Grueling Goals

This week we're talking about our writing goals for 2011. I briefly mentioned my goals on my blog, here, but I'm going to expand on that post today.

Last year I changed my tactics and decided to focus on only one book rather than working on which ever one struck my fancy. It didn't work out the way I wanted it to - not even close. I thought if I focused on only one book at a time, I'd get them completed faster and have multiple books done by the end of 2010. I had the idea that jumping around from book to book was wasting time as I had nothing ready for submission yet. I took a workshop in January of last year and set out goals to have at least 5 books done by December.

Not even close. I don't even have one book fully ready. Yes, I am closer than I was at the start of the year, but not where I really want to be.

Granted, I did begin submissions for Burden of Prophecy, part 1 of my faery series, but the two rejections and NaNo made me realize the book was not finished.

So, I decided to go back to my old ways and work on whichever story strikes my fancy. I was getting tired of the one book I forced myself to work on last year, so I switched. So far it's proven a good decision as I'm excited and eager to write and even edit.

My goals for this year I hope are more realistic and actually attainable. I'm putting my main focus into only two books, rather than the 5 I set out to finish last year.

While I'll still skip around to whatever books I feel inspired to work on, I set a goal to have these two start submission rounds this year - by May at the latest for Burden of Prophecy and the other - Cleanse Fire - I'm getting ready for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. So right now most of my time is spent on editing Cleanse Fire, but I visit Burden of Prophecy every once in a while.

One thing I need to do for this year, to help both of these stories get off the ground, is more promotion. Right now I talk about both of them in general terms, like in this post here. I need to really start full promotion, especially for Cleanse Fire. I'm going to see about setting up a Facebook Fan page again. Last time it was pretty much a failure, and while I'm not sure of the exact reason why, I do have a few things I want to try differently this time. We'll see how it goes. (In fact, I might create that page today!)

2010 wasn't a total failure. I did discover that skipping around from book to book depending on my mood, is the best thing for me. It's how my brain works naturally and trying to force myself to work on only one fried my mind for sure. I really got discouraged doing this, especially when the rejections came in. Not that I was rejected but I realized that after everything, the story STILL wasn't done.

So, I'm going back to my old ways and we'll see how far we get this year! What about your guys? Did you discover some things about yourself this year or reach a major goal?

Paving a Path to Publication

Hello Wicked Writers and Readers,

Yes, I'm back from my holiday vacation, and I feel great. I needed the change in scenery and routine. I had a blast, but I'm also happy to be back among my writing friends. If you want to read more or see some pics from my travels, click here.

Other wise, this week's topic is all about writing goals for 2011. Usually plotting goals for myself is pretty easy because, usually, there's not much difference between one year and the next, other than remembering to write 11 instead of 10 when I date a document.

However, at this point in my writing career (or lack-of), I find myself in an odd, yet surely common, spot. I'm stuck between trying to get an old MS published and trying to write a completely new one. I'm sure those of you who've been writers for many years are used to being in this spot, but it's foreign territory to a newbie like me.

And, I am sure, for those non-writers out there, this may not seem like such a bad predicament. So, let me peel back the layers to expose the true problem: Dark Heirloom was supposed to be under contract in 2010, according to my writing goals from last year.

That obviously didn't happen. But unlike most failed goals, this one wasn't from lack of trying.

Before I went on vacation, I was very near to giving up on Dark Heirloom altogether, and threw myself into a new project (the new project I mentioned earlier). But, after spending twelve days in Mexico - NOT thinking about writing the entire time - I somehow found my muse and a new hefty dose of determination.

I now see hope for my writing career. One that must be done in alternative ways which were suggested to me before, but that I had naively shrugged off until now.

Like last year, my main goal for 2011 is to get Dark Heirloom published. And, just like last year, there are at least a dozen steps required to get to that point. But, those steps are not the same ones I took in 2010. For I have gone back the drawing board and reformatted my plan to publication.

Goal #1: I will rewrite/edit Dark Heirloom one more time. Yes, I'm going on, like, the 100th edit here, but truth is the MS clearly needs some reworking if it's not garnering any interest at all yet. I'm mature enough to be honest about when my work is lacking. And Ana, don't even start with me, Missy! I know you think DH is perfect, but it's not. And don't you worry, the characters and plot will be very much the same. It's some other key stuff - like the crappy beginning for one thing - that will change.

This first goal is to be accomplished no later than February 1st, and you'll see why in a minute. But first, any one want to volunteer to be a beta reader? Seriously ... I'm going to need you guys because of Goal 2 .....

Goal #2: I will submit Dark Heirloom to the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest - which must be done no later than February 6th.

Goal #3: Assuming DH makes it to the second round of the contest, I will then take some promotional pointers from C.J. and create a Facebook author page in which I will promote the bejesus out of my MS and beg for votes. Should I win this prestigious contest, I will then have a publishing contract with Penguin. However, I do, of course, realize the huge amount of competition and the very small chances of winning. So I'm not counting on this alone. However, I would be very pleased if DH made into the top 10. I would be very proud and it would be something I could use as an author credential when I eventually get to an other round of query letter writing.

Goal #4: Once the contest is over, and assuming I lose (hey, this a back-up, I'm not being negative, just prepared!) I will then dive into the art of writing short stories. I'll write one every month or so, edit them, and then submit them to publishers. This little side job is also to build up author credit. It's no coincidence that a writer with a few published shorts has an easier time publishing a novel than a writer who's published nothing in the past.

I'm estimating that Goals 1-3 will carry me well into March or April, and Goal 4 will be done through-out the year or however long it takes to get a couple shorts published. Since a lot of this is up in the air - and I certainly have my work cut out for me - I'm going to stop here before I "goal" myself into a plan that's too rigged. Always good to have wiggle room. However, I hope to begin re-submitting DH to publishers sometime in late summer or fall, with the contest and published short stories to back me up. Either way, I'll hopefully have something published by this time next year!

What are your writing goals for 2011? Wishing you all the best of luck in whatever hurdles and successes the new year brings! :)