I know what my goals are. The arrival of 2014 didn't change them. New Year's Resolutions also suggest a December 31st deadline. My aspirations reach beyond what I can accomplish in a year and, for me, strict time frames often lead to stress.
Despite the lack of resolutions, I'm thinking 2014's going to be a productive year. Since NaNoWriMo, I've only worked on my portfolio for my Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute audition. However, I've been making plans. It's time to crack down and start getting things done.
At the moment, I have three main priorities:
- THINKING OF YOU revisions
- OBJECTION/untitled lucky gene story rough drafts
- short works
I want to finish something. I want something to query. I want something to show people, to let people read. I want something to prove to myself that I CAN DO THIS. And, out of all of my projects, THINKING OF YOU is nearest to completion. So it's what I'm going to focus on. Writing time now means THINKING OF YOU time.
Yet, incomplete rough drafts bother me. I can't not work on them. And I have two. This creates a problem. I'll never finish anything if my attention is divided three ways. My solution? Camp NaNoWriMo.
Camp NaNoWriMo hosts two sessions every year, one in April and one in July. They also allow you to choose your word count goal. Since OBJECTION's closer to its end, it will be my April novel. I'm aiming for 18,000 words. That's only 600 a day. I'll finish my untitled lucky gene story in July, when I'll have more time for writing.
While I'm giving up April and July, they're a small sacrifice. My brain can now zero in on THINKING OF YOU without the other two stories clamoring for their turn. But I have another issue.
I realized when I was putting together my OSAI portfolio that I did not write many short works in 2013. I love my short works. They're fun to write and I'm fairly decent at them. They're also something I can share with others quickly. Their shortage shows how I've let my writing slip, take a backseat.
That's not what I want. I want to get back to enjoying writing. To surprising and thrilling myself. Revising is hard and, while it does bring a feeling of success, it's not always pleasant. So I'm going to sprinkle in some short works to remind myself why I write in the first place.
For instance, NaPoWriMo starts on April 1st. I will be participating by writing at least one poem every day in April This will be my fourth year taking part and I always love the outcome.
Yes, 2014 is going to be AWESOME.
Topics For Next Post: 1) how querying will change in a year and 2) something big.
Sounds like you're nice and organised! Just keep doing what you're doing (plus writing more short works, of course :D).
ReplyDeleteI'm going to use some of this year to try & finish off unfinished novels as well. But most of the year will be devoted to revisions.
How are you planning on finishing up your projects? I know you've got quite a few projects to work on!
DeleteYou can do this honey. I've never ever doubted you and I never will. Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteYay for 2014! The lucky gene story sounds really awesome. I hope you can get everything done, especially finish Thinking Of You. I love that story. :)
ReplyDeletelol I'm glad reading the first draft didn't scare you away from TOY. XD I don't know if the lucky gene story is turning out as good as I'd hoped, but it's still only a first draft, I guess. There's still time to improve.
DeleteGood luck with your goals! :) I can't wait to read that lucky gene story.
ReplyDeleteThanks. :) lol Well, it might be a while since I haven't even finished the first draft yet!
DeleteI tried to comment yesterday but I messed up so I"ll try again because I really want to say how you've got your act together. Focusing on one thing at a time is really important to get something finished. I try and do that myself. And while I'm here I want to tell you that I did that with "Annie's Special Day" and my second book coming out this Spring, "Edmund Pickle Chin, a Donkey Rescue Story."
ReplyDeleteI just queried my third picture book to a bunch of publishers and one agent so hope to hear back soon. Or should I say later?
Good luck with your endeavors,, Brooke! I wish you all the best. :)
I appreciate you coming back, but sorry it didn't work yesterday. :/ Congratulations on that new book and I hope you get a bite on your third book! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI think if you got some fans who were screaming for you to write new material, you'd enjoy writing again. So yeah...go get some fans.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, Michael. I just might have a plan on how to do that... ;)
DeleteI really hope you can get back to enjoying writing and "surprising and thrilling" yourself! Michael Offutt's comment is a good one. There's nothing quite like the motivation of fans begging for more of your work!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel. :) I'm actually really looking forward to what I have planned for April. There are many surprises and thrills ahead!
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