Of course every writer's resolution is to write more, right?
(Say that out loud. See what I did there? Yeah...)
Anyway, people structure these goals differently and according to project. When I look at 2011, I'd like to reasonably sell one of my novels, finish revisions on my latest novel and get representation for it, finish and sell 3 of my "inappropriate" books (usually roughly novella length), and do some blogging/promotions/technical writing gigs, probably through my husband's company. IF I'm lucky, I'll slip a couple of short stories in there, but right now my ideas seem to be longer. We'll see. I realize this sounds like a lot, but I'm basically a full-time writer. It is my day job, albeit not the best paying one I've ever had. :)
Breaking this down, though, you have to think project wise, right? Big goals are useless without thinking over the steps to achieve them. And that takes us down to daily goals, something like NANO or a New Year's Resolution. I'm going to get XX wordcount a day or XX minutes a day. John Scalzi claims he's only doing paid work until noon or 2000 words, whichever comes first. At any rate, there's all kinds of tricks to keep us going for the next day, like stopping a writing session mid-sentence or plotting or writing to plot points or landmarks in the story... Or sometimes it's just not stopping until it's finished, right?
So, my question is for you: what are your resolutions and tricks to keep them?
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5 comments:
You're brave to make so many, and such ambitious, resolutions, Betsy!
I guess this is where I admit I don't make resolutions.
:)
Good luck with all those resolutions!
Those are some good resolutions!
My aim for this year is to polish off all my writing projects, which consist of a trilogy of YA novels and one supernatural crime-thriller novella. If I have time to send them all off to see if I can get some representation then so much the better. And I might try writing a new short story or two on the way!
I usually try to write for two hours a day, once before and after work, and four on Saturdays. I've managed to get writing into the same space as teeth brushing, if I didn't do it I'd feel dirty for the rest of the day. Seems to have worked so far. When it comes to sending things off I use the old author stand-by of crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Seems to work (some of the time).
Good for you, Grey. Set times seem to work really well for a lot of people.
Due to both the Job That Ate My Life and just the fact that I'm so lazy, I have for the last few years lowered my list standards to smallish things. 1. Get just one story written and published; 2. Be kinder and a better listener, especially with family. I also want to get out of debt and am struggling hard to do so, but that's not really a resolution so much as a lifestyle!
Targets are a huge help. I started my redraft last year with no real target except the end of 2010 to finish it. The job was done in December.
This year has more specific targets, meaning I want my reworking to be done by the summer and the book to be out there and selling in the last 4/5 months of the year.
I don't do resolutions, but I have an idea of where I want to be going.
This year is about the book and building presence. I'm also going to try more short story writing to help with exposure for me and my book.
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