Resolution update: September 2018
/PERSONAL HEALTH
1. Don’t die.
I’ve had a cold that lasted the entire month of September (and I’m still a little sick), but it didn’t kill me.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
I lost 12 pounds at the peak of my illness, then gained back 6 pounds as I started to eat again. I'm now 17 pounds down and 3 pounds from the goal.
This insidious virus was good for something.
3. Eat at least three servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day.
I had three servings of fruits and/or vegetables on 14 of 30 days in September.
Worst month so far. Primarily because I wasn’t eating much at all.
4. Do at least 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 3 one-minute planks for five days a week.
Done. With this cold, it was not easy.
5. Identify a yoga routine that I can commit to practicing at least three days a week.
I spent a full week at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. I did not take a single yoga class.
6. Stop using the snooze button.
Done and still highly recommended. Science is right. Snoozing is a terrible practice that you must end immediately. Get the hell out of bed once you are awake. You will feel a lot better.
WRITING CAREER
7. Complete my seventh novel before the end of 2018.
Progress continues. Shipping off the first half to my agent this week, I hope.
8. Complete my second middle grade/YA novel.
I've begun revising my first middle grade novel, and it’s going to take some time. Things were slowed down significantly because my editor left the company and my new editor needed time to get up to speed. Finishing a second middle grade novel is looking highly unlikely this year because of these unforeseen delays.
9. Write at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
I've begun work on a nonfiction picture book on a famous beaver drop in the 1950's.
I also have plans to consult with a well established picture book writer this month.
10. Write a proposal for a memoir.
My agent and I have decided upon the memoir, and progress has begun.
11. Write a new screenplay.
Writing has commenced.
12. Write a musical.
Writing has commenced.
13. Submit at least five Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
Nothing submitted in September. Three submitted so far.
14. Write a proposal for a nonfiction book related to education.
No progress.
15. Submit one or more short stories to at least three publishing outlets.
No progress.
16. Select three behaviors that I am opposed to and adopt them for one week, then write about my experiences on the blog.
No progress. I'm still looking for possible behaviors to adopt. Suggestions welcomed.
17. Increase my author newsletter subscriber base to 2,000.
I added 57 subscribers added in September, and a total of 378 added in 2018. I'm just 74 away from my goal. If I manage to acquire one subscriber per day, I’ll hit my goal with ease.
If you'd like to subscribe to my newsletter and receive tips on writing and storytelling, as well as links to the occasional amusing Internet miscellany and more, please subscribe here:
18. Write at least six letters to my father.
No letters written in September. Three letters written thus far.
19. Write 100 letters in 2018.
Just two letters written and mailed in September, bringing my total to 50 in 2018.
20. Convert Greetings Little One into a book.
I have begun researching the companies that convert blogs to books. I have not found any that I like.
21. Record one thing learned every week in 2018.
Done! My favorite from September, again from the Numlock Newsletter:
Mosquitoes have been the bane of the human species for generations, but a controversial new gene edit could hypothetically wipe out an entire species if introduced. Essentially, female mosquitoes that have two copies of a specifically edited gene are infertile, while females with one copy can reproduce and males with any copy can reproduce. Tests were carried out on two groups of mosquitoes by mixing in genetically edited males to 12.5 percent of the total population. Soon enough — within 7 generations in one group and within 11 generations in the other — all the females were sterile, and thus the population collapsed. Further tests are being done, but the question is an interesting one: if we could eradicate mosquitoes, should we?
STORYTELLING
22. Produce a total of 12 Speak Up storytelling events.
One show produced in September: Our first show, a standing-room-only affair, at Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT.
Our total number of shows now stands at 10.
23. Deliver a TEDx Talk.
Done! I spoke at a TEDxNatick salon event in May.
24. Attend at least 15 Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Two Moth StorySLAMs and one Moth GrandSLAM in September, bringing the total number of Moth events to 10 in 2018.
25. Win at least three Moth StorySLAMs.
Two second place finishes in September. One victory back in February.
26. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
Done twice over! I won my fifth GrandSLAM in February and my sixth GrandSLAM in April.
I placed third in September’s GrandSLAM at The Music Hall of Brooklyn.
27. Produce at least 25 episodes of our new podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
Episodes #19 dropped today and is now available wherever you get podcasts. Listen to a terrific story from storyteller Valerie Gordon. The reception to the podcast has been excellent, and our audience is growing fast.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and please leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts.
28. Perform stand up at least four times in 2018.
Done!
I performed in three open-mic events while in Grand Rapids, Michigan, including one night when I was asked to perform a second set. This brings my total number of stand up performances in 2018 to six, including one paid gig.
29. Pitch my solo show to at least one professional theater.
Done! I performed my solo show at The Tank as part of the Speak Up, Rise Up Storytelling Festival in NYC.
30. Pitch a new Moth Mainstage story to the artistic director of The Moth.
No progress.
NEW PROJECTS
31. Write a syllabus for a college course on teaching.
No progress.
32. Cook at least 12 good meals (averaging one per month) in 2018.
No progress.
33. Plan a 25 year reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress.
MISCELLANEOUS
34. Pay allowance weekly.
Done! Kids are all paid up.
35. Ride my bike with my kids at least 25 times in 2018.
Ten rides in September, bringing the total for the year to 21. Charlie loves riding his bike, and Clara is getting a lot more comfortable on her big girl bike.
36. I will report on the content of speech during every locker room experience via social media in 2018.
Done. I only spent 16 days in a locker room in September, and I did not hear a single comment related to sexually assaulting women.
37. I will not comment, positively or negatively, about physical appearance of any person save my wife and children (except in service of a story while appearance is relevant), in 2018 in an effort to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.
I broke my rule and declared that Serena Williams is beautiful after a bunch of knuckle draggers said otherwise. Other than that intentional rule breaking moment, I did not speak of physical appearance with the exception of my wife and kids in September.
This included saying nothing to a student who colored her hair a light shade of blue.
38. Surprise Elysha at least six times in 2018.
Done! I've surprised Elysha a total of nine times in 2018.
39. Replace the 12 ancient, energy-inefficient windows in our home with new windows that will keep the cold out and actually open in the warmer months.
I've received some more reasonable estimates for this project. It might actually be doable. Especially if I had more money.
40. Clean the basement.
More than halfway done this job, but I’m going to need to invest a solid chunk of time completing this project.
41. Set a new personal best in golf.
I played many rounds of golf in September, but I did not come close to my personal best.
Back in August, I played one round that was only four holes long due to aeration. I had three pars and a bogie for a total of 14. Technically my best score ever, but perhaps it should not count.
42. Play poker at least six times in 2018.
No poker in September. Just two games all year.
43. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 25 years.
My total stands at three. No progress in September.
44. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog on the first day of every month.
Done.