Resolution update: May 2015
/PERSONAL HEALTH
1. Don’t die.
I am alive as of this posting. .
2. Lose 20 pounds.
I've lost zero pounds in May, stalling my weight loss at four pounds. Not good.
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 May. Soda consumption remains reduced by at least half and water consumption has increased dramatically.
5. Practice yoga at least five days a week.
I have restarted my routine and scheduled a re-training session with my yoga instructor.
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.
This is complicated.
The book that I thought would be my sixth novel remains about half finished, but it will likely not be my sixth novel.
For reasons that are complicated and do not make me entirely happy, I've begun a different book, which will likely become my sixth novel. I've made good progress on this project and hope to have news soon.
8. Complete my seventh novel.
This book is more than half finished and could probably be completed in a week or two if everyone would leave me alone.
9. Sell one children’s book to a publisher.
I have three books written and ready to go. I have four 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 is nearly finished.
16. Publish at least one Op-Ed in a physical newspaper.
I published three more pieces in the Huffington Post last month:
Teachers: Stop Complimenting Your Students
11 Ways to Guarantee a Successful Author Appearance
8 Rules for Requesting Songs at a Wedding
None of these appeared in a physical newspaper.
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 begin this experiment today.
19. Build an author mailing list.
Done! My fifth monthly email goes out next week. 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 here. It's about one email a month and includes updates on my writing and speaking and recommendations. This month's newsletter includes a book launch party invite.
20. Build a new website for matthewdicks.com
Done! Tweaks will continue to be made, but it's up and running.
STORYTELLING
21. Produ
ce a total of eight Speak Up storytelling events.
Four down and four to go.
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 attended two Moth StorySLAMs in May, but fate was cruel and my name remained in the hat. This brings my total number of Moth events attended in 2015 to nine. I have a GrandSLAM and a Mainstage show in June, in addition to a StorySLAM, which will put me well over this goal.
25. Win at least two Moth StorySLAMs.
I win a StorySLAMs in April. 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 If only we could decide upon a name....
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 four rounds of golf in May, breaking 50 for nine holes once but not coming close to my personal best.
32. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog on the first day of every month.
Done.