Monday, September 12, 2011

Goals


Like a lot of other things in my life, I try not to have expectations about my writing.  I have learned, however, that living that way is dangerous because if you don't have goals then nothing happens.

I don't mean goals like “I want to be published,” because that's ephemeral.  When I tried it my brain grabbed on to the NaNoWriMo “award” of a free proof copy through CreateSpace and said “If you do this, you'll be published!”

Which is just stupid, and a waste of brain space, so I over-rode it in rebellion and sent out a novel that wasn't ready.  But I have a rejection to add to my collection, so it's all good.  :)

But now I have to make goals, have expectations both for my writing and myself.  I can't just float anymore, because I don't WANT to be back in the workforce a year from now.

So I'm writing down my goals.

1          Finish one new novel every two months
2          While writing one novel, edit another
3          Spend equal amounts of time writing and editing
4          Have one book ready for submission by month three
5          Start querying agents / publishers by month three

Goal #3 is important because otherwise I'd spend all my time writing and nothing would ever be ready for publication.

I need to keep the goals in mind or it may just end up “frittering” and I'd be looking for a job in six months.  And I DON'T WANT THAT!  If that happens, it will mean that I wasted everything I'd saved for this, wasted my best opportunity.

Wasted my dream.

2 comments:

  1. Those are pretty worthy, lofty goals. I know if anyone can do it you can. I'm just wondering why you don't want to do the create a space book. Is it because you don't feel like you have anything ready yet? In three months you probably will. Would you consider doing it then or after you query agents if you don't get an acceptance? A lot of authors are putting their own e-books out there now. Even published authors. Just another idea/option. But I'd probably try getting an agent and a publisher first. Good luck with everything. I'm anxious to see how things go.

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  2. Yeah, the main reason that I decided against the Createspace book was that my brain was playing games. If it's a prize on Nano this year I might try it, but I want to try the standard publishing route first.

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