Writing goals realistic?

celticroots · Jan 24, 2012

One of my dreams is to get a YA novel published one day, after years of working, re-writes, and new projects. I've been writing for 10 years (started at 13 now in my early 20's.) I know that there's still much to learn about the craft of writing and that it requires years of practice like any other skill.

Is my goal of wanting to get a novel published one day realistic? Thoughts?

Baliseth · Jan 24, 2012

A goal of getting published is very realistic and achievable. Like any other good goal, it requires perseverance and tenacity. And you've set your goal at something you can realistically reach, rather than somewhere up past the moon.

My advice is to stick to it. Don't let anyone discourage you and don't give up on your goal while there is still any glimmer of hope of being able to achieve it.

Dreity · Jan 24, 2012

Getting published is a perfectly reasonable goal.

I think the fantasy that you (general you) will sell your very first novel for a bajillion dollars and never have to do anything else but bask in your wealth from that point onward is what most people try to stamp out.

LadyDae · Jan 24, 2012

Hmm... That's about the age I started, well a little younger at eleven. We're still young and after writing that long and feeling like we're veterans or something it does seem impossible, but I've learned a wealth of information in the last ten years and I think I'm ready to get something published now.

So yes. It's realistic. Very realistic to me and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

JayMan · Jan 24, 2012

It's certainly more realistic than my goal of not only getting published, but making millions and retiring early to an island resort where attractive women in bikinis serve me whiskey all day. :tongue

DeleyanLee · Jan 24, 2012

It depends on how you define "goal", whether or not it is realistic.

I define "goal" being something that is totally within my ability to achieve, if I put my mind and effort to it. It has zero dependence on someone else coming through in order to achieve this thing.

So, by my definition, becoming published is a very unreasonable goal because far too much depends on other people for me to accomplish it.

I see publication as an aspiration or an intention rather than a goal. That word change takes a lot of the failure off me if I've done everything that I can and the rest of those who need to come through don't.

If your defintion is different, that it very well may be. Just decide what your defintion is, and you'll know your own answer.

SomethingOrOther · Jan 24, 2012

Seems very realistic.

Also, over the years, lots of crap, relatively speaking, has been published. I don't want to publish crap; I wouldn't consider that much of an accomplishment. So I want publishers to set a high bar for me. I don't mind if takes me until I'm 30 to fashion the novelistic toolkit I'll need to get consistently published. The average age of a first-time-published novelist is higher than even that. Hope you get challenged.

shaldna · Jan 25, 2012

Of course it's realistic. Look how many other people have done it. It's certainly possible.

Mutive · Jan 25, 2012

I think a survey was done by Hines about first published novels. In general, it seemed to take most authors around 10 years and until they were in their mid-30s. Also most had written quite a few other novels (I think the average was around 5 - both mean and median). Obviously, there was quite a bit of variation. But it does reinforce that writing isn't something that most people pick up, do, and do perfectly the first time.

So, yes, it's quite realistic. And that you have 10 years in probably means that it's a reality that's getting closer to fruition. Will it ever happen? Who knows. As a poster said above, a lot of the elements are out of your control.

But if you keep working hard and learning (and producing), my guess is that sooner or later, someone will publish one of your novels.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 25, 2012

For some it's realistic, for others it's an impossibility. For all, it's something beyond control.

Concentrate of the things you can control, how much and how often you write, how much and how often you submit, how much and how often you read, and how much and how often you study the business. Do these things, and if you have any talent at all, publishing will take care of itself.

Just follow Heinlein's Rules. If they don't get you there, nothing will.

Architectus · Jan 25, 2012

Kiel · Jan 25, 2012

I think it is also important not to put a time frame on your goals because if the time comes and goes without your goal having been achieved it can leave you disillusioned.

Gilead · Jan 25, 2012

Kiel said:
I think it is also important not to put a time frame on your goals because if the time comes and goes without your goal having been achieved it can leave you disillusioned.

I think it's important to do entirely the opposite: put a timeframe on your goals, otherwise you're likely to meander along without the required level of focus.

Although I wouldn't really count 'get published' as a workable goal, since it's not something you can control beyond writing and then submitting stuff. 'Write a novel, revise it, polish it and submit to agents in six months time' is a better short-term goal, I think.

writingismypassion · Jan 25, 2012

Of course it's realistic. As long as you're committed and willing to put forth the time and effort it takes to develop your craft, you can get a book published.

Anne Lyle · Jan 25, 2012

celticroots said:
Is my goal of wanting to get a novel published one day realistic? Thoughts?

Assuming that by "published" you mean "published by a respectable press that will pay me an advance"...

It's a realistic ambition. It's not a realistic goal because so many other factors are outside your control. Fashions in fiction change, editors move from one publishing house to the next, the perfect agent who would have loved your book may retire...

A realistic goal is to complete a novel to a competent, professional skill level and submit it to agents. Anyone with a bit of imagination and a lot of perseverance can do that.

dangerousbill · Jan 25, 2012

celticroots said:
Is my goal of wanting to get a novel published one day realistic? Thoughts?

It's realistic and achievable, but like a lot of high goals, most of the fun is in the journey.

Putting it another way, if you don't aspire to it, you'll never achieve it.

I may or may not sell big someday, but in the meantime, I'm meeting lots of fascinating people and watching my skill improve every day.

randi.lee · Jan 25, 2012

Celtic- So long as you continue to believe you will be published then someday you will be. Giving up is when the dream becomes unrealistic.

EthanJones · Jan 25, 2012

Your goal is realistic. Writing is something you love doing, since you've been writing for 10 years at an age when writing doesn't come easy for most people.

With today's digital technology and e-books, it is even easier to achieve your dream.

Hang around Absolute Write, learn, give back, grow and I'm positive one day you'll be a published writer.

Ethan

skydragon · Jan 25, 2012

Of course it is! There are so many published authors out there - no reason why you can't be one of them!

You may need a thick skin for dealing with rejection, but as long as you don't give up there's no reason why you can't get something published.

VoireyLinger · Jan 25, 2012

celticroots said:
One of my dreams is to get a YA novel published one day, after years of working, re-writes, and new projects. I've been writing for 10 years (started at 13 now in my early 20's.) I know that there's still much to learn about the craft of writing and that it requires years of practice like any other skill.

Is my goal of wanting to get a novel published one day realistic? Thoughts?

My gut level thought is that yes, it's realistic -- after all, people sell YA books all the time -- but that if you keep the goal as a nebulous 'one day' it won't happen.

Why? (Please take this with a grain of salt. I obviously don't know you personally and am drawing conclusions from the wording of a very short post.)

Because 'one day' isn't a goal, it's a dream. 'One day' is a fantasy you wait on, something that comes to you, something that happens off in the distance.

Instead of selling 'one day' sell before your 29th birthday. Break down the next 5 years into steps in the process. get your butt in gear figuring out which publishers are preferred, weighing digital-first vs. print-first publishers. Make a game plan and get to that 29th birthday goal instead of waiting on one day. I'm a firm believer in making goals, and mapping your career plan.

And while you're doing all that, sub sub sub. Nowhere in your post did you hint you were trying to sell all those rewrites and new projects. Getting stuff in front of a decision-maker is key to selling. Don't assume you have to know everything about writing before you sell, because writing evolves. you can never know it all because the market changes. YA is a very hot seller right now, so it wouldn't hurt to start trying to sell what you have (assuming of course that you aren't already doing that).

jaksen · Jan 26, 2012

Of course it's realistic, otherwise why are you doing it?

Anne Lyle · Jan 26, 2012

Voirey is right - you need to set concrete goals in addition to having a dream. My dream was to get a book published within ten years, and I made that happen - but I did it by setting a goal of finishing a book and submitting it within that timescale. Self-imposed deadlines will help you prepare for the reality of being a contracted author with real deadlines to meet!

(Yes, ten years is a long time - but publishing moves slowly, and life has a habit of getting in the way...)

this.is.mark · Jan 26, 2012

Of course it's a realistic goal. I wouldn't see why not. You've been writing for many years now. If you enjoy writing and continue to do so, I would hedge my bets on you getting published one day.

However, you shouldn't focus so much on getting yourself published. Write for the sake of writing, write for the enjoyment and pleasure it gives you. Write for yourself always.

If you concentrate so much on getting published, you could burn yourself out trying to complete that one novel that you think is brilliant but no one else does.

Just my two pennies.

Now to take my own advice

MP

KingM · Jan 26, 2012

It sounds like you love writing enough that you started at a young age and have stuck with it. If you enjoy writing, I say keep trying. If the point comes where it's making you miserable, then give it up.

celticroots · Jan 26, 2012

Anne Lyle said:
Assuming that by "published" you mean "published by a respectable press that will pay me an advance"...

It's a realistic ambition. It's not a realistic goal because so many other factors are outside your control. Fashions in fiction change, editors move from one publishing house to the next, the perfect agent who would have loved your book may retire...

A realistic goal is to complete a novel to a competent, professional skill level and submit it to agents. Anyone with a bit of imagination and a lot of perseverance can do that.

Yep getting published by a respectable house that would pay me an advance is what I meant

I don't write to get paid though.

Writing goals realistic?

celticroots

Baliseth

Dreity

LadyDae

New AW user. Veteran Writer 8+

JayMan

Like Burt Reynolds in Gator

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

SomethingOrOther

-

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Mutive

Blissfully Clueless

Jamesaritchie

Architectus

Kiel

Gilead

writingismypassion

~Charity~

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

randi.lee

Certified Non-Genius

EthanJones

skydragon

VoireyLinger

Angel Wing Fetish

jaksen

Caped Codder

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian

this.is.mark

KingM

celticroots