Resolution update: April 2015
/PERSONAL HEALTH
1. Don’t die.
I am not dead.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
I'm lost three pounds in April, bringing my total weight loss to four pounds. Not exactly on pace to meet my goal.
3. Do at least 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups five days a week.
Done. I’ve added a plank every morning as well.
4. Stop drinking soda from two-liter bottles.
I didn’t drink soda from a two-liter bottle in April, and my soda consumption remains cut by well over half. I’m drinking more water than ever before.
5. Practice yoga at least five days a week.
I need to schedule a re-training session with my yoga instructor. Unfortunately, I would much prefer to play golf with him.
6. Learn to cook three good meals for my wife.
No progress
WRITING CAREER
7. Complete my sixth novel before the end of the summer 2015.
The book that I thought would be my sixth novel remains about half finished, and it may still end up as my sixth novel, but for reasons that are complicated, I've put it aside and begun a different book, which may also become my sixth novel.
It's complicated and annoying.
8. Complete my seventh novel.
This book remains about half finished as well.
9. Sell one children’s book to a publisher.
I have three books written and ready to go. I have three new ideas that I plan to work on in 2015. We will submit one or more of these books to editors at some point soon.
10. Sell a memoir to a publisher.
The memoir is written and is being polished now.
11. Sell a book of essays to a publisher.
My book of essays did not sell, but the responses that we received from editors were exceptionally positive. In a few cases, it was not a pass as much as a request that the book be reorganized and written slightly differently than it is currently constituted. I will do so. Fiction is now my main focus, but this remains a priority in 2015.
12. Complete a book proposal for a book on storytelling.
Progress continues.
13. Write a new screenplay.
I’m still revising my first screenplay based upon film agent’s notes. No progress on the new one.
14. Write 50 pages of a new memoir about the years of 1991-1993.
I have 25 badly written pages for this memoir that must be transformed into 50 good pages in 2015. No progress yet.
15. Write a musical for a summer camp
Progress continues. It needs to be finished by the end of May.
In addition, I completed revisions on the musical that my partner and I wrote last year. In the fall, it will be produced by a local theater company.
We also have interest in our first musical – a rock opera – from another local playhouse.
16. Publish at least one Op-Ed in a physical newspaper.
I published three more pieces in the Huffington Post last month.
3 Reasons Why You Should Never Send a Kid to a Dictionary to Look Up the Spelling of a Word
31 Lessons I Teach My Students That Aren't in the Curriculum
Re-Imagining the Author Talk in Three Parts
One of them was syndicated by beliefnet.com.
My latest column in Seasons magazine also published.
Again, none of these are a physical newspaper. Seasons is an actual magazine, but my piece is a humor column, so it doesn't count. Writing pieces for physical newspapers is part of the plan to launch my next novel, so this may happen in the fall if not before.
17. Submit one or more short stories to at least three publishing outlets.
No progress.
18. Select three behaviors that I am opposed to and adopt them for one week, then write about my experiences on the blog.
My first idea: Backing into a parking spot. I rightfully assume that anyone backing into a parking spot is a lunatic of the highest order. I shall spend a week backing into parking spots and see what wisdom I can glean.
I have not begun this experiment yet.
19. Build an author mailing list.
Done! My fourth monthly email goes out next week. Things are good. The job remains twofold:
- Continue to create engaging content that will keep readers interested.
- Build my subscription base.
If you're not signed up for my mailing list, you can do so at the bottom of my homepage. It's one email a month, and this month, there will be a giveaway for one lucky subscriber.
20. Build a new website for matthewdicks.com
Done! Tweaks will continue to be made, but it's up and running.
STORYTELLING
21. Produce a total of eight Speak Up storytelling events.
Four down after producing two more shows in April at Real Art Ways and Connecticut College. We have nothing scheduled for May but have two shows in June and brand new partnerships with the Noah Webster House in West Hartford, CT and the Farmington Public Libraries which will yield additional shows in 2015. The goal of eight will likely be exceeded.
22. Deliver my fourth TED Talk.
Done! I've also pitched talks to two other TEDx events in 2015 and await word.
23. Build a website for Speak Up.
Done! It’s a single page on my new author website, and it’s not nearly as robust as we want it to eventually be, but Speak Up finally has a webpage where you can find dates of events, ticket information, an opportunity to sign up for the mailing list, and more. You can find our webpage at speakupstorytelling.com.
24. Attend at least 10 Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I performed in two Moth StorySLAMs in April, in both New York and Boston, as well as a GrandSLAM in New York, bringing my total number of Moth events in 2015 to seven. Ten should be easily achieved.
25. Win at least two Moth StorySLAMs.
I competed in two StorySLAMs in April, winning one and placing second in the other. Halfway to the goal.
26. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
Done! I won the New York GrandSLAM at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in April.
27. Launch at least one podcast.
We are close to being ready to launch.
NEW PROJECTS
28. Pitch at least three new projects to two smart people.
I pitched one of my projects to one person in January. No further progress.
29. Host at least one Shakespeare Circle.
Nothing scheduled yet.
MISCELLANEOUS
30. Enroll in the final class needed for certification as a high school English teacher.
No progress.
31. Set a new personal best in golf.
I played my first round of golf last weekend. I shot a 55 for nine holes, which thankfully was not my personal best.
32. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog on the first day of every month.
Done.