Writing a book

This post is so timely because last time I wrote a post about how I always set myself up with goals that are almost unachievable and here I am today telling all out in cyberland (ok, I'm actually the only one that reads this) that I am going to write a book. I couldn't go to bed last night thinking about it, what I would include, the title, everything. I want to write about how I grew up abroad-from first loves in Spain, to getting the wind knocked out of my by harsh realities in India and Mexico, to heartbreak in Ecuador, to learning about friendship in Argentina. One of my biggest problems with writing is that I feel so vulnerable, and this would be writing at its most vulnerable! But I'm going to do it. I was just reading this article online about writing your first book and it advised to 'deliberately write badly, but at least write'. Also, it states,

"If you want to write, kill the magic: a book is just a bunch of writing. Anyone can write a book. It might suck or be incomprehensible, but so what: it’s still a book. Nothing is stopping you right now from collecting all of your elementary school book reports, or drunken napkin scribbles, binding them together at kinkos for $20, slapping a title on the cover, and qualifying as an author."

So, I'm going to do it. No one ever has to read my book. And if nothing ever becomes of it, at least I will have something to pass on to my children and grandchildren to they can get to know me a little better. Lastly, what I find to be the most reassuring piece of advice from that article is this:

"Remember that until you say you’re finished, you can break all the rules."

(http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2007/how-to-write-a-book-the-short-honest-truth/)

A goal a week

Like so many people out there, I find myself making this huge, lofty goals (normally around New Years): this year I'm going to exercise every day, write a book, save the world. Instead, I'm going to try something new. I'm going to give myself a goal for a week; something I have to do every day. I'm going to put it on my Google Calendar every day and have it send me email reminders to make sure I'll follow through (sad that it takes that to make me actually do something!). Here are the ideas I've come up with:


1. A week of actually drinking eight glasses of water a day.


2. Stretch for 30 minutes a day.


3. Read the newspaper every day for a week.


4. A week of not buying coffee and donating that money to an organization like Kiva.org.


5. Finish a book in a week.


6. Speak Spanish every day for a week.


7. A week learning about Photography.


8. A week learning about American Government.


9. A week reading a classic book.


10. A week doing situps everyday.


11. A week wearing clothes I haven't worn in a year.


12. Watch a classic movie sometime during the week.


13. A week of exercising every day.


14. A week of putting on lotion every day (I hate lotion).



15. A week reading the bio of a famous person every day.

This week I'm going to start with stretching. I'll write back to share how it's going. Wish me luck!