Allyson Whipple

Category: goals

  • October Accomplishments

    I was slightly less productive in October than I was in September, but only slightly:

    • Wrote 41 poems
    • Submitted 7 poems
    • Submitted my chapbook manuscript to two competitions
    • Started assembling a folder of potential poems for my next manuscript
    • Started a spreadsheet to keep track of writing guides and whether or not they helped me
    • Figured out a good work/life balance. Finally. That only took six months.
    • Completed October Unprocessed (I’m typing this as I eat a completely unprocessed yet utterly decadent mushroom and zucchini lasagna).
    I did not get around to developing a recording system for chapbooks/poetry collections I’ve read and liked, but I’m beginning to think that’s not necessary.
    Goals for November:
    • Continue with my regular plan of daily poetry writing, weekly poetry submissions, and biweekly chapbook submissions
    • Continue developing my folder for the new manuscript
    • Begin a long nonfiction project I’ve been thinking about since April
    • Do research for the coolest horror story ever. I can’t wait to write it. But it’s the kind of thing I want to prepare for first.
    • Survive the move to our new townhouse relatively unscathed

  • September Writing Accomplishments

    I had a busy September! Here’s a look at what I accomplished writing-wise:

    • Wrote 43 poems
    • Submitted 10 poems (3 rejected, 7 pending)
    • Received a poetry acceptance from a submission a few months ago
    • Had a poem appear at A Handful of Stones
    • Completed my chapbook manuscript, entitled We’re Smaller Than We Think We Are
    • Submitted the chapbook to two contests (1 rejected, 1 pending)
    • Started Daily Text I Like
    I’m please with what I accomplished! Especially getting the manuscript finished (with thanks to the help of the fabulous Abe Louise Young). I’ve been working toward that goal for a few years now, and it’s finally coming true.
    Here are my goals for October:
    • Continue to write at least one poem a day
    • Continue submitting individual poems and the chapbook manuscript
    • Start keeping track of the poetry collections/chapbooks I read to get a sense of what I like, which poets inspire me, and what doesn’t draw me in. I want to do this to get a better sense of my inspirations and models.
    • Start keeping track of the writing guides I use to see which are the most useful
    • And, in non-writing things, I am going to attempt October Unprocessed, in which I vow to not eat any processed foods for the entire month. This is going to get interesting.