December is always the month that I expect to get nothing done, and I meet that expectation.
February is always the month where I think, "well, LAST February sucked, but THIS February I'm going to get my act together"... and then I don't.
So, really just brief updates for you this month.
I feel like maybe I'm starting to round the curve of wanting to get back into things. Still don't know WHAT I feel like working on, just that I feel like I want to do something.
As to my goals for February:
-Goal: Submit three stories (or one story to three publications)
Actual result: I didn't submit any. I've been struggling with finding the right markets, and questioning myself with what's truly ready.
(Related to that, if any of you who are not already beta readers for me would like to be, please PM me your email through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, or by using the email form on this site. No writing or editing experience necessary! Sometimes I want the opinion of "the average Joe on the street.")
-Goal: Increase Facebook following from 99 to 109
Actual result: no change.
-Goal: Increase LinkedIn following from 69 to 76
Actual result: 72 connections, an increase of about 4%
-Goal: Increase Twitter following from 16 to 20
Actual result: 37 followers, an increase of about 57%
Y'all. Y'ALL. I met my follower goal the night I posted my previous goals. I thought about going back and updating the blog post... but then I also said, I could go through and do that every week and drive myself crazy.
I went into starting a Twitter account with the caveat that it might be the hardest to grow an audience on, because it's the one that requires the most interaction, but I've increased my following by over 50% each month since I've been keeping track. (Granted, when your following is 10 or 30, an increase of 50% isn't a lot. I don't expect to keep gaining by 50% or more each month for much longer.)
Next month's goals: Pretty much the same as this months, honestly.
-Submit three stories, or to three publications. Yes, I know I should do more than three a month, but I think trying to increase my goal when I didn't submit this month is shooting myself in the foot, as far as motivation, anxiety, and guilt go.
-Increase online following as follows:
Facebook - break 100 (change of 1% - yay, easy math! ; )
LinkedIn - increase to 75 (change of about 4%)
Twitter - increase to 50 (change of about 35%)
I will also be switching up the contents of my My Works page this month, so keep an eye out for that.
Want to help me meet my goals? Here's how you can help! Make sure to like, share, and especially to follow me on social media!
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for several small snippets each week.
Or, if you're looking for more professional content (less frequent, but more closely related to writing, publishing, or libraries), connect with me on LinkedIn. (I do ask that if you request a connection on LinkedIn that you mention this blog so that I know how you heard of me.)