My Blog Goals

 

I hate writing down goals. I know, I know, you're supposed to, and make them something measurable and all that. But I've never been able to do that. I don't like tangible goals, because then you can fail so easily. I'm the type of person that once I start failing on a goal, it's a slippery downward spiral.

For example, I don't diet (because I honestly can't be bothered, and I think I live a moderately healthy lifestyle already) because if I did, one cheat day would turn into all the cheat days. And after a week that diet would be a goner.

But despite myself, I've decided to write down my blog goals, and maybe try to actually achieve them. Baby steps. These goals aren't perfect. They don't have numbers and percentage increases. But they do exist now somewhere other than my mind, and that means you can hold me accountable. You can say, "Hey, Kait, have you worked on achieving X goal lately?" and I can shrink down and avoid eye contact. Or (big hopefully here) I can smile and say "Yep, I've totally been doing A, B, and C this past week!"

Without further ado, here they are:

1. Organize my blogging schedule better

Why: Other than to appease my obsessive compulsion, it might make me a little more accountable to post on time. Also, scheduling will make it easier to post time-sensitive material.

How:

• Project management software
• Redefine my blog post workflow
• Stop leaving half finished drafts around!

2. Connect with other bloggers to build a community

Why: A lot of people I know in real life just don't "get" blogging. It's nice to have a group of people to bounce ideas off and lean on when I need support for things like writer's block.

How:

• #Twitterchats!
• Be more active in SoFab and 20sb, my blogging networks
• Promoting real discussions by commenting instead of liking things

3. Promote my blog better

Why: I don't just write for my own health, although that is a big reason. I also want my words out there, and I want acknowledgement that what I do and say could actually be important.

How:

• Be more active with promotions on social media
• Learn about SEO techniques and utilize them
• Discover new social networks and figure out how to use them properly

Month in Music: January 2015

Each month, I make a Spotify playlist with songs that I'm feeling for the month. Follow me on Spotify to see these lists as they are made. At the end of the month, I'll post the playlist here, with some explanation for the songs that have been filling my speakers, and how they relate to my life.

Oh January. To most people, you symbolize a fresh start. In musical terms, you represent finally getting The First Noel unstuck from my head. Between the Holiday Season recovery, winter weather warnings, and going into hibernation mode with far too many carbs, I like my January music to be relaxed, but not so much that it makes me want to crawl back into my cozy bed.

Only You - The Platters
Such Great Heights - The Postal Service
5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale

"I'm always pretty happy when I'm just kicking back with you"


This year, the first month has represented a bit of a change for me, but not exactly in the resolution sense. For the first time, my boyfriend and I are actually living together, without traveling every other weekend for holidays, family, and sporting events with friends.

We are trying to mesh our lifestyles together, and sometimes that's harder than we make it look. We grew up in very different families, and it's time for us each to decide what aspects of our childhoods we want our lives to include. And we're also making those decisions together. It's easy to forget why, so a few love songs can put my mind back in place.

Super Rad - The Aquabats
Get Ready 2 Rokk - Freezepop
Hand in My Pocket - Alanis Morisette

"And what it all comes down to, is everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine"


Finances are a big part of our lives right now, along with budgeting. While I'm unemployed, we don't want to spend any unnecessary money. One paycheck in this part of the country is just not enough for luxuries. However, we find ways to treat ourselves when we have to.

During my job search, motivation is extremely important. It's easy to get distracted by the internet, and it's tough to face rejections. I'm finding motivation in my music, either by listening to the words, or singing along. When it comes to these songs, I'm not looking for something that will get me up and moving, like a workout playlist, but just some tunes that get my mind into the right frame

The World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
New Slang - The Shins
1,2,3,4 - Feist

"I watch the stars from my window sill, the whole world is moving and I'm standing still"



I spend a lot of time with myself out here. Days when the Boy works, it's mostly just me, Tessa, and my computer. I find myself with a lot of time to think, write, and work on projects. I also find that there are times when I don't want to do any of those things, and I am just trapped in my own head.

These relaxed, and somewhat sad, songs give me company. They exist on a plane that is the same as mine, and in that moment that I am listening, they are a friend. And really, isn't that what music is supposed to be overall?

But wait, there's more ...

That's not the entire playlist, just the songs that are really resonating with me. I'm always listening just for the sake of good music as well. And I'm constantly trying to expand my musical horizons. Check out the entire playlist below:


Please leave me music suggestions: What have you been listening to this month? Any particular reason?

On Writing

Writing about writing feels so meta, that it's nearly impossible to do without sounding pedantic, but I'll try my hardest to make reading this enjoyable. After all, isn't that a writer's job - to entertain an audience? Sure I can say all day that "I write for myself," but how true can that possibly be when my outlet is on the internet?

Friday Five Things [07/12/13]

My Fourth of July look from last week!

1. By the time you read this, I'll be in San Francisco. The whole family will be here by tonight because it's time for B's wedding this weekend! The actual wedding is on Sunday afternoon, but there's family events all weekend and then a hop down to Disneyland for some of us. After California, I might be flying back to the east coast but heading to DC with the Boy instead of going straight home.

Outtake from an upcoming post on deviled eggs!

2. I've rediscovered SwagBucks, which is an easy way to earn points for gift cards by doing stuff you do everyday - like searching the internet! I'm working toward getting some money in PayPal, and I'm really close to my goal. If you need a little extra cash, you should sign up here, and I'll get referral points!

Little creek through a broken window in a friend's garage

3. I've been working on my novel, and I hope you've enjoyed what I've posted so far. If you haven't read it yet, be sure to click on the Camp NaNoWriMo tab above where you can read some of what I have written. Please leave comments and criticisms!

4. Most of this week has been all about prepping for being out of town next week. That means laundry, packing, cleaning out the fridge, cleaning up my room a little bit, and making sure all my travel plans are in order. It also means writing lots of extra blog posts to post throughout the week. So don't worry, just because I'm gone doesn't mean there's no posts - there might just not be as many!

Some dippers from our beer and cheese fondue

5. The job market still looks dismal for me. Even with local businesses when I ask if they're hiring, they just say to apply online and then I never hear a word. How does anyone get a job anywhere? As for a career job, I'm working on it - lots of cover letters every single day and usually no response at all, even if I follow up! It's just disheartening.

Camp NaNoWriMo

I've always wanted to try writing a novel.

I've got documents numbering in the mid-twenties to thirties that I've started and never finished. I tend to be the the type of person who does that - starts projects with no intention of ever completing them. It's a fear of endings, I supposed.

20 Something Reading Troubles

I love reading, and pretty much whenever I have a spare moment that's not being spent writing, I've got my kindle in hand, and I'm reading - alone in the coffee shop, while waiting for the bus, over my breakfast.

However, the more options I seem to have, I'm finding it harder and harder to find really good books to read.

Songwriting: Part II

It was 3:30 am when inspiration struck.

This is not unusual. Sometimes it'll be triggered by a phrase someone says, a post on Facebook, a season finale of a television show, or the most unrelated event you can think up. But when it happens, when my mind suddenly gets full of ideas, I have to write them down.

A Week Off

Sorry about not posting at all last week.

I'd like to say it's because I'm really happy right now, and it's a lot harder for me to write when I'm in a good place emotionally and mentally.

Surnames

(Sorry for the lack of updates yesterday and Tuesday. First, I spent all day in bed feeling awful, and then yesterday I had to pick myself up to go to my college's career fair. It was awful and I couldn't get myself to sit at the computer at all!)

I'm not a huge fan of my last name.

B, M, and me!

I use it when I have to - on Facebook, so that my friends from lives past recognize me, on job applications, so that my degree and professional experience can all be listed under one name. However, in general, it's just not that great.

Thinking and Walking

I was thinking today about how people get inspired to write. Novels, short stories, plays, songs, blog posts - honestly if done correctly they all tell some sort of story. But where do those stories come from?

So I decided to go for a walk the other day, because that's how I think.

Songwriting

I'm currently taking three online classes. One is almost over, one half over, and one just started. I kind of like that they are staggered, because I don't have all my midterms and finals at the same time. However, most of them having quizzes every week, so it's still pretty stressful.

Music and lyrics.

 At the end of this month, I start two more. I'll have a brief period of overlap where I have all five classes for a week, but then two of them quickly fade out, and I'm back to three. Three is a good load; it's technically the minimum normal course load at my college for a full time student.