2014 Writing Goals. Post your goals for the next year.

I'm doing a book review challenge, for books specifically off of NetGalley. I'd like to get at least 100 reviews done, even if they're not all especially for this.

I'd like to have a rough draft of my novel done by the end of January, and have it presentable and ready to pitch, along with outlines for the rest of the series, by June 6, for the Carson City Literary Festival.

I guess those are pretty simple goals; but I want to make sure I succeed!

Maybe if I write these down I'll hold myself more accountable.

Quit tinkering and start querying novel: May 1
Complete first draft of novella WIP: June
Research/plot NaNo 2013 Failure: As time permits, but before NaNo 2014

500,000 words.

Rather simple, 'cause I don't want to make too many goals I might regret later.

Finish a draft. Preferably the one I'm currently working on, but not necessarily.

Enter the Vogel's.

Write something--of any length, for any purpose--that I really love.

Submit at least one piece of poetry to a mag.

WillSauger said:

500,000 words.

Rather simple, 'cause I don't want to make too many goals I might regret later.

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That's quite the impressive goal! Considering that I've only written about 92k since August, when I first started keeping track.

Mine is to finish the damn book I'm writing and send it off! And hopefully start something new. The problem is I'm still learning and I absorb the info in sparse jumps that require practice or else I forget them. On the plus side, I remember them faster and faster each time. Gah, I have lots to learn, but mostly I'd like to learn to trap my readers and never have them put the book down. Hee hee.

Quantity doesn't work for me at all, but consistent, quality focus.

I'd also love to find a author-mentor for style and concept, whose books I'll adore and make my fav list and try to emulate. That would be cool.

To learn how to use a comma.

ZachJPayne said:

I'm doing a book review challenge, for books specifically off of NetGalley. I'd like to get at least 100 reviews done, even if they're not all especially for this.

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Hey, that's only 8 and a bit reviews a month. Good luck!

As for my goals:

• Get one book-length manuscript up to snuff. ("Snuff" here defined as "as close to submission-worthy as I'm capable of getting the thing.")
• Finish some short stories, with intent to submit.

I don't get more specific until closer to January 1.

phantasy said:

Mine is to finish the damn book I'm writing and send it off! And hopefully start something new. The problem is I'm still learning and I absorb the info in sparse jumps that require practice or else I forget them. On the plus side, I remember them faster and faster each time.

Quantity doesn't work for me at all, but consistent, quality focus.

I'd also love to find a author-mentor for style and concept, whose books I'll adore and make my fav list and try to emulate. That would be cool.

Click to expand...

That's how it's suppose to be. You aren't suppose to read large chunks of information and process it quickly. What I do with, say a textbook or writing techniques book, I'll read one chapter, and work on that chapter for a week. Then next week chapter 2, then three, and etc.,

TopHat said:

That's how it's suppose to be. You aren't suppose to read large chunks of information and process it quickly. What I do with, say a textbook or writing techniques book, I'll read one chapter, and work on that chapter for a week. Then next week chapter 2, then three, and etc.,

Click to expand...

Actually my learning doesn't stop at how-to books and I can't learn the way you said. It's too straightforward and inflexible to me. It comes from media I genuinely like, where something in me clicks and I get it. With each 'aha!', I'm narrowing down what I'm doing wrong and why my betas go zzzz. Why, last year writing down a post like this was a challenge. Now I 'see' the things I read and write better and can differentiate (I think, tho I may be way off, this is common) between good and bad storytelling/writing.

So...I am improving, but I don't think linearly. More like a ball of string. My metaphors definitely come easier too!

Polish the two books i did in 2013 and get em sold .

Itching to start my masterpiece.

My goals for 2014 are:
1. finish the first draft of my novel
2. Hit 1,000 words a day (no exceptions! I'm even doubling my writing output to make up for the lost time on christmas day, since I'll be spending it with my family)
3. Edit and revise a second draft, and have it ready for Beta-Testing
4. Hopefully? Maybe? Attempt to find someone to represent said novel.
5. Begin research for next novel, this is a big one since the book is very much based in ancient celtic lore.
6. Just be awesome!
7. Oh , yeah, and get to 50 post's on absolute write so my work can be torn apart by knowledgeable eyes.

ZachJPayne said:

I'm doing a book review challenge, for books specifically off of NetGalley. I'd like to get at least 100 reviews done, even if they're not all especially for this.

I'd like to have a rough draft of my novel done by the end of January, and have it presentable and ready to pitch, along with outlines for the rest of the series, by June 6, for the Carson City Literary Festival.

I guess those are pretty simple goals; but I want to make sure I succeed!

Click to expand...

That is awesome sweets! Good luck!

My writing goal for 2014:

Be published.

very impressive folks...

my goal for 2014, get published.

My List:

Write more

Read more

Critique more

Remember to relax

This next year I'm going to do everything I can to accomplish my goals. I will make it happen!

Stick to a writing schedule.
Ban procrastination devices from my work area.
Finish my current story.
Start working on next story.

LAM's Grand 2014 Plan:

• Finish editing Novel 2
• Start querying Novel 2
• Finish Novel 3
• Start editing Novel 3
• Start and finish Novel 4

Wow, that looks terrifying written down.

Tracking words

If you use excel to keep a log of your words per day you can also make use of excel's built in date and time.

• Select cell - Ctrl and ; will insert date
• Select cell - Ctl and Shift and : will insert current time

You'll soon get and idea of time spent too.

Hmmm. My goals for next year.

Polish two novels. Finish AND polish two others. And write drafts of 3 more. We will see how that turns out considering I'm working on building my blog.

Blergh, I think I reached exactly none of my 2013 goals. But then 2013 has thrown quite a few surprises my way, so it has been a good year writing-wise.

For 2014, I hope to:

-Get a book deal for book #1
-Polish book #2 and send to agent
-Depending on whether book #1 gets an offer or not, either:
-Write and polish sequel to book #1, or
-Write and polish book #3

Although truthfully, if book #1 doesn't get a book deal I'd probably just sink into the Bog of Despair and grow of beard of sadness.