productive morning running small errands
3) Good panels
4) A truly interesting talk on murder investigations from a Calgary detective
5) Amazing sushi


August 14, 2011:

1) A painting estimate
2) More good panels
3) A good discussion at my own panel
4) A relaxing night
5) More kitty snuggles


August 15, 2011:

1) A good sleep in
2) The first day of my holiday
3) A morning of TV and knitting
4) Successful shopping
5) Heartfelt conversation


August 16, 2011:

1) A relaxing morning
2) Some much-needed cleaning
3) Sunny weather
4) Butter chicken
5) Starting a new story


August 17, 2011:

1) Editing success (40 pages edited!)
2) Finishing the new story
3) Snuggles
4) Chicken burgers for lunch
5) The sound of wind through the trees

I have been thinking and reading a lot about writing lately. In large part, this is because I’m not in a place (physically or emotionally) where I can write right now. This is also because I have felt a certain lack of inspiration, ability, and space to write, given that work kind of sucks and my house is a mess because of renovations. Fortunately, I am working on many of the things that are bothering me and I hope that life will return to normal soon, but in the meantime, I read and research!

There is a school of thought that says that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at any task (see one reference here). For me, this means writing! A lot!

Following the lead of my lovely boyfriend I am now going to count up the hours I have written to date, so that I may track my progress going forward. This counting will include some writing from High School, as well as anything I have written since. As per Mark’s lead, I’ll count an hour per 500 words written or 750 words edited. This is certainly not hugely accurate, but should serve as a starting point.



High School Writing (Random story starts and bits I wrote before University)
Story One: 5
Story Two: 2.5
Story Three: 1.5
Story Four: 4
Story Five: 19
Story Six: 29
Story Seven: 3
Story Eight: 12
Story Nine: 4
Story Ten: 4.5
Story Eleven: 14.5
Story Twelve: 32
Story Thirteen: 13
Story Fourteen: 5
Story Fifteen: 3.5
Story Sixteen: 3
Story Seventeen: 7
Story Eighteen: 19.5



Kyethel Chronicles (A collaborative Work)
Chronicles: 150.5
Chronicles Rev 2: 22
A Soft Place to Land (Sequel): 82.5
Place Rev 2: 55



Tropical Dream (NaNo Novel, Self-Published)
Rev 1: 64.5
Rev 2: 43
Rev 3: 42.5



NaNoWriMo 2008
Rev 1: 122


Bob and Jason (NaNo 2006)
Rev 1: 65


Path of the Wolf (NaNo 2004)
Rev 1: 103.25
Rev 2: 59.75


Fighter Series
Book 1 Rev 1: 47.5
Book 1 Rev 2: 185
Book 2: 53.5


Total: 1,278


Which leaves me with 8,722 hours to go. Quite a ways, I admit, but at least I have a starting point! I know a lot of my early stuff isn’t counted here, and I’m not 100% sure that the hourly rate is right, but it’s a place to start.

Now, off I go to write more!

Things that made me smile today (August 9, 2011):

1) Tea with a friend at work
2) A calm day
3) A delicious salad
4) A quiet night at home
5) An upcoming vacation!

Here is my ongoing list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in 1001 days (starting January 1, 2011, ending September 28, 2013) along with the key that I will use during my regular check-ins:

Normal Text - Haven’t started goal
Italic Text - In Progress
Bold Text - Task Completed


( ”My )