Tag Archives: writing goals

Writing Life

September accountability, October goals

How. Is. It. October.

It’s the first Friday of the month! I’m reporting on my goals for September and setting new ones for October. Come join in!

September accountability

We’re settling into the school routine here. And, uh, that’s kind of it. I worked hard this month, but I made time for my kids, a cousin’s wedding reception, a visit from my sister and other important stuff.

So, what did I get done?

  • Goal for the sequel: Deep edit, incorporate beta feedback, read aloud, send to editor—I deferred reading it aloud—oh, dang, I was supposed to be doing that last week. Ugh. But other than that, check check check!
  • Finish back cover copy and get cover for sequel—I got the cover! The back cover copy is up, but I still need to have my designer convert the cover to a print version.
  • Finish Character Arcs & send to betas—did that!
  • Set up a big promotion for I, Spy—did it!
  • Run Promenade booth—did it only once. Got rained out the last week.
  • Critique—yep!
  • Start something new (and SHORT)?—started and finished!

Whoa.

October goals

While we’re welcoming two new nieces into the family this month, other than getting their gifts ready, I have nothing big planned in my personal life this month. Which probably means something big will happen on its own, right?

  • Complete edits on & read aloud Spy for a Spy.
  • Proofread Spy for a Spy.
  • Pull together promo materials for Spy for a Spy. (sensing a theme?)
  • Research & plot Nano novel
  • Maybe write another novella? Have to do something to stay sane amidst the marketing and editing 😉
  • Edit the novella I wrote last week.
  • Edit Character Arcs & do all that pre-launch publicity stuff.

Why do I always make more work for myself?
What’s up for you this month?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Writing Life

Swinging for the fences (subplots to resume next week!)

1 Comment

This week, I decided to try something a little crazy. My husband was going to be out of town Monday and Tuesday, and my kids go to bed early, so I’d have my evenings to myself. What’s my favorite thing to do when that happens? Write with reckless abandon, of course.

And so I decided to go full force on the reckless abandon part. I decided to challenge myself: could I write a novella in two days? I’ve written novels in two weeks, but this would be pushing it—averaging 9,000 words a day, nearly double my usual “Fast Draft” method.

The short answer: no. When my husband got home late last night, I called it quits to spend time with him. But when I finished last night, I had 16,000 shiny new words. From two days of work.

I gotta do this every week!

fast fingers

The biggest lesson I saw from this was the importance of goal setting. On Monday, I set a goal of 8000 words (I had to take time for grocery shopping and finishing up book blast things). I stayed up way too late, but I met that goal while running a household with four little kids by myself. (I even did my own dishes!)

Tuesday, I had to swing for the fences. I set a goal of 10,000 words. Ten. Thousand. By midnight, I had written 8000 words.

I didn’t meet my goal—I fell short by about 2000 words. But, I figured, after two days of a jabillion words, I could knock that out in the morning, right?

Uh yeah. It took until 10 PM to get those last words, and not because the story was tough or I didn’t know what came next. I knew exactly what was supposed to happen. But apparently writing abhors a vacuum, and having so little pressure on myself to get the words . . . I didn’t.

So to borrow the cliché, swing for the fences. You might not write 10,000 words in a day—but you’ll geta heck of a lot farther than if you’re only aiming for first base.

(And yes, this is why there’s no post on subplots today. Next time!)

What do you think? How do your goals affect your outcome?

Photo by Katie Krueger

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Writing Life, Works, News & Contests

August accountability, September goals!

It’s the first Friday of the month! I’m reporting on my goals for August and setting new ones for September. Come join in!

August accountability

I spent the first third of the month on vacation with my family, the next third recovering/unpacking/preparing for school, and the last third sending my kids back to school!

My second child started school this year, and she loves it so far.

  • Send the sequel to I, Spy out to my usual beta readers, plus probably a few more & incorporate their feedback—on the last day of the month, I got this DONE! I had to rip the novel apart, and I hope I sewed it back together okay. Within hours of sending it, I opened it to a random page and found a continuity error. Oy.
  • Prep the sequel to I, Spy to send to editor (and do it!)—Um, no. This month!
  • Start something new! My optimistic goal: 12,000 words on something new. Should be doable….?— AHAHAHAHAHAHA. Ha. HA.
  • Read, read, read! Still working on that digital TBR, but the physical one is calling to me, too.—Moved most of this to this month, but I did read 🙂 .
  • Unpack: tackle the garage, landing place for most of the stuff we brought over in the month after we “officially” moved.—We’ve made some serious headway here. But by “we” I mean “my beloved husband.”

September goals

With the baby down for an afternoon nap, my third child sometimes doesn’t know what to do with herself! I’m hoping to convince her to take the occasional nap (she needs it even more than I need her to do it). We’re still getting into a routine, but I’m hoping things will settle down a bit and I can get some serious work done—fast.

I’m going to break out all that I hope to accomplish this month. Because I’m crazy like that.

  • Sequel: Deep edit, incorporate beta feedback, read aloud, send to editor.
  • Finish back cover copy and get cover for sequel.
  • Finish Character Arcs & send to betas.
  • Set up a big promotion for I, Spy
  • Run Promenade booth
  • Critique
  • Start something new (and SHORT)?

How . . . ? Can anybody loan me a couple extra hours a day?

What’s up for you this month?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Writing Life

How to make life really, really hard for yourself.

2 Comments

So if you haven’t been around these parts for a while, you’ll find out right now that I’m slogging through the sequel to I, Spy.

I think it’s trying to kill me.

I think it might succeed.
Reaching out for Help
After taking possibly the longest time ever to write a book (for me), I still came out with one of my messiest first drafts—which I didn’t have a chance to read start to finish until after my crit partners had their ways with it.

Leaving me with even more work post-crit than ever. Sigh.

So I’ve retooled the romance plot line, the main plot line, the villain’s motivations, settings for several scenes . . . one excruciating page at a time. I’m just now digging into my critique partners’ more granular notes, and STILL it’s taking forever. I spent most of the day Friday and Saturday working (writing is giving yourself homework forever) and only slogged through 100 pages.

Kill KeyOnce again, the little black marks on an electronic page had defeated me.

And if the story ended there, this would be another chapter in How to Make Life Really, Really Hard for Yourself for Dummies. Finally, I looked down at that little counter at the bottom of the screen and did a little mental math.

During those two-day long slog of 100 pages, I’d added over 3000 words. 3000 words requiring in-depth research (real restaurants’ menus, a chase scene, tourist spots), editing, refining—work.

Suddenly my defeat turned into a victory. Yeah, it’s been a lot of work, but I’ve accomplished a lot. More importantly, my book is becoming so much better.

So how do you make your life really, really hard for yourself? Work single-mindedly toward a quantitative goal without ever taking stock of what you’re really accomplishing.

What do you think? Do you ever make life really, really hard for yourself? Come share!

Photo credits (via Flickr & CC): Reaching out for help—Andy Munzer; Kill Key—Jeff Keyzer

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
News & Contests

July accountability & August goals

1 Comment

I’m guest posting today at Romance University on six steps to better character arcs in romances!

It’s the first Friday of the month! I’m reporting on my goals for July and setting new ones for August. Come join in!

July accountability

I had a lot of family stuff in July. My youngest sister graduated college (a 4-hour drive one way for me), so my parents came out for that. While they were visiting, we also blessed (christened) my baby, so my husband’s parents came up for that. Plus, we moved about two months ago, and it just. never. ends!!! Then we went on vacation.

Isn’t summer supposed to be, like, a lazy time? Sigh. So here’s what I did in July, writing-wise (mostly):

  • ACTUALLY FINISH THE BOOK—DONE!!! It ended up a little short in the first week of July, but it was fleshed out by almost 7000 words in the last quarter alone by the time I turned it in to my critique group on the 16th. That’s lots of work.
  • Finish editing this book for critique group. Yep, DONE.
  • Implement as much of my critique group feedback as possible—this book has required the most extensive post-critique rewrites. Sigh. I wrote the wrong book (at least in one storyline). Fortunately, my critique group is awesome and they were instrumental in figuring that out and helping me fix it. Now if only they could stop the world for me so I had enough time to fully fix it.
  • Continue unpacking Yeah, yeah. Always. I finished my office! Got most of my room unpacked! (I’ve been wearing the same week’s worth of clothes since we moved, so that’s a big deal.)
  • Start something new?? Probably something short. I have four ideas calling to me. We’ll see which one calls the loudest—still pondering this, plotting out a bit.
  • Load up on blog posts (including guest posts and interviews) so I can enjoy more time with my family—Check!
  • Read (while with the fam): tackle the digital TBR for a while—if I can find my Kindle. I just had it. . . . These things need locator beacons!—I finally found my Kindle. Funny story. Maybe I’ll share it one day 😉 .

August goals

I’m still neck deep in family time (and loving it, of course!), so some of these goals don’t really start until later this month.

  • Send the sequel to I, Spy out to my usual beta readers, plus probably a few more & incorporate their feedback.
  • Prep the sequel to I, Spy to send to editor (and do it!)
  • Start something new! My optimistic goal: 12,000 words on something new. Should be doable….?
  • Read, read, read! Still working on that digital TBR, but the physical one is calling to me, too.
  • Unpack: tackle the garage, landing place for most of the stuff we brought over in the month after we “officially” moved.

What’s up for you this month?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Writing Life

June accountability & July goals

1 Comment

It’s the first Friday of the month! I’m reporting on my goals and setting new ones. Come join in!

Also, I’m guest posting today at Elizabeth Spann Craig’s blog on Why Spy? The appeal of spies in fiction. Come share your take (and find a picture of me playing spy in college . . . okay, playing dress up). And be sure to check out my interview at the Bibliophilic Book Blog yesterday, too!

June accountability

Last month, I tried to make my goals semi-achieveable. Why? I don’t know. Change of pace?

  • Launch I, Spy! Woot! Blog tour, guest posts, interviews, giveaways, contests—yikes.
  • Launch party on the 8th!—this went wonderfully! Check it out here.
  • FINISH THIS BOOK—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to finish it in March, folks. I’ve written books in the time that’s passed since my deadline. No, I’ve written three books in that amount of time! And it still isn’t finished! I did, however, get about 6000 words written in June.
  • Edit two more sections for critique—powered through I-hate-this-bookitis and got lots of great feedback and encouragement
  • Read—yes! Thank you, library, for giving me deadlines
  • Plan and prepare for upcoming events—Check-a-roo!
  • Unpack, eh?—Pretty good here. Hosting critique group and a visit from family prompted unpacking 30-40 boxes. Still have a lot to do in my bedroom, my office and all the little stuff that was brought over after the big move, mostly in unlabeled boxes in the garage. On the plus side: the old house is empty and on the market!

July goals

I’ve got a lot of family stuff coming up in July, but I can’t leave writing alone. Seriously, I can’t. It makes me very unhappy. You wouldn’t want to see me unhappy.

  • ACTUALLY FINISH THE BOOK—DONE!!! 9000 words this week. YES.
  • Finish editing this book for critique group. (Okay, so this is nearly done already. Woot!)
  • Implement as much of my critique group feedback as possible
  • Continue unpacking
  • Start something new?? Probably something short. I have four ideas calling to me. We’ll see which one calls the loudest
  • Load up on blog posts (including guest posts and interviews) so I can enjoy more time with my family
  • Read (while with the fam): tackle the digital TBR for a while—if I can find my Kindle. I just had it. . . . These things need locator beacons!

What did you accomplish in June? What are you shooting for in July?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Writing Life

May accountability & the last contest clues!

Today I’m a featured author at the Barnes & Noble Nook Mystery forum! Come visit & comment!

After a huge month in April, May tried its darnedest to outdo its predecessor. Hard to beat having a baby (on my birthday!) in April, but May did see me presenting and having my first booksigning at the LDStorymakers Conference, prepping for my book’s launch and coordinating some coming events—and buying a new house for our growing family.

Have you ever seen those stress tests where they’re like “have you done any of the following big life events in the last year?”? Yeah, I’m pretty sure just about all those are high on the list. My heart’s probably at risk right now, LOL.

May accountability

So, last month I set goals to:

  • Practice for and give my LDStorymakers presentation. Check! Very happy with how it went.
  • GET. THOSE. WORDS. DONE. For real, finish this novel. Ugh. I did make progress, but launching this book and moving had to take precedence. 10,000 words to go.
  • Business: finish the last couple steps for the publication side of I, Spy. Check!
  • Plan & prep for launch party (more on this as it gets closer!) Check! It’s tomorrow at the Orem Public Library!
  • Finish edits on novella. Check!
  • Prep the first part of my novel for critique Check! Sending this to my critique group today, then I’m attacking that last little bit to finish this novel.
  • Read! There’s always something on the TBR! Check!

Wow. I thought it would be a lot more depressing than that with everything that’s going on. I also added another specific goal:

  • Contact 100 book bloggers about I, Spy. Check!

It’s funny—if I don’t get my words, I feel like I’ve failed, no matter what other stuff I’ve done. (Like, I don’t know, move my entire life into another city last weekend?)

June goals

All right—I’m publicly setting some goals for June and I’ll report back on the first Friday in July. Thanks for being my accountability!

  • Launch party tomorrow!
  • FINISH THIS BOOK. I wanted to finish it in March, folks. I’ve written books in the time that’s passed since my deadline. I’ve written three books in that amount of time!
  • Edit two more sections for critique
  • Read.
  • Plan and prepare for upcoming events (don’t worry—I’ll keep you posted!)
  • Unpack, eh?

Wait, did I just put a manageable and realistic writing-related to-do list up there? Whaaaat?

And of course . . .

Today’s clues

We have the final stops on our launch tour today—and the final clues in our inspiration song contest!

Emily Gray Clawson – Mr. Nice Spy (Also: figuring out whodunnit)

Lindzee Armstrong – I, Spy (Also: using your spy skills while in labor!)

Andrea Pearson – Mr. Nice Spy

Christy Dorrity – I, Spy

What are your goals for June?? Have you come to say hey at the Nook forums yet?

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!

 
Works, News & Contests

March-a-thon final report & April goals

I use the first Friday of the month as my writing goal accountability here—come join in!

March accountability

marchathon 2013So for March, I set some lofty goals to conquer as part of the March-a-thon I ran for my writers’ support/education group. Here’s my progress report:

  • Project A: incorporate feedback and take this to finished product. Verdict: took longer than it should have, largely due to technical issues, but accomplished!
  • Project B: finish first draft (~28,000 more words). Verdict: Weep. 18,000 words to go.
  • Project C (novella): get ready to send to critique partners Verdict: Finished the paper edit early in the month, but the type-in took forever. Still in progress.
  • Project D: blog posts! Verdict: I’ve gotten ahead in most of my series, so I’d have to say accomplished—but I’d never say no to a guest post!
  • Read my library books before they’re due! Verdict: accomplished!
  • SUPER SECRET PROJECT: Verdict: accomplished! Look for more about this on Monday!

I was also able to keep up with my critique partners, which was actually quite the feat this month. (I forgive you 😉 )

Though on any given day, it felt like these lofty goals were completely unattainable, I actually accomplish quite a bit! The daily pep talks from my group and our live chats & Twitter #marchathon Saturdays were a big help.

Lesson of the month: no matter how long it took in the past, everything can take longer than you expect.

April goals

After pushing myself very hard, I’m giving myself a break. So in April, I’m hoping to:

  • Finalize my presentation for LDStorymakers next month.
  • Get those last 12,000 words done? Maybe?
  • Take care of business (yay. taxes.)
  • Do a final read-through for each of my critique partners
  • Finish inputting the paper edits and incorporate my critique partners’ feedback on my novella
  • Read!

It sounds like a lot, but I’m hoping to limit myself to one or two tasks a day (not including reading; that’s not a task!).

Anticipated lesson of the month: sleep is really important.

How did you do in March? What do you hope to accomplish in April? Come share!

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!