5 THANKSGIVING BREAK GOALS

I haven't really written as much, read as much, or dreamed as much as I have wanted to this past year. Senior year has been pretty tough (don't believe them when they say that senior year is the easiest), and this semester has been a real killer. I am no longer in high school classes as of this year, and I've been dual-enrolled at a local community college since the 10th grade. I'm taking four classes (which is full time!), and they've been hard. I'm currently taking Humanities, College Algebra, Speech, and Literature. Praise the Lord that I finally gave my last speech this past Wednesday, otherwise I don't know if I would have made it. Humanities has definitely been interesting, and I think I've learned more about the secular worldview on things rather than the historical facts. Literature has been somewhat fun, but it's hard when your professor wants you to analyze different books and epics in a certain way, giving the answer that the professor wants rather than what you truly believe. But I have learned a lot in that class. And math, let's not even get started on that.

In other news, I also started a new job this past week, so the added pressure of finals coming up and trying to learn every aspect of a new job really makes me want Thanksgiving break to be here. Luckily, after today, it will be (although I still have to work twice this week)!

I've decided that I'll be making some serious goals for this Thanksgiving break. I do not want to get back into the habit of writing "whenever I feel like it", or passing off reading for fun.

1.   B e g i n   t h e   O n e   Y e a r   A d v e n t u r e   N o v e l

For those of you who do not know what the One Year Adventure Novel is, it's a novel-writing program for homeschooled high school kids. It's honestly the best program I've ever used, but sadly I've had it since I was fourteen, but I have never actually made it halfway through. I want to finish an entire book before I go off to college, so by starting this now, I'll be able to achieve my goal. Then, hopefully, I'll be able to start the Other Worlds program in the summer. 

I really want to get back into writing every day like I used to. I've prayed and prayed and prayed about writing, and I've even demanded about why God was not giving me any stories to write, why He wasn't using my hands to craft stories like I knew I was meant to, and He very plainly told me it was because I wasn't actually sitting down and writing. So, here I go, plunging back into the murky but blissful waters of writing.

2.  F i n i s h   r e a d i n g   T h e   M a z e   R u n n e r

I was invited to go and see the movie when it first came out, and I was so torn. I never watch the movies before reading the books, but in this case I made an exception, and boy, was it good! I had all three books at home, so I vowed to myself to start reading them. I started The Maze Runner about a week ago and I am almost half-way through (don't judge, finals are upon me). I'm determined to finish at least the first novel in the series, and if I can, I'd love to finish the whole series! It's so thrilling and thought-provoking, and so unique. It's hard to get into the lingo of the characters and understand what a "greenie" and "klunk" is, but once you get going, you won't want to stop.

3.   M a k e   p l a n s   t o   g o   a n d   s e e   T h e   H o b b i  t  :  T h e   B a t t l e   o f   t h e  F i v e   A r m i e s 

If you follow me on Facebook and have seen my latest post about Billy Boyd singing a beautiful song for the end credits of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, you'd understand how much Tolkien means to my family and I. I grew up with a heavy Tolkien influence in my home since my dad was a huge fan before I was even a though. As soon as the movies came out, he purchased them all as a collectors extended edition, so I honestly have to say I've never seen the "normal" movies since we have always watched the 3 1/2 hour versions. Tolkien also has been a huge influence when it comes to writing. His stories have been tried by time itself and have stood firm, so I can only hope to one day write a story a quarter as good as his. But, in the meantime, with the very last movie coming out from the world of Middle-earth, I've vowed that I'd go see the premiere of this one. We typically don't see premieres, but since this has been such a special story to my entire family, I think we are going to make an exception.

4.  P l a n   b l o g   p o s t s   i n   a d v a n c e

I'd like to take some time during this break and plan out some blog posts. I already have a couple of scheduled author interviews in the works, but I'd like to create a blogging schedule and that I can keep to. Preferably, I'd love to write out five posts a week, but I think the more achievable goal would be three, a post going up on Mondays, Wednesday's, and Fridays.

5.  S p e n d   s o m e   t i m e   o n   P i n t e r e s t   m a k i n g   a   b o a r d   f o r   m y   c u r r e n t  W I P 

Pinterest is such a great way to gain inspiration for novels, and I just started pinning on my Pinterest. I think I'll probably print out some photos for character and location inspiration just so I can physically hold and touch them. If you haven't checked out Pinterest yet and are a writer (or even a blogger!), you must check it out immediately. It will change your writing/blogging life!

Well, there you have it. Hopefully I'll be able to type up one more post this week as along with completing this list, I'll still have to work two days of the week and study for my final exams. If not, have a happy Thanksgiving!