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I've had a plethora of diaries over the years, but I've never written in one regularly for more than a year. I want to try to change that. I know I have blogging, but I want a place where I can confide worries and day to day things without being judged or being afraid of boring people to death. A place where I can fill the pages with inspiration - essentially a scrapbook of sorts.
2. take more pictures.
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I used to take at least ten photos a day, but now it seems that a week or more will slip by without me even glancing at my camera. My excuse? "There's nothing to take pictures. Everything is so boring." That just tells me that I'm going to have to work harder at being creative when it comes to photography.
3. work on a surprise of sorts.
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I've have something kind of big in the works...I plan to unveil the fruits of my labor soon after the new year. If you think hard, you might be able to figure it out - I've sort of hinted about it these past few weeks :) I'm very excited about it!
4. practice piano everyday.
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This is something I really want to work on - practicing piano everyday for a minimum of thirty minutes, but preferably over an hour. During my last piano class before break, my teacher gave me a major pep talk. I've had so many people tell me that I'm talented when it comes to piano, but I've had a hard time believing it. This is going to sound totally snotty, but I realized that I do have a gift in that area. I was being lazy and didn't want to practice because I thought it was too hard. But I've decided that if I've been blessed with this talent, I better darn well use it! (Yep. I told you it was going to totally snotty and conceited. Sorry.)
5. catch up on homework.
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This one is rather self explanatory, but this is on the top of my list to get done. I'm also going to attempt to go back to the very beginning of my geometry book and reread all the lessons (and redo two or three homework problems from each lesson). Then, I'm going to see if I can make some sense of my current assignments. Sigh.
6. spend more time with my family.
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Heck, isn't Christmas supposed to be about surrounding yourself with loved ones (After celebrating Jesus' birth, of course.)? I'm going to try to spend more time with my family and less time on the computer.
7. start my novel.
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I talked a little bit about writing a novel in this post. I think I'm going to go for it. Eek. First comes research - lots and lots of it. My goal is to complete the first few paragraphs of book, along with the research, of course, before break is up. Any tips from those of you that wrote/are writing a novel?
8. finish redoing my room.
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I have frames spray painting, art work to fill some of them, and the plan in my head. We'll see how this goes...
9. learn more html.
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It's pitiful how much I know. Yes, I've lamented about this before, but it's true. I need to learn how to navigate all the codes better, how to make sense of the mystifying world of HTML. For those of y'all have a blog design business or are knowledgeable in this, where do you recommend starting?
What's on your list for Christmas break?
-carlotta
(Don't forget to enter my photo challenge! :))
Well, mine are very close to yours...
ReplyDelete1) catch up on homework
2) take more pictures
3) practice piano
4) come up with blogging ideas
5) go sledding!
I think it's so neat that you are going to write a novel!
I've never completed a novel, but don't get me wrong, because I real want to. My advice--stick with it, no matter how stuck you get!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a blog design business and I learned about HTML just by googling it and doing some reserch!
ReplyDeleteMy list? Oh... I think I'm taking life day to day =).
ReplyDeleteAbout writing... advice? Get to know your characters. I've started quite a few books, but I didn't know my characters.
So with my book now, I opened a document on my com. and found out who my characters were, now I can write my book because I know how they'll react to things!
Yesterday i was just thinking of New Year Resolutions. Number one on my list was start a journal. Number two was Finish my novel.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are great! I really like them :). Also thanks for replying back to my e-mail, I am really considering getting the Nikon D3000.
Ashley Jean
PS- I can't wait to see what surprise you have. I am clueless.
good list!
ReplyDeletemy list is:
-blog more
-get everything ready for starting school in january
-read more
kind of short. but i'm sure i'll think of more things when the time comes.
Your pictures are beautiful. I have a diary too, but I might write in it maybe three times a month. I'm going to start writing in it more. I need to spend more time with my family too. I've tried to write a book before, but I'm hopeless. :) Good luck with your novel!
ReplyDelete:) Hope you have an awesome Christmas and break!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's my list:
1) Read
2) Go ice-skating
3) Relax
4) Have fun!
My list isn't to pressing is it!?
Merry Christmas!
Carlotta, you aren't being conceited by telling us about your musical gifts. God gave you that gift, and you SHOULD be proud of it and recognize it. I hate when people deny their talents, they should be proud! Of course, I also hate when people go too far with "recognizing it" and brag all the time, but you are by no means bragging. Be proud :)
ReplyDeleteI've been working on a novel for the past five years, and the best advice I can give you is-never give up. This is going to be very hard at points, trust me. I've wanted to quit so many times. But keep chugging through, because the end result will be really satisfying. Also you don't HAVE to always go in chronological order. Often times, starting a scene in the middle of the story gets the creative juices flowing faster. Good luck! <3
As a musician, I know it's hard to admit that you're actually pretty good at something, but it's such a wonderful blessing! And if accepting your gifts means that you'll continue to develop them, then by all means, tell us how well you tinkle the keys! Trust me, my sweetheart doesn't spend 6 hours (yes, 6) at the guitar in a day because he thinks he's terrible at the instrument. Well, that may not always be true, but at least he's dedicated!
ReplyDeleteOooohhh...so exciting you are thinking about writing a novel!!! It is so much fun, and also a lot of hard work. One thing I would suggest however: write about what you KNOW. If you have to research every sentence, then try something you already know about. But I encourage you to write! It is so amazingly captivating and (for me) freeing.
ReplyDeleteMy list for stuff I need to do would be:
1. Write Part 9 of my novel:-)
2. Earn some money...
3. Get a haircut.
4. Email people.
5. Get as much school work done as possible!
Hope you get those things done that you want/need to do!
Hopefully your get all the things on your list accomplished :) I have a few things that I need to get done over brake too.. Including taking some more pictures and cleaning :)
ReplyDeleteHTML is hard to learn.. Even though I've been working with it for 4 years its still difficult sometimes..lol
No offense or anything, but this blog title sounds home-schooly, and kind dorky (my mom thinks so too)
ReplyDeletewell i love your list :)
ReplyDeleteas for the novel, here's what helps me.
first, get your creativeness out. dont worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation, and all that stuff. that comes later. just get down your main thoughts, the main plot, the beginning middle and end. then add your fine details, work on the spelling and so forth.
also, stick to it. sometimes in the middle of a novel you think "wow this was a dumb idea." but thats not true. you'll suprise yourself when you finish and it will be great.
and have fun. write about what you love. and i'd LOVE to here your novel and help you with any editing {i edit most of my friends books as well}
God bless!
i was never good at keeping up with a diary so good luck! as for me, catch up on blogging and reading blogs. read read read. maybe do some shopping. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to write as well--I want to get around to finishing my novel this year, although I'm not totally sure if I can do it. But I'm going to try. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your novel!
gasp! a novel! i've written chapters and chapters but they never seem to be enough for an actual book. my advice, don't throw anything away. sometimes when i'm writing and feel like throwing the pieces of paper in the waste basket, i tuck them away in a folder. really, this helps so much. i can look back at my original work and revise it.. or take my older ideas and improve them. i'm so very excited to hear about how your novel is coming along! c:
ReplyDeletesigh. me too. i am constantly telling myself to take more pictures. planning on taking a ton this christmas day coming up. c:
{be sure to share photos of your finished room, please!}
hope you have a very merry christmas, carlotta.
I'm a gunna be doing the saaaaaame number five as you girl...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I'm sorry you feel that way. For the record, I started this blog four years ago (though I didn't really use it until September of last year), so I was obviously four years younger than I am now. If I had to start all over again, I would most definitely pick a different name, but I've come too far under my current one to change it now. If you find it's homeschooler-y and dorky, then feel free to not read my blog anymore.
ReplyDelete-carlotta
Gorgeous photos. Can't wait to see all the stuff you are working on. :D
ReplyDeleteI remember well the days of having trouble focusing on music practice. What I learned is to use the music to zone out on the rest of your life, relax you, associate it with happy things (and less I have-to's) and you'll be surprised how fast that 30-60 minutes goes by.
ReplyDeleteHAHA your diary with kelly the snake!!![:
ReplyDeleteoh goodness. . . i miss you<3
BTW Carlotta, I *love* your blog name, and your blog. :) It's awesome, and unique. I would have used something like your blog title, but...you already had it..and I only got the idea after I saw your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Carlotta.
ReplyDeleteLove your list, sounds like a good plan! I have always tried to keep a diary, but never am able to stick to it (one year I had to for a class I was taking and my teacher said it was the randomest of the whole class)! But I always keep a notebook with me for drawings and lists (I love making lists)and planning things out (like parties)!
On my "list":
-Get caught up on geometry, as I'm terribly behind.
-Bake more (I especially love cranberry bliss bars, like the ones from starbucks)
-Sew more
-Work on my extension for ballet
-Actually take pictures and post something for my blog on a regular basis!!
~Lillian
frillsandfurbelows.blogspot.com
Love your list! Too funny, because I was planning on doing a post like this AND, several of my topics were like yours! Great minds think alike, huh? :) Hee hee...for HTML & CSS, I'd recommend HeadFirst XHTML & CSS -- DEFINITELY taught me much of what I know!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day, sweet friend!
--Hannah
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's been struggling with #2! And I think I know what #3 is... and Etsy shop? I'm starting one up too! :-)
ReplyDelete~Ashley
P.S. I love your blog name! And I don't think your blog is "homeschool-y."
I have been writing in a journal every day for the past like 5 or so years... and it's pretty cool being able to look back on when I was younger...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your novel! I want to get some writing done this Christmas break, too.