An outline is treacherous, but it takes a long time to figure out what needs to happen in advance. While it might be easier to write 'by the seat of your pants,' the outline gives a good map of what needs to happen. Unfortunately most of it has been in my head, and it can be easy to get confused between projects. Or if one project takes a long time and there are breaks, like this one.
I might yet finish by the end of the month. I'd like to. I have an idea where I might send it for publication. Have to think about rewrites, though. At least if I get it in shape this month, I have a chance to polish it by the end of the year.
Novels are such long projects. Short stories can be more fun, especially for more immediate gratification, but it's also harder to make a living that way.
Showing posts with label writing goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing goals. Show all posts
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Resolutions
1. I will post to this blog 3 times a week. (It doesn't seem like much, but starting the habit is the first step.)
2. I will submit a short story to a magazine at least once a month.
3. I will finish my languishing novel and submit it . I will also find at least two other possibilities by that point.
4. I will prep and write a new novel. (Idea's been brewing for about six weeks so far and I've begun the prep work.)
5. I will not be afraid to revisit these goals as needed depending on stress levels and life distractions.
2. I will submit a short story to a magazine at least once a month.
3. I will finish my languishing novel and submit it . I will also find at least two other possibilities by that point.
4. I will prep and write a new novel. (Idea's been brewing for about six weeks so far and I've begun the prep work.)
5. I will not be afraid to revisit these goals as needed depending on stress levels and life distractions.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Reviewing the Year
I guess it's just something we all do at this time of year. Look at the previous year and look ahead to the next one. We make goals and decide how to change our lives for the better.
Looking back, I've published three short stories. I've racked up a few rejections as well, which is good for any writer and her ego. Two rewrite requests also figured into that, and we'll see where they lead me. One resubmitted, the other is still brewing to figure out what's needed.
I made progress on the novel; I made it mostly through a rewrite and nearly finished. That seems an odd way to put it, but after finishing NaNoWriMo in 2007, I left the book at its 50,000 words for six months without touching it. I put all the little snippets in order, then began to rewrite as I went along and smoothed the pieces to make a whole. I finished 16 chapters, with another 3 at the end and a gap in between where I know what I need to say, just haven't done it yet.
I even found somewhere to publish it, but I need to finish it first. A possibility, anyway, which is better than I had before. Perhaps it was a productive year.
Looking back, I've published three short stories. I've racked up a few rejections as well, which is good for any writer and her ego. Two rewrite requests also figured into that, and we'll see where they lead me. One resubmitted, the other is still brewing to figure out what's needed.
I made progress on the novel; I made it mostly through a rewrite and nearly finished. That seems an odd way to put it, but after finishing NaNoWriMo in 2007, I left the book at its 50,000 words for six months without touching it. I put all the little snippets in order, then began to rewrite as I went along and smoothed the pieces to make a whole. I finished 16 chapters, with another 3 at the end and a gap in between where I know what I need to say, just haven't done it yet.
I even found somewhere to publish it, but I need to finish it first. A possibility, anyway, which is better than I had before. Perhaps it was a productive year.
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