Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Goals and Wishes for 2012

Even though I don't obsess over whether I've accomplished my goals for the year (see my post on Jan 1), I do like to have a few simple, doable goals to help guide me when I sit down to write, otherwise I can sit there feeling lost and directionless. So for this year, here's what I plan to do:

1. Finish my latest round of revisions for Novel #4 (The Grand Chef's Apprentice).

2. Finish the big revision I started of Novel #3 (Wild Genius). I have a great outline waiting -- I just need the time and energy to do it.

3. Start something new. It seems like for the last couple of years, I've been working on the same old projects. Good for them, because they just keep getting stronger. I've learned a lot. But I still have a huge collection of story ideas growing in my notebook that I never have enough time for.

When I look back on my goals for 2011, I see that #2 and #3 are pretty much the same as what I included last year. Aack! I think part of the problem is that I'm always revising something - the revisions never seem to stop. Oh well, that means I did accomplish one of my goals - writing more regularly.

What are your writing goals for 2012? Did you accomplish what you set out to do in 2011 or did you have some unexpected surprises along the way?

10 comments:

  1. Revisions are never ending. Yuck. But good for you for keeping the dream alive. If you don't revise, you'll never have the beautifully polished MS.

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  2. Happy New Year, Andrea! :)

    Yes, I feel you. I've been revising forever it seems. But like you, I didn't get a chance to write as much as I wanted. Mostly in spurts. I hope to be more consistent this year.

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  3. This is what happens when the powers that be request revisions! Good for you for keeping your focus. I know we all want to start something shiny and new but I also know from reading your writing that you're on the right track.

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  4. Same here, some goals get recycled over and over again, because the writing process is never ending. Happy New Year!

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  5. So true, Emily. The more revisions I do, the better the story gets.

    Karen, being consistent is a great goal! One thing I tried to do last year that I felt successful about was writing more regularly, and I think it made a big difference to my writing (though apparently, not to how much I accomplished)!

    Thank you for your support, Kate. I do enjoy revising and I like the improvements - I just wish I could work faster. But I guess that's not my style.

    Lydia, I guess they are just great goals, right? Why not have the same goals again if they work.

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  6. I have a few half-baked goals, but I think I need more solid ones. ((goes off to think...))

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  7. I'm not a goal setter, generally speaking. I'm not sure if it's because then I never fail or I feel all surprised at myself and think, "Cool. I accomplished a lot." ((goes off to think with Marcia...))

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  8. The main thing i didn't accomplish last year that I wanted to was i didn't write an MG or YA novel... ah, well, maybe this year! :)

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  9. 2011 was pretty good with my goals. I know I accomplished at least 80 percent of them. This year however I'm going without and see what happens.
    Good luck with your goals and Happy New Year to you.

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  10. I think it's wonderful you are passionate about those novels. I gave up a quite a few of my books and maybe I'll go back to them. I think you've read them all! But with this current one that's out with editors, I told myself I'd do everything in my power and as many revisions as it took. So I think it's a decision we have to make with each of our stories.

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