#Reverb10: Prompt 11 + Prompt 13 = 26 ( + Prompt 28)

Uggg … that looks rather like some kind of quadratic equation, doesn’t it? (*shudder* *double shudder*)

Rest assured, I would not normally be playing with numbers like this – clearly I prefer to play with words – but in this case, an equation is necessary. An equation finding the intersection of #reverb10 prompt 11, prompt 13, and prompt 28, and what that intersection means for me in 2011. Here they are in their entirety:

Prompt 11: 11 Things
What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

Prompt 13: Action
When it comes to aspirations, its not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen. What's your next step?

Prompt 28: Achieve
What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

When I started #reverb10 and was trying to catch up, prompts 11 and 13 seemed like two peas in a pod to me, a great way to formulate a real action plan for 2011. This would be more than just a New Year’s resolution, it would be a list of goals and aspirations that were concrete and tangible and achievable, not a vague promise made on a drunken night. Not an abstract call to “cut calories” or “exercise more” that would lose steam and peter out and eventually die by February 5.

Of course coming up with an action plan takes time. (And why not? I look at my resolutions as the ultimate gift to myself, a gift for the future, so I wanted to devote some serious brain time to it.) While I was thinking busy noodling over my plans for 2011, prompt 28 came along and joined the party and seemed to be another perfect piece of the puzzle.

So here it is: my 11 things transformed into things I want to achieve, action items that will hopefully help me take this blog and my writing to the next level in the New Year.

(And no I am not double dipping. Well, maybe a little.)

11. Go Daddy
Nope, this resolution is not some kinky thing like you might think. This is the year I am actually going to get it together and by real domain names from Go Daddy (or wherever, your recommendations are appreciated) for my blog. No more of this name – dot – typepad – dot – com business. I want something short and sweet that I could put on a resume or a business card and not have a line break appear in the middle.

10. Blog Evolution
Dear blog, how I love you, let me count the ways. You are so near and dear to me, and yet you need some sprucing. Some upgrading. Some better navigation. Some colors and branding. I’m hoping with the help of @solaana, designer extraordinaire, we can make this happen.

9. The Birth of noelrozny.com
In 2011, I’d like to see this blog become part of a bigger site, something like this (@laurenkgray's kick-ass website). ‘Nuff said.
 
8. Get Twitterpated
This year my personal profile finally got a real photo and bio – I consider this to be a huge victory. In 2011, I need to keep building my personal Twitter profile by following, tweeting, and finding some writing/blogging chats to join. (You guys got any good ones? Put ‘em in the comments below!)

7. Host a Virtual Cocktail Party
I would love to have some guest posts on my blog this year, and possibly *hopefully* guest post … somewhere. I dig the #reverb10 community. I’m hoping through guest posting I can keep that dialogue going.

6. Take Initiative
Like I said above, #reverb10 was huge. I’ve always been sort of a lone wolf when it comes to creative (and even career) projects, but meeting a community of other writers has been so helpful. Reading other people’s words just inspires me to work on my own, and the feedback is so priceless. So in 2011, I’ll be looking for similar online initiatives to play in (again, if anyone has their ear to the ground, let me know).

5. Feed the Beast
This writing thing, as much as I love it, is not always the most lucrative. I need to feed the beast, that beast named “BANK ACOUNT,” in 2011. I have some leads on freelancing gigs that could help make the difference between Ramen and actual spaghetti; it’s time to follow up on them. To echo point #9, ‘nuff said. 

4. Submit, Submit, Submit
I love all things web and social media (Twitter, you and I were clearly made for each other) – I really do. But there is something so sublime about getting an article or piece published, and then holding that piece of paper with your name on it in your hands. I need to tackle that list of magazines I dream of seeing my name in, and submit to them until my fingers bleed. (Not literally, because I can’t afford a new computer.)

3. READ MORE BOOKS
Holy moley, have I gotten lazy and accustomed to reading things online. I fear this constant blog-reading, as much as I love it, has given me the attention span of a mosquito. I need to dive into those blog cousins, those longer mediations on life and human existence and sometimes a good murder mystery, preferably on a snowy day with a blanket and cup of tea. That sounds infinitely better than being hunched over at a desk, doesn’t it? (Besides, staring at the computer screen all day is making me feel cross-eyed. Am I the only one?)

PS: This resolution/action item was inspired by Laura Gesin’s amazing post.

2. Do it Ever Day
#Reverb10 has been a great exercise, like practicing the scales every day. In 2011 I need to write every day: whether it’s an awesome, comprehensive blog post or a confessional journal entry or a silly prompt just for myself.

1. Storytell
This is the big one, my albatross, the granddaddy of them all. I need to write fiction, and not just dip my toes in, but plunge headfirst and hope the water isn’t too cold. I’ve been avoiding it. 2011 is the time.

Comments

[Ourladybeth]

Ewwwww.... math. ;)
I love your action list though.

[Noel]

@ourladybeth Ewwww ... math ... I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the feedback!

[Shannon]

Well, I'll have to look up quadratic equation now, thanks! Math makes me shudder. Give me an essay test, no sweat though! :)

Hell of an action plan, and list of attainable goals. Very impressed. I'll be watching and learning a lot from you along the way.

:)

[Shannon]

PS- how the heck do I tweet this post????

[Stephanie Cockerl]

I totally get what you mean. My Day 29 is the sum of Day 6, Day 17 and Day 11. Even though they don't add up to 29, its the thought that counts :)

[AnnMaria]

What do you mean "Eew, math" ? I'm shocked! I love math. I could see making this into a real regression equation

NewYear = 2010 + b1X11 + b2X13 + b3X28

If you have a virtual cocktail party, I want you to invite me, I want to come!

I can be your token statistician Latina grandmother with a Ph.D.

It sounds fun - Reverb10 is certainly different from my normal tack - but that is good. Even though several of my reverb10 blogs were on logistic regression.

[Paula]

I would recommend Hostgator.com over Godaddy. I really am to the point where I am getting ready to move my stuff from godaddy because of their advertising and their CEO's weird self promotional posts on how to do business. His overtly sexual advertising has turned me off for a while and I want to do business with companies who's values align with mine. Plus host gator has a toll free number for me to call when I need tech support and I can run all my domains from one account. :D

If you need help with this stuff let me know.

[Noel]

@Shannon, thanks for the feedback! Making this list "live" in the blogosphere is definitely going to motivate me to actually do everything on it. Also, to Tweet, I used bitly to compress that crazy title! Thanks for thinking of it! :)

[Noel]

@AnnaMaria, your math skills rock! And you write too -- amazing! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

@Paula, thanks so much for the hostgator info! I agree with you about Go Daddy's advertising.

[AnnMaria]

I agree with Paula about the godaddy creepy advertising. That's why I didn't use them.

I just randomly picked 1 &1 Internet for the last domain name I registered. I didn't see a lot of differences among the different companies.

I use pair.com for hosting. Since it's my company site host as well it is critical that the site be up 99.99% of the time and they are quite reliable.

[Abby]

Ooh, I'm excited about all the writing involved in your list!! #6 particularaly resonates with me. I felt so amazingly gratified when I decided to jump on the Reverb10 band wagon. Looking forward to hearing about your writing endeavors, submissions, guest bloggers, all of it!