As always, I’d like to begin this week’s progress report by thanking all of you awesome people who’ve followed, liked and/or commented on my blog!

Here are this week’s stats:

Words Rewritten This Week: 6,002

Last Chapter of Second Draft Completed: Chapter 3

Chapters To Go (subject to change): 22

Days Until January 20th Goal Date: 92

Thoughts?

Those numbers look pretty amazing, considering how scattered I’ve felt this week. Somehow, all at once, I’ve gotten caught up in a bunch of different entertainment. Last Friday, Netflix released their new show, Mindhunter, and I love it. I’ve recently decided to work through the Wine & Crime podcast backlog during my commute, not to mention I actively listen to several other podcasts (Thinking Sideways, The Black Tapes, the new podcast, Heaven’s Gate, etc). I’m also currently reading The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, which I am enjoying much more than I did when I attempted to read it in high school.

I’m also looking to the future. I just signed up for a free trial on Skillshare in order to learn more about the business side of marketing and selling a book. I have a handful of books about writing on my night stand that I need to tackle. I still want to try for 50 books before Christmas.

Needless to say, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.

But somehow, progress on my book has continued. To be honest, rewriting feels much easier than the initial writing did. In essence, the story is already down. I’m just working through it, making it flow better and adding/cutting/shifting things around as needed.

One thing I know I need to work on is time management. Once I finish with my regular work week, I often want to be lazy and zone out (hello podcast naps and Netflix binges). But I can’t afford to do that, at least not for the whole weekend, every weekend.

Goals For The Coming Week

I used to do this when I was writing the first draft, and it helped me stay focused. So I’m adding it as an official section in my Progress Reports going forward. In the coming week, I’d like to complete Chapter 4 and begin working on Chapter 5 of my manuscript.  I’d like to finish The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray. And I’d like to begin one class on Skillshare.

Note To Self

I can do this. I wrote an 80,000+ word manuscript, more than half of which was completed in 2 months. I’ve read 35 books so far this year. I know I’m capable of everything I want to do. I just have to focus. In other words, FOCUS BAISDEN.