I've actually posted some here in Write 1\Sub 1, but oddly, I wasn't
officially participating, just writing on a consistent basis. (So maybe I was.) This year, I feel like I've laid the ground work by improving my prose, getting rejected, getting published (see my signature), and gaining an understanding of the industry. And, I discovered AW!
I'm keeping the goals for next year simple:
1. Find Readers
By this, I obviously mean publish stories, but my main goal is to simply increase the number of people who have read my work by the end of the year. I'm hoping to have at lest 2-3 new stories published. I'm also looking into other opportunities (perhaps blogs or nonfiction) and considering adapting one of my current stories as a serial for JukePop. To accomplish these goals, I aim to write\submit a total of a
dozen polished stories next year, as a minimum. I'm really aiming for quality over quantity.
2. Complete my Query Letter
My current query has been undergoing a few weeks of revision and self-editing (read: arguing with myself) as I get it ready for another round of QLH. I don't know if anyone here has experience in QLH, but for the uninitiated, it's a scary place where unicorns and rainbows go to die.
(I kid... mostly.)
3. Revise my Novel
My novel has been "finished" for a few months now. Note the air quotes there. I'm thinking of making some tweaks for commercial reasons, and of course, I need to tighten up the prose to my new standards. (Once you start writing 2,000 word short stories, everything over 10,000 seems epic, so I'm betting I'll be able to trim it down even more.)
4. Write a Novella or Novelette
I've never written something of that length before, so the experience could allow me to explore some of my more complicated story ideas.
5. Consider Drafting an MG Novel
This would be for the later stages of 2014, but I like the idea of writing a novel for younger readers. The shorter length also makes it less daunting.
Finally, I want to help others in SYW improve as writers and get their queries ready. And, of course, take over the short story world with the rest of the AW Write 1\Sub 1 Team!
Good luck with 2014, everyone.