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O boy, you've tagged me to be honest...so here is the honest truth.

I ALSO DID NOT MEET THAT WRITING GOAL!

Wow--That is very brave of you!

-I didn't really get to my writing goal, either.
-I can't afford the SCBWI Winter Con, either. :( But I'm going to be saving for next year! Let's make next year a goal together and we can meet up there (or room together and save some cash!). And don't worry about anyone thinking you're not committed--we ALL know how little $$ is in writing.
-I think everyone hates themselves at least at some point. I waited to put my picture online for a long time in part because I think I am too fat and didn't want everyone thinking poorly of me. My husband pointed out that everyone is most critical of themselves, which is true--
-Maybe it's good to never be a comfortable person. Not the being driven insane part, but at least it ensures that you won't be complacent. I fear complacency.
-This friend really likes you!
-I believe in miracles, too--and the fact that few see them that way.
-I wonder the same thing about my husband...although he has told me he wonders the same thing about me.
-If you become a white house reporter, let me know! I want to see you in action! I've always wanted to see a media event like that--just be a fly on the wall...

Again, thanks for sharing! These are very deep, honest answers.

Great list Susan!

I didn't get much done on my goals either. December is just too much for me. I can't get anything done it seems.

Good for you for getting out some of your honest fears and insecurities. It feels a little good, doesn't it?

And this friend does like you too! :0) ((((hugs))))

Christy

Haha, Serena... and Beth!!! I'm not alone... always a very comforting thing.

And, Beth, wow and thanks. So kind. I would love to set that goal with you next year, for SCBWI. It's important enough that I'd do anything, take any help. And you've NO idea to how much I relate to you... wow, again. And I, too, really fear complacency. That's an unusal word to use, but I think of it often, too. I'm so glad you wrote... : ) And now the secret's out ~ we're allotta like!!!!

Christy, my blogging hugger!!! To you, too!!! ((( )))

And it's true, AFTER the honesty feels wonderfully free. Too bad about the knuckle-dragging it takes to get there!!

You gals are being so honest. Um, I'm thinking I can only be that honest in the presence of my dog.
That said, it is totally, totally admirable.

Susan, don't hate yourself; this friend likes you; miracles do happen; you will be a white house reporter; at least you have goals!
And a whole-hearted yes on your comments on the shoe-throwing.

Beth, at least you have goals, also; you are not too fat; no one will ever think poorly of you.

You gals are awesome!

Hi there, PJ, and thanks for sharing with us! I wasn't sure if you'd want to comment in this way, so I didn't tag you, but am so glad you stopped by...

: )

Have a wonderful weekend, and talk soon!

I'll do the meme. Thanks for the tag. I'm sure your friends like you. Your blogger friends surely do. I can always count on you to leave a comment on my blog, and that's all I ask from a bloggy friend :)

Paul

Very true, Paul, my "bloggy friend!" Yeah, that kind of thing means a lot to me, too. : )

We like you! We really, really like you! :0)
I agree with you on the miracles through prayer, too!

Kelly, thanks for writing... I'm all squirmy now, as that seems to be the thing people remember after reading. Embarassing! Oy. Well, happy weekending, and talk soon!

"I worry my friends don't really like me."

I think I can speak for me of us when I say, don't worry.

Oh my God, Justus, I'm freaking!!! First, thank you. But second, I didn't want this to be the hang nail of the post! Danger Will Robinson, I'm scarlet over here!!

Oh, so, I guess here's some honesty.

I might not reach my writing goal for today.

Sometimes I'm afraid of how easy it would be for me to cross the line between light and dark, right and wrong.

I worry about writing a salable novel that lacks heart.

One more for good measure...hmm...I cheated and read 80 more pages than allowed. :O

I had to update some computers today, and writing wasn't a viable option.

Ahhh, thanks for sharing your dirty laundry, then!!! And, NO worries about lack of heart. There's just no way, I gotta believe ~ you love writing too much!

"And now the secret's out ~ we're allotta like!!!!"

--Just goes to show that great minds think alike! :)

: ) EXELLENT. Yes, and proud of it. : )

Okay, my honesty is that I did finish my goal. Aren't you proud of me. I've redone the first chapter. Mapped out the threads for taking it through the book and even started into redoing chapter 2 and I finally like what's happening with the beginning. Whew!

I think we all have those same fears and wonderments. As long as we keep working and doing what we can, I think we're good.

Lotusloq, you get the award today!!! Congrats on completing your goal... that's awesome. And yes, I agree, nothin' to do but keep trudging!!!

Susan, you are so sweet! Thank you so much! FYI, I did my blog & award passing over at my livejournal blog (beckylevine.livejournal.com)--I don't even know if you've "been there!"

Love the honestly list. Wouldn't it be lovely if all conferences were free?!

Good on you for being so openly honest - it's never that easy is it.
And don't worry, I didn't meet my writing goal either. Sigh.

I didn't finish the section, exactly. I did reach an end, but that was just b/c the scene ended sooner than I thought it would.

I still have more info to chuck into the story so I basically created a new to-be-written by where the latest scene ended.

And about your husband comment: I've always liked to say "The best marriages are the one where each partner thinks s/he got the better deal."

Reading a well-written "facts about me" always prompts me to respond:

1 The older I get, the less I tolerate dishonesty.
2 I can't make a goal on a soccer field.
3 Most conferences are a waste of time and money.
4 It's the facts that I can't post secretly fuel my most interesting writing (at least that's what I think).
5 I love me. I'm not always good to myself.
6 Having just turned 50, I'm trying to learn that uncertainty is just a part of life. During my first 50 years, fighting uncertainty brought insecurity and fear.
7 I know that my friends don't really like me (they love me).
8 I believe "miracles" are wrongly chalked up to divine intervention. I think the Lord's greatest gift is our power of choice - and the thought of divine intervention dilutes that concept for me. I do believe in miracles. But the reasons for their existence are yet another, unexplainable miracle.
9 My wife wonders why she "picked me."
10 I'm now obsessed with trying to be myself.

Thanks for your post.

I agree with you about that shoe throwing reporter. He may have thought he had good reason to throw his shoe, but it was not professional. How refreshing to hear President Bush confess that he had made mistakes. Good for him.

Some time ago my husband wondered if I could write a nice story about someone having a good day and everything going smooth. I told him that no one would read it because that's not real life. A story worth reading has to leave us with something to think about. Confict and inner struggles is what makes a good story.

Thanks for your honesty. Keep it up. You made me think. And that's a good thing.

Um... I didn't reach my writing goal for this week either. I was aiming to revise 3 chapters, and I only finished one.

I can't afford the SCBWI conference either, and it makes me sad to think about it. The national level conferences look like such fun. I wanted to go last year too but couldn't afford it then either.

Susan, I like you (and your blog) a lot and am thrilled that I get to meet you in person in a few weeks. Don't sweat it if you don't have any writing you want to share with the group by then. I didn't last time either. The main thing is to get together and be mutually supportive.

Girl, most of the time I read your interviews and want to be you! LOL So no worries, we ALL have insecurities and anyway, honesty is a beautiful thing. I didn't do the goal I set, either, but it's still on my To Do list for when I'm snowbound tomorrow!

Great post.

Nope. I didn't touch my writing goal either. Not even TOUCH, much less meet.

Can't afford most conferences either. And I just mean the state ones!

Totally with you on the miracles. And that some answers to prayer come in the form of BAD THINGS THAT DON'T HAPPEN, so we miss those too.

Wow.. I love honest posts.. You go!

Oh my, FREE conferences, Becky, why you gotta tease a girl!?! That would be wonderful ~ and I'll be over shortly to check yours out!!

Diane, thanks for your kind words... and I agree, it's always the struggle that intruiges for me too. That's what I relate to. Never any easy-street scenario!

Nicky, SIGH... maybe no writing goal, but I'm sure you DID take wonderful photos. And that's nothing to sneeze at.

I love it, Amy Jane!! That's a great way of putting it, and I've never heard that before ~ now, I'll have to ask my HUSBAND if he feels the same way!!! : )

Last Place Finisher, very nice to meet you! I love the name of your blog -- very funny. And WOW, I so relate to your #4. It's the stuff that too much that ABSOLUTEY fuels my need to write it out. SO true!!!

Jeanie, thanks... I can't wait to meet you, too. And I am really grateful to have a new critique group, no matter how I did each month. It's a safe, great place to grow, no matter if we miss a deadline or two!! I love our little Bethesda ~ the Washingtonian just had a small article posted in it about how it's a great place to be an aspiring or publised author ~ did you see it?

Shelby, that's funny... I think we're the majority (having not completed the goal!!!) and everyone seems accepting of it, so I'll follow their lead!! And snowbound DOES make for a well-attacked to-do list!

Marcia, I was JUST talking to my friend about what you've remarked about prayer... I've been praying about a particular relationship, seemingly without results, and my friend said, "imagine how much worse it would be WITHOUT your constant prayers?" Very well said.

Keri, cool. : ) Thanks, my friend. I hope you had a great weekend!!