2010 brought many great things for me. Some of them personal, some of them writing related. Since this is a writing blog and not a bore-you-to-tears-with-my-personal-life blog, I'll stick to the latter.
2010 Highlights and what I've learned from them.
I finished revising my first novel, and promptly decided that it was horrible and would never be seen by anyone but my scribe sisters and I, started a few drafts for different works that I didn't pursue, and then I found my gem. I wrote it, and I rewrote it, and I rewrote it again, and I'm still revising it. I've learned so much from this manuscript, not just about sentence structure, plot, characters, etc. But also about my own writing style, my voice, and the mark I want to make as an author.
I entered it in few fun contests (and won, woohoo!) which landed me with partial/full requests. From those I learned a lot about what works and what doesn't in a novel opening, and that fiction is very subjective.
Watching Sisters in Scribe grow to having over 400 amazing followers! Our group has really come together over the past 12 months. We've grown as partners, learned each others habits and styles, and you lovely readers have been with us every step of the way. We're very grateful for your continued support.
Writing with Tangled Fiction has taught me more than I could have hoped for. I've learned I can write under pressure, I can meet strict deadlines, and I can still produce quality fiction that I am proud of.
I feel that I've come a long way as a writer, and I owe a lot of that to my scribe sisters.
Hopes for 2011!
I want to finish revising my current WIP and start submitting it to agents.
I want to draft another manuscript.
Of course I would love to sign with an agent, but my biggest goal for 2011 is to do my best, to grow as much as I can as a writer, and to write the best book that I can.
Happy 2011!
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
2011: No Resolutions - Just Goals
I don't make resolutions. (Um... anymore.) I think they're too broad, they don't bend to real life situations. I'm the kind of person that needs to feel like they're making progress, and I work better when I have a set of conditions to meet, so for me it's all about setting goals.
Last year I was coming off the high of finishing my very first complete draft of a novel. I set some HUGE goals that I now know were not just overwhelming, but also misguided.
2010 was a difficult year for me in many ways, and an amazing one in many others. A death in the family left me unable (both literally and emotionally) to write or revise for about two months. I entered into that long dark tunnel called "revisions". Where I learned that no matter how good you think your first draft is, there are always thousands of ways to make it better. And some of those ways take a full revision before you can see the path to them.
So where am I as I start 2011?
After an extremely busy holiday season I am FINALLY reaching the end of what turned out to be an almost complete rewrite. I have learned A LOT about story structure, plot, and character arcs. Much more than I would've thought possible in a revision.
From my revisions I've learned a lot about myself as a writer, my tics, and ways to make my next first draft a much better starting point. (Also, Scrivener changed my life when it comes to story, plot, research, and chapter organization!)
I have felt the pain of killing my darlings and the joy of having a CP fall in love with my favorite character.
I've fought the pull of shiny new ideas, found ways to stay focused (although this will be a continuing battle for me, no matter how excited I am about a project) and discovered that I CAN write on demand and turn out something I'm proud of (thanks Tangled Fiction!)
I have made some truly awesome friends who get my obsession over writing and YA.
And I have been humbled and honored by some very kind and encouraging words about my writing.
So what are my goals for this year?
Last year I wanted to bang out the really rough first drafts of two novels. This year that's not good enough for me. I want to complete one really well thought out, solid first draft.
I want to make my current ms the absolute best it can be before it goes out into the world.
I want to write more short stories and on a regular basis, which okay, is a given thanks to Tangled Fiction. But I want these to be stories I'm proud of, not stories I make excuses for like "well, if I had more than a couple days, this would've been awesome!"
As a whole, I just want to keep getting better at writing by actively pursuing ways to do so. Whether it's conferences, retreats, challenging myself to styles/genres I've never written before, whatever.
And of course, I want 2011 to be the year I sign with the perfect agent for me and my book!
What about you? Are you going full steam ahead with a list of resolutions? Setting small goals? Did 2010 turn out like you thought it would?
Last year I was coming off the high of finishing my very first complete draft of a novel. I set some HUGE goals that I now know were not just overwhelming, but also misguided.
2010 was a difficult year for me in many ways, and an amazing one in many others. A death in the family left me unable (both literally and emotionally) to write or revise for about two months. I entered into that long dark tunnel called "revisions". Where I learned that no matter how good you think your first draft is, there are always thousands of ways to make it better. And some of those ways take a full revision before you can see the path to them.
So where am I as I start 2011?
After an extremely busy holiday season I am FINALLY reaching the end of what turned out to be an almost complete rewrite. I have learned A LOT about story structure, plot, and character arcs. Much more than I would've thought possible in a revision.
From my revisions I've learned a lot about myself as a writer, my tics, and ways to make my next first draft a much better starting point. (Also, Scrivener changed my life when it comes to story, plot, research, and chapter organization!)
I have felt the pain of killing my darlings and the joy of having a CP fall in love with my favorite character.
I've fought the pull of shiny new ideas, found ways to stay focused (although this will be a continuing battle for me, no matter how excited I am about a project) and discovered that I CAN write on demand and turn out something I'm proud of (thanks Tangled Fiction!)
I have made some truly awesome friends who get my obsession over writing and YA.
And I have been humbled and honored by some very kind and encouraging words about my writing.
So what are my goals for this year?
Last year I wanted to bang out the really rough first drafts of two novels. This year that's not good enough for me. I want to complete one really well thought out, solid first draft.
I want to make my current ms the absolute best it can be before it goes out into the world.
I want to write more short stories and on a regular basis, which okay, is a given thanks to Tangled Fiction. But I want these to be stories I'm proud of, not stories I make excuses for like "well, if I had more than a couple days, this would've been awesome!"
As a whole, I just want to keep getting better at writing by actively pursuing ways to do so. Whether it's conferences, retreats, challenging myself to styles/genres I've never written before, whatever.
And of course, I want 2011 to be the year I sign with the perfect agent for me and my book!
What about you? Are you going full steam ahead with a list of resolutions? Setting small goals? Did 2010 turn out like you thought it would?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Success - It's All About Attitude
Today I bring you a Note from the Universe to remind you that even when you're stuck in what feels like limbo, waiting for someone to request your ms, sign you as a client, or buy your book, you're not powerless. No matter how much it feels like someone (or something) else has all the control, only you have the power to create the life you live.
Here's what The Universe says about achieving your most daunting goals:
Invariably, when big dreams come true, and I mean BIG, there is a total metamorphosis of one's life. Their thoughts change, their words change, decisions are made differently, gratitude is tossed about like rice at a wedding, priorities are rearranged, and optimism soars.... Yeah, they're almost annoying.
You could have guessed all that, huh?
Would you have guessed that these changes, invariably, come before, not after, their dream's manifestation?
Isn't it amazing how sometimes things are so obvious but we never think about them that way? The Universe has spoken! Now, go! Dream BIG!
Here's what The Universe says about achieving your most daunting goals:
Invariably, when big dreams come true, and I mean BIG, there is a total metamorphosis of one's life. Their thoughts change, their words change, decisions are made differently, gratitude is tossed about like rice at a wedding, priorities are rearranged, and optimism soars.... Yeah, they're almost annoying.
You could have guessed all that, huh?
Would you have guessed that these changes, invariably, come before, not after, their dream's manifestation?
Isn't it amazing how sometimes things are so obvious but we never think about them that way? The Universe has spoken! Now, go! Dream BIG!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Teenfire Semi-finalists Announced!
Many of you out there in the YA community have probably heard of the Sourcebooks Fire/Yalitchat contest being held at this time. If you haven't, talented YA writer Georgia McBride(founder of #yalitchat)teamed up with the editors of Sourcebooks Fire to bring a unique opportunity to our community.
Georgia sifts through all the entries picking only a handful of them to be sent to the editors at Sourcebooks. The editors will then pick the winners. There is no guarantee for contracts, but just to have your work read by an editor is a great opportunity.
The semi-finalists were announced today! And Kristi and I both entered and we were both on the list! A happy day for the Sisters in Scribe! Because you know we're all about celebrating baby steps. I imagine Kristi has already danced around her kitchen like a monkey on crack. I haven't had my coffee yet, so that isn't happening. But I did a little wiggle in my chair.
We want to hear about your little accomplishments. What have you done recently to put yourself one step closer to accomplishing your goals? It doesn't have to be a writing goal. Anything we do to better ourselves, even if it's just self-satisfaction, is worth celebrating.
The List of Semi-finalists! from Georgia's Blog.
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