Bildungsroman's Return to the Dojo

[bildungsroman]

After three hectic months abroad, I'm finally back home in Poland, and actually looking forward to a little stability (which should also be a big help in the goal-reaching area). I still have a lot to catch up on, so I'm going to keep it simple with just three goals this time around:

 

Fitness/diet goals:

1. Resume kung fu training - at least 2X per week (STR +5 DEX +2 STA +1)

The first few days will suck hard as my body remembers what it's like to do a push-up or hit a bag for an hour again, which is why I'm allowing myself to start off at just twice a week, and then increase to the normal three times per week after the first month.

 

Grading: +1 point for every training attended. 12+ pts = A, 9 pts = B, 6 pts = C, 3 pts = D

 

2. "Eat real food. Not too much. Mostly plants." (CON +3)

I'm going back to paleo, with the exception of one cheat day per week (mostly for the beer). I want 2/3rds of each meal I eat to consist of veggies, with 1/3 protein of some sort.

 

Grading: +1 point for each fully paleo day. 36+ pts = A, 30 pts = B, 24 pts = C, 18 pts = D

 

Life goal:

 

3. Write 300 words. Every. Single. Day. (WIS + 4)

I failed at this goal last time around, so this challenge it will be my top priority. Since I get paid to write non-fiction, I haven't written fiction in ages and I really need to start flexing that creative muscle more.

 

Grading: pass/fail - 12,600 (300 words X 42 days) or more words written by the end of the challenge.

[bildungsroman]

Since I already had #2 in mind when I went on a big grocery shopping expedition yesterday, I bought a boatload of fresh and frozen veggies. Here's to a good start of the challenge with today's breakfast:

 

[SirReberal]

That meal looks so good.

 

It's especially exciting to see someone resume training.  What kind of kung-fu do/will you practice?

[Zuel]

Colorful dishes always look more appetizing. Great.

 

Have a successful come back!

[bildungsroman]

 

It's especially exciting to see someone resume training.  What kind of kung-fu do/will you practice?

 

Wing Chun Kung Fu. It's my third year now (with breaks) so I'm hoping more and more stuff will start to stick.

[bildungsroman]

Colorful dishes always look more appetizing. Great.

 

Have a successful come back!

 

Thanks!

[bildungsroman]

Mid-week 1 update:

 

1. Win! I went to my first kung fu class in three months. Oh bruising and soreness, how I've missed you!

 

2. Draw! Oh the meal front, this kind of dinner has been my staple this week:

 

 

Unfortunately, a post-workout beer with some IRL monks slightly derailed my paleo goal. In general, that will be the hardest part of this challenge, as while my meals tend to be paleo, especially at home, it's the drinks that get me every time...

 

3. Lose! I'm already behind on the writing goal, and it seems that getting back into writing fiction is a whole lot harder than I expected it to be. The blank page (or screen) remains my enemy.

[john97]

that is some tasty looking food. I wish I had some of that.
Good luck with your training, keep up the great work!

[JediJem]

The blank page (or screen) remains my enemy.

 

Amen, sister.

 

Food looks delicious though; just what I'm craving right now!

[Kishi]

Third that. The empty screen is the promised land of possibilities, but for the fact that we are writers and we are not used to seeing it.

 

You'll get it straight, I bet. Keep trying this week, and if it doesn't work out then reassess and see if you need to go lower.

[bildungsroman]

Well, I have to admit that so far, this challenge is kicking my ass =/

 

1. Win! This is the only part going well, as I went to all of my kung fu classes last week and will definitely make it this week as well. I've also been doing kettlebells at home to get my strength back to where it was (and be able to do all the push-ups again in kung fu).

 

2. Fail. On the meal part, I'm doing well, almost 100% paleo, and consistently eating two veggie portions per meat/fish portion. On the drinking front... well, after I've been away for so long, a lot of friends want to meet up for beers... every day =/ So every time I eat paleo all day, I ruin it at night with a beer or two. Last week I can only count one full paleo day because of this.

 

3. Major Fail. I can't seem to get an idea out that sticks. I've tried freewriting, but that usually ends up being me babbling about how I can't write... I guess you can't force inspiration, right?

[PointyEnd]

Love this challenge. Devastatingly simple. 

 

I hear you on the toughness of the writing piece. I'm a nonfiction writer myself who flamed out hard on a fiction-writing piece of my last challenge. But I think you CAN force inspiration. Fiction is more capricious than nonfiction, that's for sure, but I think writing is basically bricklaying. You've got to put one brick after another.

 

I wonder if some sort of prompts would help? Do you have characters or a general goal for a story, or are you starting completely from scratch? Would it help to respond to some sort of suggestions? 

 

Here are a few online prompt generators, in case they're useful:

 

Seventh Sanctum. Prompts range from one element (very simple) to five, and you can generate multiple prompts in one shot.

 

Grab Bag. Gives you a list of words to start from. (I went for five, and got "gallant," "hyper," "sag," "well-groomed," and "alias.")

 

Storybase. Pick a few characters from a list of general tropes -- "Hero," "Sidekick," etc. -- then toss them into situations with Mindset ("Jealous," "Perceptive") or Actions ("Disaster," "Eureka") -- and get a list of prompts that fit the bill. 

 

Hope this helps!

[bildungsroman]

Yeah, I've been trying to write on a topic and so far it's just not that interesting to me, so I'm going to take your suggestions and just write any kind of fiction based on prompts. My fiction muscle is in serious need of a work-out, but I need to start with the 5lb weights, not the 50lbs as I've been trying...

[Kishi]

Any words you write are more than you had when you started. Inspired or not, they're worth writing.

[bildungsroman]

Week 2 update:

 

1. Win! I've been going to kung fu regularly, and I'll probably start going extra days. I've also been going early so I can do an additional kettlebell workout for about 10 minutes beforehand, and that seems to be getting my strength back up (along with the push-up belt challenge).

 

2. Draw... again. I've still done more non-paleo than paleo days, even though I got one extra in there. As always, my problem is eating/drinking out, because at home I've been 100% thanks to having only "good" food in the house. If only every restaurant around were paleo... =/

 

3. Epic Fail. I tried some prompts, but I'm mostly lacking motivation. It doesn't help that I've had barely any freelance work this week, so I spent more time in front of my XBox than my laptop...

 

Goals for this coming week (yes, I know it's already Tuesday, I got a late start):

 - Continue going to kung fu, throw in at least 3 additional kettlebell/Angry Bird workouts

 - Get up to 25 push-ups in a row

 - Limit going out as much as possible

 - Find more freelance writing jobs during this slow time

[bildungsroman]

Week 3+4 update:

Yes, I realize I haven't been on here much, but I'm still pressing on with the challenge!

 

1. Win/Draw After three weeks of full attendance, some unavoidable work meetings got in the way of me going twice per week, and that will be the case this week as well. I'll make it up in the final one hopefully, and I've added additional bodyweight workouts at home to compensate.

 

2. Eh... I've decided to not drink the entire month of July, to prepare my wallet and my liver for two weddings and a festival in August, so that should help. So far, I'm doing better than at the beginning, and staying away from social functions should help a lot in this regard.

 

3. Some hope, followed by fail. I banged out some 2000 words in one sitting the other day... then nothing. I'm going to have to rethink my writing strategy =/

 

On the upside, a friend and I are throwing all our energies into launching a start-up, and hopefully the motivation behind that will rub off into my workouts and other goals.

[Kishi]

A start-up, huh? What's it going to be about?

[bildungsroman]

It's kinda top secret, but it has to do with teaching languages in an unconventional way =)

[Kishi]

Ooh, that would be interesting. Let us know if you need guinea pigs!

[bildungsroman]

Well, it will be local to start, but who knows in the future =)

[bildungsroman]

Challenge complete! Though it didn't go quite as I had hoped. Here are the numbers:

 

Fitness/diet goals:

1. Resume kung fu training - at least 2X per week (STR +5 DEX +2 STA +1): A-

I only missed one session, and it felt great to be back.

 

2. "Eat real food. Not too much. Mostly plants." (CON +3): D

Mostly a fail on this one. While I ate well at home, it was the meals I ate out that got me every time, or the drinks afterwards.

 

Life goal:

 

3. Write 300 words. Every. Single. Day. (WIS + 4): F

Epic fail. Though I did learn that I can't force fiction when I feel like just getting out my thoughts in a journal. Next time, I'll just write what I feel like, as long as I write that day.

[bildungsroman]

And since next month I have two weddings and a festival to attend, not to mention a boyfriend visiting and other friends in town later, I'll keep working on these goals rather than joining the next challenge, as I doubt I'll even have time to be online. Good luck to everyone, and I'll be back in September!

[Kishi]

Well, as it is, thanks for coming back to be with us for a time! Good luck, and see you in September!