Jennifer Simonson tickles our funny bone with: "Lines from The Princess Bride that double as comments on Freshman Composition Papers."
Malcolm Gladwell upsets the balance by showing the little guy how to win in: "How David Beats Goliath."
Eric Zadawski opens up about the bigness of noveling in: "One Draft Contains Multitudes."
Laura Simms shares with us a tale about the abandonment of the root of all evil in: "quitting money: crazy? or free? or crazy free?"
Breeana Puttroff shares the mysteries of the little blue bird in: "Twitter Tuesdays: Lists."
Peder Hill points out how we can be better parents to our children in:"Four Things a Parent Must Never Do When Angry."
Donna Newton shares with us a plethora of awesome writing opportunities in: "Classes, Competitions, and Writing Opportunities Round Up #30."
Dan Blank of We Grow Media shares an opportunity for writers to learn about platform in: "Free Webinar: Author Platform Makeover."
Tracy Hickman, one of my heroes, shares some advice to writers about how to make it in the business in: "Writer vs. The World."
August McLaughlin gives us new insights into controversy in:"Controversial Blog Posts: How to Make Them Work."
David Murton shares some important tips about how to get more comments on your blog in: "9 Ways to Get People to Post Comments on Your Blog."
Kate Conner tells young women everywhere some of the most important advice ever in: "Ten Things I Want To Tell Teenage Girls."
Linda Yezak reminds us of the behind the scenes work of writing in: "Dancing with the Words."
Donna Weaver shares a really important idea about energy in: "Personalities: Introvert and Extrovert."
Kevin Hiatt reminds us that defeat, and surrender are not the attributes of writers in: "Who am I?"
Karen Sandler gives us a scoop on diversity writing in: "Why writing Multi-Culturally is so much fun."
Karen McFarland gets down to the fundamentals of writing a character in: "Guest Post by Bob Mayer."
M.C. Eging gets a friend, Charlie Holmberg, to post for us on one of my favorite topics: "World Building for Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels."
1. Finishing Draft Two of "Crimes of the Umbramancer" by the 30th of April.
This will be a NaNoWriMo month. I know where I am in this and I need to get through a draft. No more playing around. I know I can do this I just have to put my time into this rather than other hobbies for a month. It means I won't a lot read next month, but seriously I don't think that is the most important thing for me at the moment. But rather to finish this draft so I can figure out better how I will tie the culture I want into it.
2. Exercise five times a week.
I'm actually doing much more in the way of exercise and I want this as an ongoing goal, because I just need to have it up here. I've been getting in three to five times a week for a couple of weeks now and I think I can really focus on this for now.
3. Finishing up my school work from my last semester in College.
I've been struggling with this because I just haven't felt really inspired to it. So I thought I'd share this with our community and work my way through it with the wonderful energy you help me to develop. I have to be done with this by mid April so I have a lot to get done, but I know that I'll be able to get through it with ya'lls help.
4. Get myself some stories ready to get published somewhere.
This year really needs to be the one where I focus on getting myself published. I think my writing is good enough, but I need to be validated by those who think I'm writing towards the audience I want to write for. Editors and whatnot. So I know during the next round I'll be looking for contests and opportunities to get my writing out there and get some publication things started. Afterall I need enough rejection letters to say that I'm not good enough to justify the party I have one I get my first acceptance letter.
3. Finishing up my school work from my last semester in College.
I've been struggling with this because I just haven't felt really inspired to it. So I thought I'd share this with our community and work my way through it with the wonderful energy you help me to develop. I have to be done with this by mid April so I have a lot to get done, but I know that I'll be able to get through it with ya'lls help.
4. Get myself some stories ready to get published somewhere.
This year really needs to be the one where I focus on getting myself published. I think my writing is good enough, but I need to be validated by those who think I'm writing towards the audience I want to write for. Editors and whatnot. So I know during the next round I'll be looking for contests and opportunities to get my writing out there and get some publication things started. Afterall I need enough rejection letters to say that I'm not good enough to justify the party I have one I get my first acceptance letter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzb76so6Psil2-prBmVKodjuV6-rkj7j7s7BujtxrbBSL5h-rLJXHIRp7sQZcykShbSFKEW5QenFoCoVRUOLOZ0yeXGd2p1XsTtsG2x3pmory0zTOfrsE_-oggP6WOKfpwXmdlgPkvd4/s200/dhalgren.large.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUioaNRrFLnMFlxMyOQOi-glnxjiB-52IfbLznYs5s9KnLveu__hDnXXTMeM0H3ynPsETrnR5G4EwNPjmgHv_UpTMqsH6_A4czvkNgQBA_g-SYlaOaN0n2phgpYJdJWJQQ8LFE_hDL5ZA/s200/tankborn.jpg)
Next time we meet we'll be talking a little about Guns and Gun Control. Until then, I'm Jayrod Garrett, the First OG asking you this: What goals do you need to make to achieve your dreams?