Tag: Goals

“Oh, why don’t you stop annoying people?”

Sara Mazariegos

First of all, a photo of Boo Radley so you know who she is since I’ve been talking about her so much. This is not a recent photo. She doesn’t want to be seen with her cone on. She’s embarrassed about it. But she’s hanging in there.


On Monday, they removed some of her stitches from her ear and tail. They will see her again in two weeks (with her brother Leo who already had a checkup appointment scheduled) to remove the rest. She hates going to the vet, but the medication that sedates her really helps her relax. (She still swiped at the vet once, to let her know she was done with her.)

Daily writing prompt
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
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I’ve thought about this before, though it’s not sleep I would skip. I love sleeping. If I didn’t need to be at work for eight hours, I’d have more time to write, which would make me happy. I’d mostly write, but I’m sure I’d end up watching Internet videos. I wish I had more balance, so I could work but also write.

Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday (and Friday if you go to two separate meals like Luis and I do.) People always talk about the awkward conversations or the big arguments that happen on Thanksgiving when families get together. Fortunately for us, we don’t have a lot of family members who disagree with us and pick fights. Our extended families don’t come over for Thanksgiving, which means things aren’t as stressful too. I can’t imagine having everyone in my family over for the holidays. A lot of people like it, I guess, but… No thanks. I’ve rarely done that.

I have vague memories from when I was little of spending Christmas in Tacoma, Washington, with my extended family there. Grandma accidentally bumped the tree, and it almost landed on my head. I know this from stories I’ve been told.

Having the holidays with the family we usually see is nicer and easier, so it doesn’t feel like such a performance. Better to see the extended family at other times, when we can focus more on seeing them and less on making a bunch of food or decorating. Then again, a lot of the time we’ve seen them has been at weddings…

For my writing update, I reached 50,000 Words! 🎉

I enjoyed writing the scene I wrote yesterday. It helped me easily get to this milestone. Hopefully, the rest of the writing will go as well as writing the first portion. It’s currently 56% finished, according to Pacemaker.

After today (overall goal: 52,000 words) I will have a mini break for Thanksgiving and then I’ll jump right back in.

I plan to fill myself with sweet potatoes, as I do every year.

I promised me.

Sara Mazariegos


The other day, I checked out the audiobook of The Devil Wears Prada (the library doesn’t have a physical copy.) It’s interesting to hear the book version after seeing the movie version a few times. Andy is not very likable in the book. I think it’s mostly because being inside her head shows how judgmental and whiny she is. Also, the audiobook has quite a few questionable stereotypical accents.

I used to think my novel was a little similar to this one, but my story is nowhere near as focused on work stuff. I think I’d lose my mind if I wrote about the characters’ tasks more than I needed to.

My writing is going smoothly. I’m over halfway through the new first draft! The new, tighter plot outline has made a big difference. I also changed the title again (haha) because my older title was pretty generic. It probably won’t surprise you that my new title is inspired by Kermit. 🐸

It struck me for the first time last week that my word count goal doesn’t have to be the total word count of my finished novel. I’ll hit 84K words and then I not only can but should go back in and add scenes I want to add while I’m revising it. I used to think (for some reason) that the word count I was aiming for was hard and fast. My real word count that I shouldn’t go over is around 90K, which gives me plenty of room for refining details, closing plot holes, etc.

I’m getting there,

It starts…

Sara Mazariegos


Happy First Day of NaNoWriMo 2023!!!

I’ve written 1,025 words so far but my goal every day* is to write at least 2,000 words. I have to see how much I can do at work versus when I’m at home. Both have their distractions — that totally make sense, by the way, like having to do actual work and wanting to spend time with my husband whom I miss all day.

I’m hopeful, while trying to be realistic, too!

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year?


*Except the week I have to take off. I’m not pretending I’ll finish the 50,000 words by the end of the month. My goal is to finish 80.000 words by the end of December, though!


But just saying it could even make it happen.

Sara Mazariegos

I took a week’s vacation, and it ended up being a vacation from writing my novel, too. Unplanned, but possibly good for my brain, in the long run?

Rewriting my novel has been a challenge, mainly because I’m trying to focus on what readers look for. In the process, I’ve discovered a new comp title — swapping out the one from 2019 that I’d been clinging to — and new avenues to explore and tighten in my narrative.

My goal is to finish the rewritten manuscript by September 30th and then begin the editing process. Then more betas and editing! I’m currently at around 38,000 words with the goal word count of 80,000. Hopefully, by the end of the year/beginning of next year, I’ll be ready to start sending fresh query letters to agents.

Of course, I also have a new idea I plan to start writing once I can focus on something new.

I’m ambitious sometimes.