Making time to write

Finally.  My very own site for blogging, poetizing, drafting, book reviewing, and even some journaling.  It's time to get started.

INTRO
First things: I'm Samantha.  I'm 27, I'm married with no kids, and I graduated from Brigham Young University in Utah with a Bachelor's degree in English.  I've been a creative writer for as long as I can remember. 

I started writing pretty long stories in about 3rd grade, including a 50-page fantasy (hand-written, wide-ruled notebook style.  Remember those?) that some of my classmates read and liked.  This was, again, in 3rd grade. 

Despite my obvious penchant for the written word, I have yet to be published.  One of my primary goals in starting this blog is to work toward the publishment of my first full-length novel. 

Being that this is a personal blog, I will occasionally take the liberty of making up words.  My husband frequently tells me that I must be one of the few people on this earth allowed to do so because I am, afterall, a legit expert in English creative writing.

GOAL SETTING
I would like to start out this blog by doing a free-write recommended by Rochelle Melander, a writing coach, during a Writers Digest seminar.  Actually, I've already begun the free-write.  This blog post is it. 

I am doing a 20 minute free-write in which I imagine my best possible self that I hope to become in about, say... 5 years.  Writing goals are included in this vision, as well as every other aspect of my future self.  I guess writers have great need of giving themselves an occasional self-esteem boost. 

Go figure.  We're an insecure lot.

GETTING PUBLISHED
So my 5-years-from-now self looks like this:  I want to keep writing faithfully enough that I eventually produce a full-length novel.  I want it to be published, and I want it to be great.  That is, I want to be proud of it, but I also want it to be successful.  I know it's a very lofty and somewhat chance-controlled goal to admit that I want to be a best-seller, but remember, this is my BEST POSSIBLE scenario.  Why not reach for the ultimate?  It's no secret that I'm terribly and incurably jealous of J. K. Rowling.

PERSONAL LIFE
Moving on to more personal goals, I'd say that I hope in 5 years time I'll have a kid, maybe two.  I grew up in a society that encourages having lots of children, and I have always wanted to have my own rambunctious rabble of trouble-makers and creative geniuses (they'll get both traits from me).

I also want to continue to be a runner and avid outdoors fanatic.  My fitness repertoire includes several half marathons, the Ragnar Relay race in Utah called the Wasatch Back, and many mountain trails in Utah.  Tennis, basketball, badminton, ping pong, track, mountain biking, and yoga also make up my list of physical hobbies.  There are several physical feats I have yet to master and in 5 years I hope to have done so.  One thing I plan on completing is a full marathon - no personal goal time, just to do it without stopping and hopefully without puking.

There are other areas I could talk about, but I think that's a fairly substantial overview for now of who I am.  That's also about 20 minutes so I am now wrapping up this free write.