Christen Krumm

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2018 Goal Check In

I had two sets of goals this year: personal and writing. Here is a mid-year check in on the goals — what is working, what isn’t working, what I’ve already accomplished, and what it getting abandoned.

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  1. Finish house projects: kitchen, living room, office/cubbie, master bath: phase 1
  2. Two rounds of whole 30: January, October
  3. Get piano
  4. Buy more plants
  5. 12 Family Selfies

House projects are coming along. I’m calling the kitchen done — but I haven’t decided on the artwork, and I still need a rug for under the table. I have a feeling that a moment of brilliance hit one weekend, and I’ll come up with the perfect idea. The office is finished with the exception of — I need another IKEA trip to grab another desk/table for the other side of the room. Also, we recently decided I needed a new rug because my current one is constantly getting caught under the wheels of my desk chair.

I’m x-ing Whole 30. I put too much pressure on myself (which you’re not supposed to do) and over think things and it just doesn’t work (for me). I still love this, but right now life is just too crazy for me to commit. My eating habits are a lot better than they have been. I’m focusing more on just being healthier all around.

Get a piano. Done.

Buy more plants. I think I’ve succeeded in this as well. I’ve bought so many plants.

12 family selfies. I love the idea of this project, but when 2/5 of the people in your family hate, loathe, abhor taking photos, this becomes a fight that isn’t worth it (it’s also difficult when one month you’re gone 3/4s of the month and when you get back, your other half works a stupid amount of overtime and is never home).

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  1. Flash fiction: one, two
  2. Short story: one, two
  3. Collaboration
  4. Contest
  5. Read one craft book per quarter: one, two, three, four

These goals are a little humorous now that I’m looking at them. I’m not exactly sure what this list is going look like at the end of the year, but for now …

Flash fiction. I’m still dabbling in the learning process of flash fiction. I just need to get out of my own head and do it.

Short story. I’m working on a serial series. I might just consider that this — my serial will basically (not really) be four short stories self-published over a time. But not sure yet.

Collaboration. I’m still not sure what this looks like, and not sure if this one will stand up the rest of the year, but we’ll see. The year is still young.

Contest. I’m x-ing this one. I wasn’t sure about this one at the beginning of the year, and have decided to focus my attention elsewhere.

Read one craft book per quarter. My first quarter book was Write Your Novel from the Middle. I’m currently almost finished with my second quarter book, Story Trumps Structure — so I’m totally counting it.

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christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

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Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @themarginswriting | Author of It Happened at Christmas & a YA Murder Mystery releasing with HaperCollins Blink Summer 2027

Project Grinch character inspo (yes, I realize thi Project Grinch character inspo (yes, I realize this is Spider Man and Supergirl. Hush) 

Three months!!
Kicking my feet with glee! Who’s ready to go bac Kicking my feet with glee! Who’s ready to go back to Iverson?! Project Grinch incoming in three-ish months…
Want to read Project Grinch first? 

While I don’t have a lot to tell you about the storyline, the general idea is if the Grinch and Buddy the Elf were stuck on a roadtrip together at Christmas time (the Grinch is female in this story!) 

If you like YA fiction, rom-coms, and Christmas stories, you hopefully will enjoy Project Grinch. 

What do you say? Wanna help me out? Spaces are limited and you’ll be notified by August 17th of acceptance!
… it’s my favorite … it’s my favorite
Project Grinch commencing! I’m really excited Project Grinch commencing! 

I’m really excited to bring you this story — yes, I’ve been talking about it for years and this is the year it is finally happening!!
That was twelve years ago... and I almost listened That was twelve years ago... and I almost listened. 

I’m really glad I didn’t. To be honest, this person wasn’t wrong. At the time I wasn’t very good at writing. It was early on in my career. Hearing that I should give up was a punch to my gut and I had two choices. 

I could listen, and not write ever again.

OR

I could buckle down and get better. 

I chose to get better. I still don’t think I’ve “arrived” but I am a lot better than I was then. 

So this is me telling you — don’t ever stop dreaming, don’t ever stop learning, and don’t take bad advice. 

You got this. I’m cheering for you.
The story behind how the Murder Mystery came to be The story behind how the Murder Mystery came to be …
Seriously. Why couldn’t my brain come up with th Seriously. Why couldn’t my brain come up with this sooner?
Follow for books, writing, coffee, chickens, and a Follow for books, writing, coffee, chickens, and all the behind the scenes (cause I don’t gate keep)
Follow for book vibes, writing, and coffee love. Follow for book vibes, writing, and coffee love.
The M**der Mystery is turned in!! There is no more The M**der Mystery is turned in!! There is no more deadline chaos and it’s… weird. 

Never fear - we’re on to the next project! Stay tuned for all the little hints on which story I’m working on next!
Let’s talk about non negotiables for a good edit Let’s talk about non negotiables for a good editing session… 

What are yours?
🎄🎅 — here we go again! I’ve been talkin 🎄🎅 — here we go again!

I’ve been talking about this one for a minute and the time to get it done is now. ❤️ Do you know which story I’m working on next?
I’ve tried reading through my manuscript on my c I’ve tried reading through my manuscript on my computer… tried on my kindle (but reading a PDF on my kindle is stupid) nothing was working. So, we’re down to the last 100 pages (and consequently the ones with the most changes) so I relented and printed everything off so I can read a physical copy! 🎉 here we go. Let’s finishing this thing!
I’m looking forward to the @hooked_and_bookedeve I’m looking forward to the @hooked_and_bookedevents coming this weekend (July 18) at @marigoldsbookstore in Bartlesville, OK! This is a free event, but is ticketed, so make sure you get your tickets now before they are gone! 

I’ll have copies of It Happened at Christmas and Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage (as long as they are delivered in time!!) I have free Neely Spencer swag, and if you want to know the big secret I teased a couple weeks ago ... I’ll have information on that as well!! 

Are you planning on coming?
Meet me in five! Do we have anything in common? I’m going to be honest, I don’t know if fun fact number five is fun or just proves my commitment to winning…but it’s true and from then on I was known on campus as Goldie.
I’m super excited to be participating in @hooked I’m super excited to be participating in @hooked_and_bookedevents  at @marigoldsbookstore in a little over a week! 

I’ll have copies of It Happened at Christmas for sale, friendship bracelets to hand out, and maybe some more fun stuff ... you’ll just have to come say hi to find out!! 

(And I’ll have more information on that super secret thing that I can’t share online yet... come say “Hi!” and I’ll give you the inside scoop!!)
Annnnnd the @realmmakers book haul… there’s a Annnnnd the @realmmakers book haul… there’s a little more than 9…
Hi! I’m Christen and yep, I write in lots of gen Hi! I’m Christen and yep, I write in lots of genres. Currently I have a YA rom com out, an adult rom com, my YA murder mystery comes out with HarperCollins Blink next summer, I’m serially releasing a historical fantasy on Substack (it’s free!), and I’m working on a YA dystopian to be Kickstarted next year! 

You never know what the next story I’ll be working on is, but I promise we’ll have fun! Would love for you to follow along on this crazy adventure! 🫶🏼🫶🏼
Grab your copy of It Happen at Christmas today for Grab your copy of It Happen at Christmas today for all your Christmas in July reading! 🫶🏼
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Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

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