2010 Goals

[Birol]

Just a heads up, come the end of December/beginning of January, I'm going to ask you to think about where you want to be this time next year and what you're going to do to get there. I'm not asking now, mind, but I will be asking in about a month. Now's the time to think about it.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Um. K.

But I'm planning on sitting on the same couch since we just bought it.

[Trauntj]

I'll put in my goal right now for Nov/Dec 2010.

I wish to have the manuscript for one of my novels written and finished. considering I haven't started yet, that's about it. If I can find someone who will actually take if I complete it next year, then all the better.

[Ken]

... failed to achieve my goal this year, so next year's will be the same. I may add another smaller one to it within the coming month.

[PoppysInARow]

Get. An. Agent. :deadhorse

[The Lonely One]

I wish to become more hungry and more empty so I can want to devour with more fervor and focused wanting.

And when I devour I wish to become so hungry that no meal of words can fill.

This I think is called madness.

[C.M.C.]

My goal is going to be the same as always: come up with an idea I like enough to work on.

[gothicangel]

Finish writing novel #1, get draft 1 of novel #2 down on paper.

[Birol]

I'll put in my goal right now for Nov/Dec 2010.

I wish to have the manuscript for one of my novels written and finished. considering I haven't started yet, that's about it. If I can find someone who will actually take if I complete it next year, then all the better.

Part of having a goal is also having a plan to make it happen. How are you going to achieve this? What's your plan of attack?

... failed to achieve my goal this year, so next year's will be the same. I may add another smaller one to it within the coming month.

What are you going to do differently this year in order to yield different results?

My goal is going to be the same as always: come up with an idea I like enough to work on.

And how are you going to do that? Are you certain you don't just need ANY IDEA and some good old-fashioned BIC?

I wish to become more hungry and more empty so I can want to devour with more fervor and focused wanting.

And when I devour I wish to become so hungry that no meal of words can fill.

This I think is called madness.

Ri-ight.

[Maxinquaye]

Simple. Write at least 2000 words of fiction per day, in addition to my non-fiction. I'll have 3-4 100k novels by this time next year, of which 2-3 will be doing the slush pile rounds.

[sleepsheep]

My goal is to focus more on writing fiction. It'll take a bit of planning and self discipline, not to mention a time-turning sort of device that will allow me to be in multiple places at the same time.

[eqb]

My goals are simple, but time-consuming. They all involve novels under contract, so I best be an organized writer bunny over the next six to eight months.

[bearilou]

*thinks upon it*

[JoNightshade]

I'm aiming low this year since I have no expectations about what life will be like with a kid. However, I am setting one bar for myself which I WILL NOT fall below: Submit 25 pages for critique at my writing group every month. If I do AT LEAST that, I will be done with my rewrite about mid-2010, and then I can start querying again. And I really don't need to set any querying goals for myself because I am perfectly motivated on that front. I have to restrain myself from doing it way too soon. ;)

[half.jaded]

I want to have Catharsis shiny and ready for querying.

Oh, and I want to write and finish another novel next year.

Pretty simple, huh? ^^

[scarletpeaches]

I've recently given serious thought to my goals for next year.

Measurable progress and markers along the way are essential, otherwise a 'goal' is nothing more than a 'dream'.

A goal is like a target. You need something to aim at, or you won't get any feedback or indication that you're improving.

[BrooklynLee]

I had two resolutions this year: lose 25lbs and finish a novel. And I did both of them. It's pretty much the first year ever for that, so next year is kind of a buy, I think. :)

[Shadow_Ferret]

otherwise a 'goal' is nothing more than a 'dream'.



Writing has been both a dream and goal. Neither has come to fruition.

[Cliff Face]

Assuming my life doesn't become too hectic, I have 2 goals. One was inspired by Lori and my success with NaNo this year - write 1 million words in 2010. Lofty sights, seeing as the first 2 books I wrote took 5 months each, and were only 65k each, so 130k in 10 months.

But for NaNo I've done 100k in a month, so I believe I can make it. It's really just 3k a day to reach 1 million.

And my second goal is to get an agent, which requires editing the hell out of my work and submitting to every agent who'll accept submissions (starting in Australia, then moving to America if no success). It'll be a long process, waiting 4 weeks on a partial for agents in Aus, and probably closer to 8 for overseas, and then longer for the fulls if I get any.

But there are limited numbers of agents in Aus so if I can't get in with them, then I'll have to try elsewhere.

2010 will be the year of the agent search for me, and the year of writing recklessly. :)

[kaitie]

My first goal is to find an agent. I think the odds are a bit stacked against me on that one from what I've read, so maybe I'll amend that to say my goal is to put every effort I can into finding an agent even if I never get one.

Goal two is to finish the next book, which shouldn't be too hard because it's shorter than the current one (I'm anticipating around 100k).

Goal three is to get my translation submissions completely finished, sent off, and at the very least apply for some technical translation work so I can hopefully pay off more of my student loans.

Goal four...which should probably really be goal one but this is actually how my priorities lie at the moment: GET A JOB! Yeah, the hardest one. I have until next August or September to hopefully find something. I wasn't exactly a desirable hire to begin with (over-educated and under-experienced), but with the current job market I'm thinking it's about the stupidest thing in the world for me to be going back and leaving my current well paying at least I have insurance and can pay off my loans job. That should probably have been hyphenated, but I don't like hyphens. They look funny and stuffs. :tongue

[Rushie]

Rewrite, edit and polish my NaNo excuse for a novel and submit it somewhere, and then write an outline for 2010 NaNo.

[honeysock]

I am a goal-setting freak. That may be one reason I love January 1 sooooo much!

Goal 1: Stay unemployed. (Take passive-aggressive approach: be super-sweet to husband, spend no $--divorce would really interfere with the new writing lifestyle. : ) )

Goal 2: Get an agent.

Goal 3: Finish #5 by May 1.
Goal 4: Finish #3 by August 1.
Goal 5: Finish #4 by Dec. 30

Thanks, Birol, for doing this. Hope it's okay that I didn't wait for the new year?

[Birol]

No problems at all. I was just giving people some time for reflection and planning is all, but if you already have your objectives all thought out, go for it.

[spectrefox]

My goal has something to do with submitting my short stories ;)!

More realistically, I must first write them. Then rewrite, and revise, revise, revise! Then edit, edit, edit ;)! Then submit!

It's a lofty goal to get into my favorite magazines, but if I don't submit there, then they'll never even have a chance to see my work :D!

Enthusiasm, ouchies.

[rosiroo]

Hmmmm. I've got mine.

Finish my Nano novel (before end of this year.)

Edit, edit, edit. Send to beta readers.

Finish fantasy WIP. Edit, etc.

Get both to a publishable standard.

And think about publishing.

[scarletpeaches]

No problems at all. I was just giving people some time for reflection and planning is all, but if you already have your objectives all thought out, go for it.I'm going to try to get through the entire year without being banned.

[Birol]

I'm going to try to get through the entire year without being banned.

NOTE TO SELF: Ban Scarlet at 2350 GMT, December 31, 2010.

[scarletpeaches]

On Hogmanay? OH FOUL STENCH THY NAME IS BIROL.

[Charlie Horse]

Simple. Keep developing myself as a novelist.

[Birol]

Simple. Keep developing myself as a novelist.

What does that mean? How are you going to do that? What areas are you going to concentrate on?

[tjwriter]

Hmmm, I failed miserably at finishing something this year. Equal parts lots of bad crap happening and lack of self-whipping to achieve results.

I'm buying a new whip to finish one of my WIPs.

And I want to lose 25 lbs, pay off some debt, and find a better path to happiness.

[Noah Body]

My goal is to let sleepsheep do bad things to me, because that's what her title says she wants to do. ;)

That aside, finishing rewrites on one manuscript and finding an agent for it while hopefully spooling up on something bigger and better...and finishing it.

[scarletpeaches]

My serious answer is:

Book #1 - decide what I want to do with this. Then do it. I could carry on subbing to agents, or there's a particular publisher I could send it to directly.

Book #2 - the other day the solution to my editing woes sprang to mind. Annoying because I'm still NaNoing. At least now I know what I'm doing and who to send it to.

Book #3 - needs editing, but the story arc is sound so I foresee just tweakage and tidying and tightening. After it's done, the query and synopsis. This will be going to agents until hell won't have it.

Book #4 - by the start of 2010 the first draft will be done, so I'm going to lay it aside until all of the above is taken care of, and then edit it. And decide where to send it. I have a few possibles in mind.

I also have another project bubbling away in my brainpan, so I'll need to slot that in somewhere.

The above mostly involves editing drafts and preparing for submission, which is cool but I don't want to lose my 'creativity' mojo. I want there to be plenty of 'fresh' writing next year too.

Also...my reading's fallen by the wayside. I've gone from someone who whizzes through 120-150 books a year to reading fewer than 50 in 2009 which is a fuggin' disgrace. Sure, I've been productive writing-wise but that's not good enough. Not for me, anyway.

So in 2010 I'm going to write half a mill of new material and read as close to 150 books as I can. Get Books 1-4 sold and also see this mysterious supersekrit project to completion too.

[CaroGirl]

Goals. What a concept.

I will finish my current WiP, which I had wanted to finish by the end of this year but which now languishes at just more than half done.

I will continue the query process for my completed edgy YA novel. I'm now working toward getting a US agent.

I will continue the query process for my completed MG novel.

I will begin the new novel that's been kicking around in my head for the past week or so. The bugger's been keeping me up at night and being a general nuisance, so I know she's almost ready to come out.

[Sandy Shin]

Writing-wise: Finish and ready my YA novel for querying.
School-wise: To not die of stress. (And to get into a medical school, but that's too farfetched.)
Personal-wise: Find a way to become happier than I was/am this year.

[Moonfish]

I'll think that over and get back to you in January!
Thanks for getting me started on it. I love goals and lists!

[Ken]

What are you going to do differently this year in order to yield different results?

... work harder and put in more time. This year's (overreaching) goal was to get a book deal. As it turns out I'm probably not even going to finish the manuscript by the end of the year. Took me 2 months to come up with a tolerable plot line, then another 5 to get to the point where I am now. After the 6th draft it's just about ready. So I figure that I can get it out by at least January. Then it's just a matter of crossing my fingers as it makes the rounds.

My other (smaller) goal that was sort of my goal this year, but which got pushed to the back burner, will be more in my power to direct. Will post that in a month, after thinking of ways I may improve my chances of success in achieving it. Thx for getting me thinking along those lines :-)

[bettielee]

So are we just answering now? Cuz I'll just answer now.

I am going to finish editing all 3 of my dragon books - and start to query and do the whole "try to publish deal" on my current work. Well, first I'm going to finish writing it before the end of this year. I hope to be querying agents by June of next year at the latest.

I have never had the cajones to actually finish anything to the point of querying, as I lacked confidence (and the Writer's Markets scare the living frak out of me). This fear has been quelled, plus I feel like I have something actually worth throwing into the jaws of the beast. Heaven help it.

[Noah Body]

Go girl, go!

[bettielee]

I'm also going to try and be more awesome. :)

[Libbie]

Argh -- right now my goal is to decide between two nagging options for my next novel, and I gave myself a deadline of tonight to achieve this goal. So far, I'm no closer to it than I was a week ago, but it's not for lack of trying.

[Cliff Face]

Here's how to decide, Libbie: Which novel would benefit most from adding zombies? They're the new sparkly vampires. ;)

[Enzo]

1-write something for the British Crime Writers Association Debut Daggers competition - deadline Feb 6
2-take part in Script Frenzy, the April version of NaNoWriMo but for scripts
3-finish at least one novel
4-work on scripts
5-just write, write, read, write.

[Libbie]

Here's how to decide, Libbie: Which novel would benefit most from adding zombies? They're the new sparkly vampires. ;)

Yeah, I already thought of that. Unfortunately, Zombie Houdini and Zombie Nijinsky/Stravinsky tag-team are equally interesting.

[Khimera9]

Let's see, I've started on three novels this year but two of them have had to be rewritten halfway with the third one left to be reviewed so I didn't finish any of them this year (though I did write a short story, but lord knows it'll need some extra work). So next year my goals are to-

-Finish at least one of the three big novels I have.

-Continue planning two of my smaller novels planned out.

-Try to write more through the school year.

Writing's a tough and slow process for a newb like me, but I'm sure I can work harder and learn more grammar along the way to keep the words rolling along.

[Albannach]

Write a sequel to the novel I just finished. WOOHOO. It looks like I can probably sell it.

[Cliff Face]

Yeah, I already thought of that. Unfortunately, Zombie Houdini and Zombie Nijinsky/Stravinsky tag-team are equally interesting.

Nijinsky/Stravinsky tag-team definitely. Opens up all sorts of comedic avenues to have tag-team zombies.

[Maxinquaye]

Swan lake with zombies... Hmmm. I don't know.

[AnnieColleen]

Goals so far:

* Re-outline this year's NaNo in December, and first round of rewrites/edits in January. Then figure out where to go from there. (This is the first project I've gotten to this point.) Somewhere in there, sending it to a couple of friends to beta, more edits, all that jazz...probably/possibly working out to querying by the end of the year.

* Plan/outline the next novel -- if nothing else, for next year's NaNo, but I'd rather like to start writing earlier than that. Again dependent on how the above goes.

* Possibly-maybe re-outline and re-write last year's NaNo, though this one might wait until later.

* Finish a major cross-stitch project that I neglected this year.

Plenty of other stuff going on, but creative-wise, those are the big things.

[LOG]

I hope to be well into my first novel by the end of 2009, intended to be standalone but I may add a short story to wrap things up if people ask for it.
Sometime in 2010 I'm hoping to submit and get published, and then maybe I'll make some money.

[LOG]

I'm going to try to get through the entire year without being banned.
Really? I've never seen you banned while I've been here, though I have seen Higgins banned, not sure if it was a permanent one or not.

[NicoleMD]

- I aim to finish editing both this year's NaNovel and last year's, get them in front of some agents, and dare to land an agent.

- Also, I'm planning on writing 100k of short fiction, and reading and critiquing 52 published short stories on my website.

- And I would like to learn Japanese.

- And I'd like to make 15 short story sales, including my first pro sale, and have 200 submissions for the year.

- Plus write a new novel next NaNoWriMo.

Easy peasy.

Nicole

[RoseColoredSkies]

Hmmm...goals for 2010. I was actually thinking about this ealier during my oh so fun cover letter writing session. I've got my word file all set up...just nothing in it yet. Still, I have a few goals.

1) Get EUTERPE'S SONG out on publisher submission (by May at the latest)
2) Write/edit/submit UNPLANNED (women's fiction) (by June at the latest)
3) Write first draft of JAY, BABY (YA contemporary) (by August)
4) Revise THE DANCE OF THE GYPSY (was YA historical, transforming into MG historical) (by September)
5) Write undetermined #3 for NaNoWriMo (by December 1, 2010)

And some non-writing goals to boot:

1) Get a summer job (it's a MUST)
2) Pass my spring semester finals (and fall semester finals for that matter)

I plan on achieving my writing goals by setting monthly word count totals. I'm good with meeting goals, especially self-imposed ones. And well the school stuff...that's just studying my butt off and hoping someone in this craptastic economy needs a summer intern (and wants to pay them).

[*RomanceWriter*]

Edit and write. I plan to pump out the books in 2010!

[Alpha Echo]

* Finish my WIP

* Edit my WIP

* Beta my WIP

* Query my WIP

* Re-query my other novel

* Gather more ideas for more novels and write them if possible!

[tjwriter]

My biggest issue is that there are I handful of things that I probably would give the same priority while setting goals and I don't have enough room in my life for all of them, but I want them all very badly. I end up freezing because I stress out from everything.

That's definitely something I need to make a plan for and address this coming year.

[scarletpeaches]

Really? I've never seen you banned while I've been here, though I have seen Higgins banned, not sure if it was a permanent one or not.I got a three-day years back for arguing with another member, a week a couple of years ago for a derail, and a 60-second a few weeks back for telling Birol to fuck off. :D

What? She came along one night and said, "SP, do something wrong. I'm bored and want to ban someone."

So I said, "Oh fuck off," and I was kicked offsite for a full minute. A minnute, I tells ya!

[san_remo_ave]

Hm. I've been giving this some thought lately, because I'm pleased with my progress this year but I would like to build the momentum (especially coming off of Nano). So, I think my goals will look something like:

1. Lead local writer's group meetings and virtual write-ins (help Nano participants in my area keep their focus & enthusiasm for writing).
Measurement = actually hold them 1x month & # of participants

2. Write an average 1667 words/6 days a week

3. Finish, edit & submit current WIP by YE2010

4. Finish draft of another WIP by YE2010

I think that'll keep me plenty busy... ;)

[Maxinquaye]

So I said, "Oh fuck off," and I was kicked offsite for a full minute. A minnute, I tells ya!

Must have been horrible.

I can't imagine what I'd do.

[scarletpeaches]

I think I put the kettle on.

[Charlie Horse]

Simple. Keep developing myself as a novelist.

What does that mean? How are you going to do that? What areas are you going to concentrate on?

Without going into helacious details, keep writing every day, keep perfecting my voice, keep learning about what works and what doesn't. In short hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

[Bubastes]

I finished my plans for 2010 and it looks like a leapfrog game:

1. Finish first draft of novel #2 by 01/31
2. Finish final draft of novel #1 by 06/30 (begin query-go-round in July)
3. Finish first draft of novel #3 by 12/31

Simple, but not easy.

[eyeblink]

At the present rate I should have a first draft done in a week or so. (I'm estimating a final wordcount around 50k, which will be fine for a YA novel.) At least it shows that a writing speed of 1000 words a day on average is doable for me. Obviously the novel will need to be revised and betaed, but at the moment I'm quite positive about it. Let's see if that lasts. :)

I'll be spending the rest of this year knocking two or three short stories into shape, so they will be doing the rounds come 2010.

Apart from that, I have redrafts due of two novels, one completed but not working, the other stalled. And another YA novel idea, though that may wait until this time next year.

[KTC]

My Goals for 2010
-Begin my new novel in planning which will incorporate my travel destinations over the next three months (Amsterdam, Nairobi, Massai Mara, Lamu and Cozumel). And complete said novel by the end of June. Finish second draft on said novel by the beginning of September.
-Help to pull off an amazing writers' conference on May 1st, giving all those who attend memories and tools they will keep with them long long after the conference is over.
-Keep plugging away at trying to get an agent/publisher for the two completed novels I have and believe in.
-Take on more freelancing to help pay for another trip in mid to late 2010.
-volunteer more time for my writing circle and help to bring more initiatives to the group---and possibly put together a workshop that I can facilitate myself for the same writing circle.

That's about it.

[Julet]

My goals? Well I would have to say lose 15lbs, actually finish a book and then write another.

Oh, and lots and lots of editing! But, the book must be written first.

[JulieJames]

finish my current WIP, get an agent and a book deal then begin working on completeing the rest of the series.

How do I plan to do this?? I'm going to write every spare moment I have until I'm blue in the face!

[Xelebes]

Don't know. I will have to think about it. Maybe finish a novel. I think it's possible but I have to get cracking sooner or later. I'm one who is quite okay with procrastinating.

But first, I think the most important goal for me is to get back to reading. Once I can afford a library pass (I'm bottom of the barrel poor for the past year), It'll get my creative juices flowing more and creating more than just short stories (which I have some success at doing.)

[John61480]

For 2010 I hope to be able to get around 50-200 words a day done on a fantasy story I just started this morning at around 3 am (117 words done, cool!)

In a few years, maybe even 3 or 4 I hope to also have a completed manuscript with about 90,000 words total.

Most of my work these past few years have been pretty freaky. My first finished story was in the fantasy genre. So I've come full circle now. Fantasy all over again makes me feel good when I lay in bed to write it. Not so much high wire tension like the other stories. Between now and later, I hope to keep up the pace I've set.

[freeman801]

Two goals:

Give up video games for a year.

Edit and rewrite one of the four novels I have sitting around and shop it to agents.

[Birol]

Okay, gang, time to put your cards on the table. What are your goals for 2010 and what's your plan for how you're going to get there?

I left my list at home. I'll post it this evening.

[Collectonian]

I have a lot of goals for 2010 (http://collectonian.livejournal.com/634886.html), but for the writing/reading related ones:

* Win NaNoWriMo 2010!
* Finish second edit of Broken Wing and first edit of Aisuru, To Love
* On Wikipedia, 5 more featured articles/list, 10 good articles, at least 3 new articles from scratch, redo 3 more, 12 DYK articles, and get to round 2 of the 2010 WikiCup
* Read at least 400 books
* Make at least one post to Animania (my anime/manga blog) per month that is an actual review or cultural article, and not just the purchase list; look at adding video games as well.

See the blog post for the full list :-P

[Tate]

Goal 1: Would like to finish my first novel, like ever, and start working on my second project.

Goal 2: When novel is completed start querying and hopefully, you know, get an agent

Goal 3: Expand my reading horizons, I usually only read in the sci-fi/fantasy world but I'm more than sure there's good stuff out there in all genres accept for romance, I'm sorry but I'm not that kind of sissy mushy must fall in love, kind of girl as well as some literary fiction.

Goal 4: Get a better job, I hate my current one and I don't get enough hours thusly I don't make a lot of money which means I still have to heavily depend on my parents even though I don't live at home for the most part.

Goal 5: I'm giving up red meat and soda for a year, there are tons of health problems in my immediate family and I just don't want to follow in that path so it's get healthy time or have to take tons of meds when I hit my 30s.

I think that's about it, well I mean the major ones anyways. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Years!

[bearilou]

Goals for 2010
by bearilou

Goal One: Finish current novel-in-progress by end of first calendar quarter.
Goal Two: Have current novel-in-progress edited and polished by second calendar quarter to start shopping it around.
Goal Three: Dust off trunked novel and get it reorganized, revisualized and finished by the end of the fourth calendar quarter.
Goal Four: Write, complete, edit and submit three short stories.
Goal Five: Read 10 novels.
Goal Six: Maintain a routine of stretching to gain back lost flexibility.
Goal Seven: Find a job.

I think that's a good start.

[Wavy_Blue]

I would like to invent a toaster oven that will assemble your bagel sandwiches for you and I would like to win the internet---

Oh, wait, you meant writing goals. Ahem.

I'd to finish two of my WIPs. Three of my WIPs currently have a very clear direction and I know what I want to write. It's just a matter of...actually writing it. Ha.

I'm going to need some serious motivational rewards for myself, though. Food should work. Hmmm...

[NeuroFizz]

Standing-order goal for every year: Look back on the past year and reflect on how much I have moved forward, improved, learned from my mistakes, taken advantage of opportunities, and made opportunities.

#1. Goal - Publish at least three papers in peer reviewed scientific journals. Expectation - this year may be a good one--I may be able to double that, which would be my best year ever.
#2. Goal - Get the Encyclopedia of Marine Science (non-fiction project) through the publisher's editing process and into production. Expectation - This has been a multi-year project and it is coming into the home stretch. I should get it off my desk for good this year.
#3. Goal - Survive the second (and final) year of the presidency of an international biological society. Expectation - not a problem, but I'd like to leave an indelible stamp on the society, so this year will be important in determining my legacy.
#4. With #2 done, get back to my fiction projects and finish my current WIP and get it submitted, and get a good start on the next one in line (maybe finish it?).
#5. Do something with my backlog of poems, and get back to writing new ones in the poetry forum here (it's been quite a while after a couple of very active years).
#6. Keep posting here at AW, trying to motivate all of my wonderful colleagues in a no nonsense way (and to derive similar motivation from y'all).

[greenleaf]

My writing goal is to get my current WIP (contemporary YA) query-ready by next December. I'm outlining now--a fairly detailed outline--which I hope will speed the writing process along and give me plenty of time for multiple edits.

Soooo, I will have my detailed outline finished before the end of January. Then, I'll write the novel from February to June. June to November will be for edits, rewrites, betas, more edits, more rewrites, and by December, I'll be perfectly happy and in love with it and ready to start writing my query. ;)

Not that you asked, but for 2011, I'll miss the January slush-rush of other writers and be ready to query by February or March. Is it too much? :D

[bettielee]

ok, Birol, I have given this more serious thought. I think it was Aggy B. who said she planned her goals this year as if she were making a living from writing. I admire her for it, and have taken a hard look at myself and my goals. I've decided not to bother with my unfinished trilogy, as there is no point, unless the stand alone book in the series sells. It is time to do serious editing and writing and subbing. So here are my goals

Jan and Feb
Write The Endways of the Gods: a multidimensional fantasy/sci fi mix

March
NaNoEdMo: edit The Spiritcaster

April
Finish the last 10k or so on a book called The Rabid Horses of Valdor
a fantasy/romance type deal
Also: hoping to have Spiritcaster out to betas

May
Work on edits to Spiritcaster, synopsis and query

June and July
Write a book to be decided, there are 3 possibles (most likely a fantasy western)

August
Edit Endways of the Gods

September
Edit Rabid Horses of Valdor

October
Edit whatever won the June/July book idea

Nov and December
Write one of the two that didn't win the June/July race

[sadron]

Finishing my space opera novel. :)

[katiemac]

1. Write every day, minimum 1,000 words.
2. Query by June.

[AryaT92]

Stay alive until 2011.

[Aggy B.]

I have an entire blog I'm devoting to tracking my progress through the year of 2010. And I've posted the details of my goals (http://twointwomonths.blogspot.com/2009/12/writing-goals-2010.html) there.

But the essential breakdown is this:

1) Get agent.
2) Sell my two existing MSs. (Which requires some revision and editing.)
3) Write 500,000 words in the year or 1.5 words a day. (On average.)

I have already chosen which ideas I want to work on and I've set daily/weekly/monthly goals as far as word count. I also have a rough timeline for which months I want to be working on which projects. (Which is more to help me stay on track than because I feel Hakai No Bi should be written in March or that Fairest would be best written in September.)

[blacbird]

To complete several academic research papers.

For creative writing, none. At the end of (yet another) utterly failed year, I no longer can entertain the aspiration of getting anything respectably published. Without that, there seems little point to continuing participation here. AW works best for either people who have achieved some respectable level of success in writing endeavors, and are looking for ways of improving, or people who haven't yet really tried to get anything published, or are just starting to, and gosh, it's been six whole months, why does it take so long? I lack the street cred for the first, and am waaaaay beyond the second. So I'm signing out, which is probably the best I can do to make some people happy.

Best wishes.

[AryaT92]

New Years Resolution: Wake up in my own bed tomorrow without losing clothes, phone, wallet, mind

[aspiringwriter]

My goal is to write a complete manuscript (novel) and have it submitted--so I might be asking for a little help :)

[Albannach]

Complete my 2 novels in progress and edit one that is completed in first draft stage.

Not bother my agent about selling the one he has. *chews fingernails*

And stop biting my fingernails.

[jasonleeward]

My goals for 2010 are to write every day on at least two of my networking sites, to work on a current WIP and attend several writing groups monthly. Other goals are to have agent representation and to write two more novels and ready them for submission.

[Cliff Face]

Okay, my goal is to write 8 shortish books this year, which tops out at about 600k. Also I need to learn how to edit (not only that but also learn how to edit while still writing 2k a day...).

Further goal is many submissions to agents (once edited to a high standard) and getting one good beta reader under my thumb. Mwuhhhaahaahaa!

[Andrhia]

1 Sell a book.

2 Write a book.

3 Goto 1.

Also: Try harder, write better; but those are too ambiguous to be goals.

[Katherynne]

2010 goal: FINISH SOMETHING. ANYTHING.

[KMH Stone]

Complete my first novel.

Save up for my LLM masters degree, which I'm starting in September 2010.

[aspiringwriter]

Complete my first novel.

Save up for my LLM masters degree, which I'm starting in September 2010.

Awesome :) I'm going back to school myself.

[ishtar'sgate]

Goal # 1 - finish the rough draft of my WIP
Goal # 2 - write 100 articles for Suite101

[EclipsesMuse]

1. Have novel #1 rewriten, revised and ready to query by June (This includes possibly taking an online class on revising.)
2. Have novel #2 written and revised by October
3. Have novel #3 written and revised by December
4. Complete NaNo for 2010

I plan to do this by writing 2000 words per day, reading a lot, studying some grammar books and soaking up all the great information here on AW!

[Aidan Watson-Morris]

1. Start (and maybe finish) editing + rewrites for The Mist is Just Water, Really
2. Finish up the next section in Apocalypse Later
3. Work on selling short stories to magazines (TR, N, ANDS)
4. Put more stuff up (and crit the people who asked) on Inkpop
5. Win NaNoWriMo again.
6. Get an agent for The Mist is Just Water, Really!

[Moost]

Finish my second novel.

[Sage]

Goals for 2010:

- Revise Trouble and start querying again
- Revise Fireflies and query when/if it's ready
- Don't freak out about Ff feedback, since it was an experiment as much as anything
- Get an agent who loves more than the concept of my books
- Sell a book (I'm thinking positively)
- Write Hero/Villain and any other new ideas (Don't wait half the year to start)
- Start a blog and update it frequently

(Non-writing goals: Get healthy, join a new gym, help out more around the house)

[ChaosTitan]

1. Sell at least two more books in the Dreg City series to my editor
2. Submit a second adult series (if my current editor decides not to take it on)
3. Discuss and prepare with agent a YA project
4. Continue writing short stories and submit to short story markets
5. Promote the hell out of my July '10 release
6. Continue blogging
7. I hit my goal of reading 100 books/novellas this year, so I'm putting next year's goal at 115.
8. Write, write, write to keep those muscles limber


To get there: #1 & 2 are out of my control as far as making the sales happen, but odds are good. The rest are up to me and my time management skills. I have a feeling I'll be getting more day-job hours come February, so my writing hours will diminish a bit. I'll have to manage my time much more closely.

[Capes&Corsets]

Well, I completed my first novel last year, so my main goal is to get an agent.

Oh, and complete book 2.

[Libbie]

Libbie's Amazing Awesome 2010 Goals:

1a) Sign with a good agent (may be happening soon.)
1b) Get a release date for my current novel (that's assuming the agent who has it now likes it, and that she can find a publisher who also likes it.)

2) Write and sell five short stories to major markets.

3) Finish the romance novel I started in November but had to abandon to do requested edits on the historical novel.

4) Write two more historical novels, including the second Egyptian book.

5) Sell at least one of the three novels I'll write in 2010.

[IdiotsRUs]

1) Take over the world

[Cliff Face]

World domination through literature is a goal we can all share. Once AW controls the world, then we can have in-fighting royal families, like so many vampire novels. Eventually someone here will excel at murder and betrayal, and then it will be a strange new world, full of dead puppies and manuscripts.

*dreams*

[JoshDodd]

I've already completed my first novel, which is a bit large. I would like to find a good publisher who would like to publish it. I haven't had too much luck in the past 2009 year because of the fact that no one wanted to take the risk, I did hear good reviews concerning the storyline from some editors, but they all told me that the current time limited what they were accepting. Any of you know any publishers now in '10 accepting new submissions and that are willing to take new risks with new authors?

Thanks for the help.

[IdiotsRUs]

Eventually someone here will excel at murder and betrayal, and then it will be a strange new world, full of dead puppies and manuscripts.

<-------Why do you think I carry this big stick wiv nails in?

Okay, my real goals are....

Sub novella
Finish and sub last in series.
Tidy up first draft of novel and try and get an agent
Finish and polish second novel and try and get an agent
Make a start of first draft of novel 3.
Surf less, write more! ( To which end, hubby has disabled internet access to the laptop)

I shall take over the world in my spare time.

[Tin Man]

No.1 2010 goal is to have my novel completed before the end of the year.

Everything else, hell, there ain't an 'everything' else.;)

[mscelina]

Right now my major focus is finding a way to survive my contractual obligations. As soon as I figure out how to do that, I'll try and find more contractual obligations.

:D

[Ken]

... made mention of my larger/unattainable goal, a few pages back. Smaller one is to land a column with a pub this year. Mags I looked at so far to pitch to make that 'smaller' goal seem like a daydream, too. Two say writers have incredibly slim odds of getting pub'd, at all. And the third no longer accepts subs. Pretty depressing. Will give it a crack, anyhow. Don't know why I settled on this figure, but I plan to pitch to at least one pub each week of this year. Sounds good on paper, at least. May jot something down in my sig space to keep track of my subs, like others do.

[LilliCray]

Hmm....

1. Have a personal NaNo in January, March, May, July, and September. Then do NaNo in November. "Win" at least three of these, and hopefully the real NaNo is one of them.

2. Write two short stories--or finish/edit a novel and write one short story--every month I'm not doing a personal or official NaNo.

3. Receive my first non-form-letter rejection. (I am actually looking forward to this. I am not normal...)

4. Prove to the entirety of my special-writing-program-class-type-thing that YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO WRITE A NOVEL FOR YOUR SENIOR PROJECT!! So they need to quit justifying dropping all the novels they all seem to start! Gah!

5. Never allow an exclamation point into my WIPs... *shudder*

Oooh! And don't forget the unattainable dream: Achieve BIG NAME BESTSELLER STATUS!! Whoo!! All your money are belong to dolphins!!

Er... Was that non-grammatical? *flees in fear from the horrid grammar which is a product of her own brain--OHTHEHORRORZ!!!!*

[Cyia]

I've already completed my first novel, which is a bit large. I would like to find a good publisher who would like to publish it. I haven't had too much luck in the past 2009 year because of the fact that no one wanted to take the risk, I did hear good reviews concerning the storyline from some editors, but they all told me that the current time limited what they were accepting. Any of you know any publishers now in '10 accepting new submissions and that are willing to take new risks with new authors?

Thanks for the help.


Have you tried finding an agent? They'll be able to get in more doors than you will on your own.

[Aspiring Writer]

Keep motivated and actually spend a good portion of the day writing. I need a good kick sometimes :)

[deserata]

After three or so years I find myself with two still-unfinished manuscripts. This year I'm going to revise them to COMPLETION, dammit.

[AryaT92]

Receive positive response on SDHS from publishers [on sub].
Finish editing second book and sub it to publishers.
Plan College / future.

[The_Ink_Goddess]

1. Finish second novel
2. Edit second novel successfully
3. Write query letter
4. Polish query letter
5. Send query letter
6. REVISE FOR GCSE EXAMS.
7. Get decent grades in GCSEs.

And that's me! :)

[Krintar]

From a conversation I had with a friend on New Year's Eve: "Finish a goddamned book already."
I think that's enough of a resolution for me.

[erinbee]

Somehow I lost track of where this post was, and now that I'm sitting here pondering what I want this year, I found it!

My 2010 Goals

Complete the edits on The Heroine's Bookshelf and do everything in my power to give her a great coming-out party as she enters the world in October.

Sell at least one additional book, and complete per contract.

Complete a novel. This is one I've been putting off for various fear-based reasons, and that needs to change.

Be better to myself. The process of completing my first to-be-published book has reminded me of my perfectionism and insecurity, and I'd like to change that.

[DragonHeart]

I'm keeping my goals modest this year since I have yet to ever actually reach any I've set.

Finish the first draft of a novel, specifically Warbeast.

Write 100,000 words over the course of the year. That's probably equal to, if not greater than how much fiction I've written, ever.

Yes, I have a serious lack of discipline. I'm working on it.

[Shadow_Ferret]

OK, I've thought about it. This time next year, I hope to have finally thought of a goal.

[Straka]

Same old, get published. Write better.

A new goal is to increase my blog readership. I started it original most as a reference to my own progress, not thinking anyone would find it very interesting but surprise surprise if I put interesting things in it, people read it. Who knew?

[lucidzfl]

I'd really wanted to complete my novel last year, but considering at the beginning of 2009 I wasn't even writing, I won't beat myself up. I didn't start this book until september, and if all goes well, I'll have it finished this month. (Only 13K more words to go which is like four and a half hours of concentrated writing)

Next year, I want to finish two more novels, and maybe submit this one to a few places. I got a couple of short story ideas brewing too, but those take only a night to crank out.

[Dave.C.Robinson]

My goals:

#1) Finish the novelization I'm ghostwriting (and under contract for).
#2) Publish at least one short under my own name in a paying market.
--step one: get the three stories I'm happy with out on submission by Jan 15th
--step two: write and submit at least one short story each month in 2010.

[Birol]

Okay, gang, today is the last day of the 1st quarter of 2010. How are you doing? What have you achieved so far? Are you tracking to achieve this year's goals? Do you need to reevaluate? Has anything unexpected happen that requires you to make alterations to your course? C'mon. What progress have you enjoyed?

[KTC]

My Goals for 2010
-Begin my new novel in planning which will incorporate my travel destinations over the next three months (Amsterdam, Nairobi, Massai Mara, Lamu and Cozumel). And complete said novel by the end of June. Finish second draft on said novel by the beginning of September.

Started and on the way to finishing by end of June.

-Help to pull off an amazing writers' conference on May 1st, giving all those who attend memories and tools they will keep with them long long after the conference is over.

The conference is fast approaching and it looks to be shaping up wonderfully...I think I can cross this one off my list come May 1st!

-Keep plugging away at trying to get an agent/publisher for the two completed novels I have and believe in.

I'm trying to keep the faith...but wondering if I am wasting my energy.


-Take on more freelancing to help pay for another trip in mid to late 2010.

I have several articles on the go and a couple cheques cashed so far this year...hopefully I will keep going at the rate I'm on now.

-volunteer more time for my writing circle and help to bring more initiatives to the group---and possibly put together a workshop that I can facilitate myself for the same writing circle.

Not sure about this one. Got a few things up my sleeve...working on something to reveal soon.

That's about it.

Meh...Not very good goals at second glance...but I'm certainly working my way through them. It's certainly sad to be on this end of all that fabulous travel. Wish I still had it all to look forward to. (-;

[Enzo]

Yep, first 3 months are already gone.
I'm only just getting off the ground right now. Started a screenplay for ScriptFrenzy today and will be writing the other occasional screenplay during the year.
My two main projects are thriller novels, for which I am in the process of completing the outlines. I did write some scenes and paragraphs for both of those, so I guess that means I officially started them, even if it's only in a haphazard way.
2010 is going to be a great year, even if it's only for writing and not for publishing ... yet.

[Cliff Face]

Finished an erotica novella. I'd never written erotica before, so I'm glad I've finally dipped my pen.

Got sick for three weeks, which put a damper on things, but I've done first edits for 3 books.

Started Script Frenzy. I was always a little fearful of scripts because I didn't know the format, but I seem to be doing alright with 3 scenes tucked away.

That's been all so far.

Oh, wait, I wrote 10k of a dark fantasy. This doesn't sound like much, but it's the first time I've tried fully pantsing it (instead of having scant outlines) and it's going well enough.

:)

[matt608]

I'm aiming to have found an agent and be well on the way to publication of my first book by the end of 2010 and also to have finished a first draft of my first proper full length novel, which I am yet to start.

[The_Ink_Goddess]

Right now, I need some new goals as I've finished my GCSEs...for the last couple of months:

1. Do okay on the SAT.
2. Decide what SAT Subject Tests I want to do.
3. Revise well for January AS Level exams.
4. Finish WIP.
5. Let WIP survive through beta readers.
6. Query WIP.

[readitnweep]

I don't set goals in writing; I've learned my lesson. I have too much going on otherwise. I work as hard as I can at writing every day. I write whenever I can, so I just hope to keep doing that. Sooner or later I'll finish my current one. If it's good enough, I'll begin to look for an agent. If I can't get it where I want it, I'll move on to the next project. That's me.

[K.L. Townsend]

My goal is to desperately figure out how to be a teacher and a writer. I'm exhausted.

[jaksen]

Hey, K.L. Been there and it is possible. I did it with 3 kids (one handicapped.) I awoke each morn. at 4:00 AM and wrote. I wrote after work in between grading papers and talking to parents on the phone. Teaching can be a 24 hour job, so take it easy and always carve out time just for you. Demand it.

If writing is important to you, you'll find the way.

Good luck!

D.A.M.

[K.L. Townsend]

Hey, K.L. Been there and it is possible. I did it with 3 kids (one handicapped.) I awoke each morn. at 4:00 AM and wrote. I wrote after work in between grading papers and talking to parents on the phone. Teaching can be a 24 hour job, so take it easy and always carve out time just for you. Demand it.

If writing is important to you, you'll find the way.

Good luck!

D.A.M.

Thanks. I feel so unbalanced. I'm not making writing the priority it should be because I feel so guilty about taking time to write. I need to shake myself out of that mindset and acknowledge that writing and teaching are both important if I want to be a writer.

[scarletpeaches]

I'm going to try to get through the entire year without being banned.NOTE TO SELF: Ban Scarlet at 2350 GMT, December 31, 2010.Ha, well, failed at not being banned again.

Thread blew up, Buster went postal and banned everyone who posted in the thread, I done grovelled, allowed back in after a few hours...still, a ban though. Bah!My serious answer is:

Book #1 - decide what I want to do with this. Then do it. I could carry on subbing to agents, or there's a particular publisher I could send it to directly.Sent LTC to said publisher, sold it, published.Book #2 - the other day the solution to my editing woes sprang to mind. Annoying because I'm still NaNoing. At least now I know what I'm doing and who to send it to.Recently spent ten days going over this and subbed it. Ten days was all it took, which goes to show how much time I've wasted not editing in the months since I first posted here.Book #3 - needs editing, but the story arc is sound so I foresee just tweakage and tidying and tightening. After it's done, the query and synopsis. This will be going to agents until hell won't have it.In the end I sent this to the publisher who bought book one. It's published in a few weeks.Book #4 - by the start of 2010 the first draft will be done, so I'm going to lay it aside until all of the above is taken care of, and then edit it. And decide where to send it. I have a few possibles in mind.Sold this to Loose Id and it's out in January. After it was contracted, I sent my editor a partial of the newly-polished Book #2 from months back.I also have another project bubbling away in my brainpan, so I'll need to slot that in somewhere.I think I was referring to my vampire novella here, which is currently drafted, edited, polished and on sub.Also...my reading's fallen by the wayside. I've gone from someone who whizzes through 120-150 books a year to reading fewer than 50 in 2009 which is a fuggin' disgrace. Sure, I've been productive writing-wise but that's not good enough. Not for me, anyway.So far this year I've read 137 books; admittedly most were ebooks and not full-length novels either, but still - 137 books.Get Books 1-4 sold...#1, yep. #2 is on sub, #3, yep. #4...sold!

[gothicangel]

Getting a 2:1 and an offer of a place on an MA would do me.

Now next year, I would love to win the CWA Debut Dagger. :D

[Birol]

Looks like I dropped the ball bumping this thread this summer and more recently at the end of September. Thank you for doing so.

[Bubastes]

I finished my plans for 2010 and it looks like a leapfrog game:

1. Finish first draft of novel #2 by 01/31
2. Finish final draft of novel #1 by 06/30 (begin query-go-round in July)
3. Finish first draft of novel #3 by 12/31

Simple, but not easy.

Whoa, talk about a FAIL for 2010 for me! I managed to reach goal 1, but 8 months late. Goals 2 and 3 are a no-go, but I did rip apart novel #1 last week to find the salvageable bits.

Still pressing forward.

[kittyhoward]

I'd like to be finished part one of my novel but I'm not holding my breath!

[ChaosTitan]

Overall, my 2010 goals have been met, so yay!

1. Sell at least two more books in the Dreg City series to my editor. Done. :D
2. Submit a second adult series (if my current editor decides not to take it on). Done and sold. :D
3. Discuss and prepare with agent a YA project. A draft of the first book is finished, and the proposal for the trilogy is underway.
4. Continue writing short stories and submit to short story markets. I have been fiddling with shorts, but haven't submitted anything.
5. Promote the hell out of my July '10 release. Did that. :)
6. Continue blogging. Yep, although not as often as I'd like.
7. I hit my goal of reading 100 books/novellas this year, so I'm putting next year's goal at 115. Epic fail here for various reasons. I think my overall reading list is around 25-30. Somehow I don't see myself reading another 70 books before the end of the year.
8. Write, write, write to keep those muscles limber. Definitely did/am doing that.

For the rest of 2010:

1. Complete and submit YA proposal to agent.
2. Update my website.
3. Read more often.

[A.R. Starr]

My goal is to have the first draft of my novel polished to the best standard I can get it and be ready to start looking for an agent and/or publisher.

My other goal is to have the next novel well underway.

[Birol]

Whether we like it or not, peeps, 2010 is winding down. You have couple of weeks to throw yourselves at your goals with gusto in order to accomplish what you wanted to at the beginning of the year.

What haven't you been able to accomplish this year? What kept you from accomplishing it? What personal habits might you want to change in order to do better next year?

[eqb]

What haven't you been able to accomplish this year? What kept you from accomplishing it? What personal habits might you want to change in order to do better next year?

I was pretty vague in my goals, but I can report that I achieved a couple important goals, and fell down completely on one.

Done:


One novel seen through copyedits, galley proofs, and publication
One short story collection seen through galley proofs and publication
One novelette written and sold
Second novel under contract (different publisher) revised
Third novel delivered and accepted, and seen through copyedits
Draft for the fourth novel half done
Too many articles and interviews to keep track of


I also sold two more novels.

The one major goal I missed was actually finishing a complete draft of that fourth novel. The main obstacles were health (I was very sick for several months early in the year) and not realizing how much time and mental energy that prepublication promo would suck up. Luckily, the book won't be released for a couple years, so I haven't screwed up any production schedules.

For the rest of the year...I don't know yet. I might plot noodle a short story for an anthology. Or I might print out the first half of novel #4 and review that before I head into the second half of the book.

[BrandiZ]

My goal is to send out my query letter before the end of the year. So close to perfecting it!

[Paperback Writer]

My goal is to write regularly and to either begin a thriller I have in mind or write several short stories. Additionally, to keep reading almost every day. Also to find some buddies to motivate me.

[IdiotsRUs]

Okay...kinda

<-------Why do you think I carry this big stick wiv nails in?

Okay, my real goals are....

Sub novella Done, sold, it came out in September.
Finish and sub last in series. Done, didn't sell. With some work...naaa. Maybe if I run out of ideas for other books. Unlikely.
Tidy up first draft of novel and try and get an agent Didn't get the agent, but sold it anyway. Comes out next month
Finish and polish second novel and try and get an agentFinished first draft, but other stuff cropped up so not polished yet.
Make a start of first draft of novel 3. Um, actually, finished first draft of a completely different book which is now resting. This book is now...er about 3 or 4 in the queue.
Also made a start on extra book. ( Oh and I'm 20k into another book too)
Surf less, write more! ( To which end, hubby has disabled internet access to the laptop) Did very well with this right up till I started writing an historical - needed to do loads of research. Then I started playing WOW again...but I'm being strict, no WOWing till I've got my words in for the day.

I shall take over the world in my spare time.

So, no agent, but not too shabby other wise.

[Birol]

How did the taking over the world thing go?

[IdiotsRUs]

How did the taking over the world thing go?

I made a start. A small piece of Sussex is MINE ALL MINE!! I shall work outwards from there. Look out Crawley, here I come.....oh wait, I don't want that bit.

I may just take over the bits I like. :D

[Ken]

... failed to achieve both my goals, but I did make some strides. Kudos to those who achieved theirs. Maybe I will too, next year.

[swvaughn]

Me and 2010, we aren't speaking. I'm just going to pretend this year didn't happen.

Where's the post your goals for 2011 thread? At this point I'd rather look forward, because looking back is killing me. :tongue

[AlwaysJuly]

My 2010 goal list was long and optimistic :

Complete The Goddess of Vengeance Wore Pink Galoshes Done
Revise The Goddess of Vengeance Still working, maybe done in 2010 maybe not
Write query letter for The Goddess Done many times over. Probably still not perfect.
Query the Goddess of Vengeance. Not happening in 2010! Getting moved to 2011 goals.

Write 3 new short stories Done.
Write 10 new poems Nope. I guess maybe I could try to finish these before 2011 just to say I did.

Complete Her Own Beast Nope. This is a 55k fantasy novel that I started in '08 and like, but it's not going anywhere fast.
Complete NaNoWriMo 2010 Nope, grad school killed NaNo this year about 14k in. Oh well, it's 14k I didn't have before.

Well, now I'm done musing over my past failures and it's time to plan some new ones! :)

[ChaosTitan]

Can't believe the year is almost over. Carrying over from my October update...


For the rest of 2010:

1. Complete and submit YA proposal to agent.
2. Update my website.
3. Read more often.

1. Done. Read. Revised. We're going out with it in January. :D
2. Er, still not done. *shamefaced*
3. Read a couple more books, but nowhere near what I was reading last year. My list stands at 38 books read this year. :(

Despite it's rocky start, 2010 shaped up to be a pretty good year.

[erinbee]

My 2010 Goals

Complete the edits on The Heroine's Bookshelf and do everything in my power to give her a great coming-out party as she enters the world in October.

Sell at least one additional book, and complete per contract.

Complete a novel. This is one I've been putting off for various fear-based reasons, and that needs to change.

Be better to myself. The process of completing my first to-be-published book has reminded me of my perfectionism and insecurity, and I'd like to change that.

Well...I finished 1 and 4. This has been a banner year with the release of my very first book, but I didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked. However, I was able to approach the publication process with as much aplomb as possible, and that's huge!

Here's hoping for a much more productive 2011 :D

[PrincessofPersia]

Me and 2010, we aren't speaking. I'm just going to pretend this year didn't happen.

Where's the post your goals for 2011 thread? At this point I'd rather look forward, because looking back is killing me. :tongue

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199948

[mscelina]

I can honestly report that I acheived all my goals for 2010. Now I need to establish attainable goals for 2011, which, since I'll be sending five completed manuscripts in three genres to my agent ready for submission will involve a lot of finger crossing and serious candle-lighting.

[bearilou]

Me and 2010, we aren't speaking. I'm just going to pretend this year didn't happen.

Where's the post your goals for 2011 thread? At this point I'd rather look forward, because looking back is killing me. :tongue

No kidding. I'm just going to bury myself in a hole and bring the dirt in on top of my head.

One thing I learned. An entire year went by and an entire year was wasted.

I gotta do better than that.

[Wayne K]

Then learn from that. The years go fast. Take an old man's word for it, and get busy.

[scarletpeaches]

I didn't write as much new material as I'd hoped.

2009 was the year of writing.
2010 was the year of editing. I also sold three books, so I couldn't complain. That's marvellous progress.

In 2011 my chief aim is to combine the two, and maintain my reading mojo. I don't want to forsake one for the other. A good writer balances the two so they're always coming up with new stuff, and editing/polishing what they've already written.

[Birol]

Arch, are those your goals for the remainder of 2010 or for 2011?

[Arch Stanton]

Oops, wrong thread, lol!