“Love your collar, Twiggy.”
“Thanks, Dad. You think Lucy wants to play?”
“After the sun comes up, I’m sure.”
Another Friday is upon us. For whatever reason this week seemed to last a long time. I think maybe it’s because football began in earnest last weekend and I spent a lot of time looking at a few games. I can’t say any of the games had the outcomes that I wanted but, hey. As a fan, it was good to see the games back again.
I am still working on the first draft of my WIP. Last week I was at 68,000 words and this week I fell slightly short of the 1000 words a day at 74,500. (It was only 500 words short but short nonetheless.)
I had a lot of research to do and just got lost in it. I guess I could have gutted it out to make up the 500 words, but it seemed forced, so I didn’t do it.
This week’s JohnKu talks about missing goals. I hope you have a super weekend.
Missed Goal by John W. Howell © 2019
It happens sometimes,
A well-planned goal is not met . . .
Shake it off, keep on.
Fiction Favorites 
I agree, this week seemed endless! I’m so looking forward to two days of no commuting. Loved your JohnKu…so true. Happy Friday, John!
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I hope your Friday is filled with joy, Jill.
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Your haiku-advice is good. I wonder how many people who couldn’t get home from work, get to the dentist, pick up their kids from school, or get to a meeting will be able to shake it off so easily after yesterday’s ‘protest’ on our Fred Hartman bridge shut everything down. Clearly, I need to do a little more shaking! Here’s to a better day!
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Let’s see. Over 7,000,000 folks earning a living in the fossil fuel industry. The US is now self-sufficient in terms of energy. Yeah, a good time to shut it all down. I hope today is a better day as well.
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This hasn’t been two weeks rolled into one?
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I think so.
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“It happens” more than I like, but folks like you keep me plugging along. 😀 Have a wonderful weekend, John. PS…I love the photo.
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Have a great weekend as well, Gwen. Yup. Shake it off and just keep going.
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This week’s Johnku = words to live by. Well done!
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Thank you, Lynne.
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It was indeed a long, exhausting week. Here’s to a better one next week! Shaking it off, keeping on .
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There you go. Thanks, Liz.
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Good advice, especially on a loooong week, like this one. Thanks, John.
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Yes. Why was this one so long? Who knows?
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I think because it was the week after Labor Day, a full back to work week
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I guess that’s it. But I don’t work so I didn’t take labor day off. (There is no good answer)
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There was also a full moon. But you’re right, there’s no good answer.
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It might be the moon after all.
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😀
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It is so easy to get caught up in research. I do it frequently, especially when the subject is enthralling.
Love Twiggy’s collar 🙂
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I actually got up early today and finished off the deficit. I just couldn’t stand it. Thanks, Mae.
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Excellent advice, good John. ♥♥
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Thank you, Billy Ray.
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John – there is paws and there is pause. Or to quote from one of my favorite lexicons the IBM manual ‘This page left intentional blank’.
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Ha ha ha. Thank you, John
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John, thank you for admitting you “fell short” in your 1,000-word-a-day goal. I was beginning to think you were SuperMan!! It’s nice to hear that you’re like the rest of us struggling writers, only perhaps more committed and certainly more productive. Don’t sweat it, my friend — you’ll be back on track next week, and I’m thinking this won’t set you back one bit! Tell Twiggy I love her collar — Dallas’s is all Fighting Irish!!
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I’ll bet Dallas feels good in it.
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It doesn’t hurt to miss goals once in a while. You’re doing well, John. Have a great weekend. 🙂 — Suzanne
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You as well, Suzanne.
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Research can be a rabbit hole, John. But very often a fun journey. I’d say you did good. Nothing should be forced.
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Thank you , Dan
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Better to be thorough. 🙂
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It’s so true, with research:) easy to get lost 😱 but you’ll find the way out & hey, already 68k 😎👍📚📚📚
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I actually have 75,000 words. Picked up the 500 after all.
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Well done! 75,000 wow 🙌👏👏 I still have to learn how to do it…😢
But it will be less after revisions? I mean how BIG is the book ..🤪
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I go for 95,000 then it gets pared to 90,000
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😱😱 wow
I hope one day I’ll write 90k too. Always stops for me in 45-50k 😢🤪
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Yeah but you pack a lot in there.
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Yeah, otherwise I need to go into details (a lot). I prefer to skip it 🤓🤨🤪
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Yeah, you don’t want to do that.
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Some days we hit the target, and some days we feel like the target. Research is always valuable, so it’s one of the better excuses. Hope you have a great weekend.
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Yeah, research beats, “Didn’t want to get out of bed.” Might be the same activity but one has some legitimacy. Thanks, Craig
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Combine research with being in bed. Best of both worlds.
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Serta tester.
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Research can get very distracting, I agree. I always feel its better to get something done even if it’s not what we had planned for. Happy weekend and hope you have better football outcomes this weekend. It was a good opening week in our house:)
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I hope so too, Denise. Thank you.
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🙂
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I wouldn’t force the issue. When you have all the proper research, you’ll just scoot right along and catch up easily. I have confidence in you, John.
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Thank you, GP
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It’s okay to miss the target once in a while, John. For the most part, you’ve done great. I completely relate to getting lost in the research. Have a wonderful weekend! 😀 xo
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Thank you, Vashti. You as well.
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Targets were established by psychiatrists to increase their patients’ reliance on their support. Don’t fall for the trick, John. Shake off the “have to’s” in your life…
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Yes. I have very few have tos. 1. Pay my taxes 2. Take in nourishment 3 Keep writing
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A goal is a fine thing; however, one must allow for unexpected happenings. And really, 500 is hardly worth a mention 😉
Happy Friday and have a fabulous weekend!
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Yeah I couldn’t stand it and caught up to 75,000 words
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Why am I not surprised?
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Nerd.🤓
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But a cool one!
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AW ❤️
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💞
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😊
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Do you like pro or college football? Just wondering. I’m not a huge fan, but I do prefer football over baseball and Sooner football. Now that Kyler is in the Cardinals (Phoenix!!!), I have a tiny bit more interest in pro football haha.
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I like both. Notre Dame, Michigan State University, Baylor, and West Virginia University for college and Steelers for Pro.
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I wear my Spartans cap when they are doing well haha. You are a football diehard, like my future SIL.
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The colleges are where we attended. The Steelers because Pittsburgh is my wife’s hometown. My hometown is Detroit. No need to explain further.
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There is usually a personal connection. But. My daughter and her boyfriend are Sooners, and I love that team. My son and DIL graduated from Arizona State. Just doesn’t do it for me like OU.
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OU is a good place. Big 12 and all
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Big win tonight!
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Absolutely! Shake it off! Any progress is good progress!
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I agree.
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Research can be a Rabbit Hole, and quite interesting and engrossing when you least expect it.
Setbacks are the stepping stones to comebacks! Shake it off and keep on going. It’s a new day!
Twiggy’s new collar is awesome!
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I like this locker room pep talk, Deborah. Now let’s get out there and knock ’em dead.
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LOL! Right! 🤣
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Amazing collar! True Friday is on, it’s time to enjoy!
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Yes, it is. Thanks, Mari.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Love Twiggy’s collar. Last week seemed short to me, but that was because I left on Thursday for the book fest.
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That would do it for sure.
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