The great thing about having a blog with no followers, is that I can use it for anything I like. I don’t have to worry about a regular schedule or themed posts. And I can even be a bit more boastful than I might normally be.

This month I set myself a huge list of goals. HUGE! and I accomplished everyone of them. It shows me what I am capable of. Here’s what I did in one month:

1. I am three months into my 52 First Drafts Project (one new PB first draft a week). Four weeks and I wrote 4 new stories.
2. I wanted to draw four spreads for a dummy book of my story THE QUIET CACOPHONY. I finished 6.
3. My plan was to finish four poems for my collection, BUG SIZED POEMS. I finished 4 and have 4 more that are close.
4. I joined the ChaBooCha (Chapter Book Challenge). I read every post, and wrote 1 entire chapter book first draft. I will admit to cheating slightly. I used the structure of a story I wrote 12 years ago, so it wasn’t completely from scratch, but mostly.
5. This month was ReFoReMo (Reading For Research Month), during which I read, participated in the challenges, and commented on every post (about 16-20). I ended up winning a craft book that I look forward to receiving.
6. My agent submission goal is to always have my work in the hands of agents. I submitted to 4 this month.
7. I participated in 1 critique group this month with a brand new piece.
8. I participated in the poetry blog, TODAYS LITTLE DITTY, with 1 poem.
9. I participated in the 50 PRECIOUS WORDS contest with 1 story.
10. I reworked 1 of my chapter book manuscripts. I had the feeling that it might read better in present tense, so I converted the whole 9,600 word story.
11. Twitter complements. I enjoy putting a little positivity out into the community, so I sometimes complement other writers on their work. This month I tweeted to 7.
12. I listened to 1 webinar by Jim Averbeck and Arree Chung.
13. I submitted 1 chapter book for a SCBWI WIP Grant.
14. I prepared 2 submissions for #PBParty.
15. I read 2 MG books.
16. I read 1 ER book.
17. I read 163 PBs.

I know it is a monster amount of work, but actually, it wasn’t very hard. As long as I could get my BIC (butt in chair) I could do the work.

Is this post too braggy?  Good. That was the intention. I worked hard. Now time to celebrate (then back to work).

My goals for the coming month are equally ambitious, but much more focused. I want to finish final sketches for 10 more spreads for the dummy I’m working on, and finish five more stories for the 52 First Drafts Project. And more MG and YA reading.