21 Days Down, 79 To Go

This last week was a mixture of triumphs and failures. Well, maybe not failures, but certainly disappointments. After last week’s post, I actually went back to my orginial post for the challenge which outlines my goals. I realised that I hadn’t actually been following them as closely as I could and I needed to get my act into gear.

Here’s a reminder of my goals:

• Finish editing 2nd section of Queen of Hearts
• Add 20,000 words to Rebellion Rising (and get a better name for it!)
• Finish writing Enarenel (approx. 10,000 words)
• Improve my French
• Expand my Swedish vocabulary & grammar knowledge
• Get to level 6 on Duolinguo for Spanish
• Go for walks (because gym membership is expensive)
• Find a job

I went home for a couple of days over the weekend since my return, I haven’t managed to add anything to Queen of Hearts. I’ve cut things out and created an extensive outline, restructuring a few things and realising where I need to go. Perhaps, tonight, I’ll be able to add some words/rewrite some scenes. I always work better on my novels after dark and everything else during the daylight hours which sometime works but in summer, when it doesn’t get dark until late, it can get a bit annoying. It’s definitely a habit I need to train myself out of.

Nothing has been added to Rebellion Rising. And the title is still naff. Ditto Enarenel. Although with some focus, I could easily get this done.

Language wise, I think it has been going fairly well. I watched the next episode of ‘Bron’, practiced French with my housemate and have almost reached my Spanish goal (Level 6 on Duolingo). I could even reach it today if I try. I’ve been chatting to a fellow Swedish learner too which is helping with vocab because you quickly realise how little everyday vocab online course teach you. And how grammatically complicated simple expressions can be.

Walking has been achieved some days. When I was in Edinburgh, I usually used exercise videos on YouTube so I might try that again. Mostly because you can do them in your pajamas.

I found some work at another branch of the place where I was working in my hometown so yay! Unfortunately, I can’t get many hours so the tedium of job applications continues.

And although it isn’t on my list for the 100 Days Challenge, I’m really pleased with how consistently I’ve been sticking to my blogging schedule. Numbers are slowly but surely picking up and I’ve been enjoying writing new posts and just blogging in general. It has been a while since I felt this way.

So while I may not even be a quarter of the way there yet, I’m optimistic. 🙂