On to February! Which always feels short, but perhaps it will be better this year because it's a Leap Year.

So far so good on using my goal sheet to plan my monthly goals. Though I did discover I thought I was going to be doing regular yoga and, uh, I am not.

Writing:
Book 1 edit (plus critique marathon)
Deep and Blue final edit
Deep and Blue cover copy
Ongoing SkillShare shenanigans (if this class gets fixed, I'll pick a topic for the next class)
RaTs

Reading:
4 books (Elvenbane, White Cat, 2 more)

Art:
1 sketch per week
Finish working through Forest book

Video Games:
Garden Story, A Short Hike, Strange Horticulture

The critique marathon continues through February, and if all goes well, we should get to Chapter 22 or 23, which most of the way through the story. Doing my quarterly RaTs and my bimonthly art book as well, just for kicks.

Elvenbane I started reading, oh, two years ago? And it's just been sitting on my desk, so time to finish that up. I've requested a few TBR books from the library (White Cat being one) but haven't gotten any, so that may change depending on which books come in.

My library requests are taking around 10 days atm, but obviously that could differ from area to area. Have you ever shared any of your sketches? I would be interested to see. Good luck in February! *waves pom-poms*

I may have to find a new copy of Elvenbane. I think I read it about 8 years ago, and I wanted to see if I'm remembering the story I think it is.

galactic-pirates - Sometimes I'll post! Either here or on Discord, or sometimes on my blog. These current ones are very rough, though.

auroralynneskye - This is the version I have: www.amazon.com/ELVENBANE-Halfblood-Chronicles-Andre-Norton/dp/076538051X/

Okay, cool! Thanks, Kandy, you're a rel pal!

Looks like you did pretty great in January. Good luck for your February goals!

Writing:
Book 1 edit (plus critique marathon)
Posted Chapter 18 at the critique marathon, working on incorporating previous week's feedback into those chapters, hope to send to in-person group today.
Deep and Blue final edit
Deep and Blue cover copy
Ongoing SkillShare shenanigans (if this class gets fixed, I'll pick a topic for the next class)
RaTs

Reading:
4 books (Elvenbane, White Cat, 2 more)

Art:
1 sketch per week (1/4)
Finish working through Forest book

Video Games:
Garden Story, A Short Hike, Strange Horticulture

This week has not been productive. I've been very easily distracted and the last three days I've felt like I could hardly stay awake for no apparent reason, as I was getting sleep and everything (I'm feeling better today, so who knows what was happening. Weird sickness?). Monday I got overwhelmed and spiraled and basically just watched YouTube and ate chocolate.

So.

Oh well, just got to climb back in the saddle and other idioms.

Awww sorry you had a tough week. I keep repeating to myself “progress not perfection” so its ok to stumble sometimes. You are still doing great 🤗 Good luck next week!

Writing:
Book 1 edit (plus critique marathon)
Posted Chapter 19 at the critique marathon, in-person critique group on Sunday, hoping to work on Chapter 21 today.
Deep and Blue final edit
Deep and Blue cover copy
Ongoing SkillShare shenanigans
They're still ignoring me. Tempted to just make the class all over again.
RaTs

Reading:
4 books (Elvenbane, White Cat, 2 more) (1/4)

Art:
1 sketch per week (2/4)
Finish working through Forest book
About halfway through book, kind of silly really, more sketch practice than teaching anything

Video Games:
Garden Story, A Short Hike, Strange Horticulture
I beat Strange Horticulture (was close already) and have spent at least a little bit of time on the other two.

This past week has gone better, though I am still sick (and now obviously sick, coughing and whatnot, yay). Focusing better overall and less spiraling. Not getting a lot of reading done, but may have picked too many dense books, whoops.

Awww sorry you are sick, I hope you feel better soon! Yeah dense books take ages and then it still only marks one. Still I hope you enjoy reading them!

Writing:
Book 1 edit (plus critique marathon)
Posted Chapter 20 at the critique marathon, not really making progress on Chapter 21, but need to have done by Monday eeeeek.
Deep and Blue final edit
Deep and Blue cover copy
Ongoing SkillShare shenanigans
VINDICATION god their customer service sucks
RaTs

Reading:
4 books (Elvenbane, White Cat, 2 more) (2/4)
I've started Elvenbane and White Cat, so I just need to remember to read daily.

Art:
1 sketch per week (2/4)
Finish working through Forest book
I had to give my book back to the library oh no

Video Games:
Garden Story, A Short Hike, Strange Horticulture
Haven't touched, whoops

SkillShare FINALLY re-posted my class, thank goodness. Now pondering my next class, narrowed down to three topics. Opinions? It's Outlining for Short Stories, Tracking Progress Toward Goals, or Worldbuilding.

Also, I should NOT have picked February as a month to put extra goals in, ahahahahahahaha help

Yay glad Skillshare finally cooperated!! I think tracking progress towards goals sounds like a good one. It can be tough to stay motivated when projects/goals are longterm and so it’s such a grind for months/years before any results are seen. It’s something I’ve been experimenting with, trying to find ways that feel satisfying. I think it’s something a lot of people struggle with so could prove popular! Good luck with everything *waves pom-poms*

Writing:
Book 1 edit (plus critique marathon)
Posted Chapter 21/22 at the critique marathon, did paper edit on Chapter 23, as well as some plot rework to figure out where new chapter needs to go.
Deep and Blue final edit
Deep and Blue cover copy
Ongoing SkillShare shenanigans
RaTs

Reading:
4 books (Elvenbane, White Cat, 2 more) (3/4)
I ALMOST got Elvenbane done, whoops. It's an older fantasy plot format that I haven't read in a while.

Art:
1 sketch per week (2/4)
Finish working through Forest book
The Forest book continues to be out of reach.

Video Games:
Garden Story, A Short Hike, Strange Horticulture
Haven't touched, whoops

February did not go amazingly. I was sick almost the whole month (and still am, but am going to the doctor this afternoon) and have otherwise had extra responsibilities (at work and with kid activities) that have cut down on my free time. (Also I found a Minesweeper website that has Challenges and oh no)

Trying to give myself grace, though, and rededicating for March.

Writing:
Book 1 edit
Deep and Blue final edit
Deep and Blue cover copy
RaTs

Reading:
5 books (Elvenbane, The Austen Escape, Lessons in Chemistry, 2 more)

Art:
1 sketch per week
Start 6-week Book
If Forest book comes back, finish

Video Games:
Garden Story, Alba: A Wildlife Story, Stardew Valley

Okay. Refocusing. Deep breaths.

The critique marathon ends this weekend, so aside from going back through and making edits based on feedback, I'm going to gain back the time I've been spending on that. Keeping February writing goals so they get done, har har.

5 books since Elvenbane didn't get finished.

I have a daily 6-week art book out from the library (though perhaps the lesson should be not to get books that take longer than 3 weeks out from the library) that I'm going to start. The Forest book is still gone but it might come back? We shall see.

I bought Stardew Valley a few days ago at the urging of several friends (it was half off) so I continue to not manage the "Stop buying new games and play the ones you already own" part of the video game goal. Oops.

Wish me luck! (And health.)

Can't you renew library books to keep them longer? I am sorry that you have been so unwell *hugs* I hope you feel better soon. Don't be hard on yourself. Well done with the critique marathon and just good luck in march! *waves pom-poms*