Goals for 2019

[Witchend]

What are your writing goals for the next year?

Mine are (after panto has finished in February)

1. Edit properly my WIP. I'm thinking of completely rewriting it. Never tried that before, but I'm not happy with the editing so far and think I can do it better.

1. Get permission to perform a script I've written adapted from a children's book. I'm hoping that the copywrite is owned by family not a company, as we're a youth theatre, performing on a shoe string so have no money to pay for performing rights.

What's a WIP?

I am going to write a book on 2019. It will be a sci-fi. It will be amazing!

To finish my historical novel. I have been working on it for about two years and have one more chapter to write, then edit etc.
There is a website I would like to create, which isn't exactly writing but is creative.

Then...start something new. My writing has been quite 'heavy/grim' so I would like to write something a bit more light hearted this year and I have one or two ideas about which direction this might take.

To join a new writing group and attend a book group in an endeavour to become a little bit more sociable. To explore the arts/crafts even if it is just a taster session.

WIP= Work in Progress. (sorry!)

Finish my first novel! I'm 2 chapters down, 10 more to go. I desperately need more self control as at present I procrastinate way too much (Damn you Netflix)! I want to be finished by June, so I need to complete 2 chapters per month.

I like this thread, it is interesting to see what other peoples goals are. I feel a bit reticent about setting time frames for goals although goal setting is great and gives you a focus. I am trying to fit everything around 3 dcs including a currently 9 month old baby...it's going to be difficult once dd is toddling around...I am banking on her taking at least one long nap to afford me some time to get things edited, that's why I'm trying to have a final push to complete the last chapter of my novel.

@Lavenderdays the last chapter, that is so exciting

I’m going to write 3500 words a week. I only have an hour or two in the evenings to write so can’t do more. I’ve not written anything for over a month due to illness partly but also because of loss of confidence (again!).
That first draft is getting finished this year.

Hi toolazy and nuffaluff...what are you both writing?
Nuffaluff, I've always gone along the lines that I am writing just for me, yes, in all honesty it would be lovely if it were published but it is my way of maintaining my confidence to say that I am doing it for myself (I generally lack lots of confidence in general).
Last chapter but I think one of the hardest to write (set myself a goal to write it by the end of January), I am currently procrastinating and using the fact that the dcs are on hols to procrastinate even further! I think I will feel a mixture of relief and sadness that my book will soon be written (though lots of editing etc. still to do) because writing it has been a part of my life for so long.

Hi lavender, well done on getting to the last chapter - what an achievement it will be when you’ve finished it!
I am writing a novel. I’ve been having a rethink about one of my main characters, so need to make some biggish changes, but hopefully it will improve things. Part of the problem is I’ve been writing it out of order.
How long has it taken you to get where you’ve got to? I’ve been writing for two years on and off, with massive breaks in between. I feel like, if I don’t get the first draft done this year then I’ll give up. I need to give myself an ultimatum for a kick up the backside!

Hi Nuffaluff. I have been writing my novel for just under two years but that includes some editing so it is not exactly completely first draft stage. The biggest interruptions to my writing has been my dcs school holidays including the long Summer holiday where I think I got very little done. I began by writing the book pretty much in order but then started writing chapters randomly in the last 6 months or so.
My word count (including final chapter) is a bit on the low side at 65,000 words. I went through the book not so long ago and ruthlessly stripped superfluous bits out; I don't want to add extra stuff for the sake of it because I like the pace but I'm hoping I can cobble a bit more together, rather than lose anymore. For me writing has been highly cathartic to the point where I'm not sure that I care what others think (but would obviously love it, if there was a positive reaction from anyone who reads it). It has been my project and I am determined to see my book bound with a cover of my design on it. As I am typing this, I realise that it is probably going to be a costly exercise but it is something that I am immensely proud of and it has benefited me in so many ways that it deserves the money spending on it.

A novel, not sure where it's going. It's a life long dream to always write a book. I'm trying to get into the habit of writing for an hour every early morning.

That sounds great lavender. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed writing it - that is the most important thing, I agree.
I really enjoy writing when I get round to it. The evenings are just too short. From September I’ll have two days free when my DCs will both be at school. We’ve agreed I won’t go back to work full time just yet to give me a chance to finish it.

Nuffaluff, it will probably help you to focus knowing that these are your two primary days to write. I only tend to get snippets of time, an hour and a half max at any one time (whilst baby sleeps), sometimes only 20 minutes but fortunately, this is how I write; in short bursts, so it suits me very well at the moment.
It is great that you are following your ambition to write your novel.
toolazytothink; I think I am the opposite in that my book has never been a life-long ambition, although I think I remember saying to no-one in particular as a small child, I wish that I could write a book (I remember my maternal grandmother saying how one of her ambitions was to write a book, though she never spoke of it and I wasn't old enough at that time to question her further but she never did write that book). I hadn't realised until I started writing my novel that it was always something that I enjoyed doing; that I always loved reading and writing stories as a child, it is as if that faded somehow but has always been simmering in the background all along and has only just resurfaced to become an important ambition of mine. It was prompted by a bereavement that I suffered.

1. Revise the fantasy WIP I've been working on forever

2. Finish contemporary romance that I've barely started

3. Try to stop writing short stories as they are lovely and shiny and it's so nice to finish things and send them out into the world but they are very DISTRACTING.

Start draft one of my novel. I need to ignore the voice in my head that tells me everything I write is rubbish.

@darkriver198868 I have that voice in my head too 😔 My plan is to write the skeleton as quickly as possible (approx 60k words), then I can slowly go through it and edit it up to a standard I'm happy with.

A publisher asked to see the full script of my children's novel a couple of months ago. I sent it off in early December and am really really hoping they will accept it.

My goal is to get another book written and to bring my working week (at my day job) down to four days.

That's really exciting Lydia, good luck with that x

Thanks . I'm keeping a very anxious eye on my email at the moment!

After a lifetime of saying I want to be a writer, I am writing my first novel. I have it planned and have written almost 13500 words in just over a week. Suddenly, it’s just flowing after a mental block of eight years (coinciding with my first child’s birth!) I feel really good about finally doing something! I want to take advantage of this surge and complete the first draft ASAP - it’s difficult as I have a very demanding job and young children so I’m writing in little chunks when I can but I can knock out 500-1000 words just waiting for my youngest to go to sleep (he takes ages!) I will never have any quiet blocks of focused time, not for the foreseeable future, so I’m just writing when I can.

When I have finished the draft, my plan is to take a break and then come back to it after a few weeks to see if it is actually any good. I’m hoping just the process of writing something to completion will prove to me that I can do this.

An idea for a second novel is swirling around so I feel like there is hope after this one that I won’t have used up all my inspiration. I really hope I produce something that is good!

Hi Captain, that's sounds really positive. I have young children too, as well as a pre-teen and sometimes I feel like it is a gift to have a chunk of time to write. Usually, it's when baby naps or in the evenings instead of watching TV whilst baby is asleep on dh's knee.

I have written about 99% of my first draft (need to finish off a chapter) and I have edited my work a couple of times. I printed the whole lot off the other day for editing and it is exciting to see a bundle of pages in front of me, it's like the book is really taking shape. I have been writing this novel for a couple of years now and plan to finish it this year...don't have another novel in the pipeline just yet but I do have other projects planned. Writing this novel has been very absorbing but I feel like I need a rest from the intensity of work that it demands especially because I have children who need my time and attention too but it is great that you have ideas for another novel, I'm hoping that something else will come to me in time. x

Goals: something published, short story or novel

Novel completed, preferably with a deal. Going to start looking for feed back from publishers when outline and first three chapters done.

To step out of my comfort zone, because I'm required to write the first two chapters of a childrens' novel and a play for university. Have some basic ideas but don't really know where to start just yet.

I've got permission to write the script! I'm stupidly excited by this.

That's what dd1&2 have told me.

That's great news Witchend...it looks as if you are moving closer to accomplishing one of your goals!

I look forward to hearing updates from everyone and how things are going. I am moving forward ridiculously slowly but with a 10 month old baby in the mix and the school run in between as well as everything else it is hardly surprising and very frustrating BUT I am nevertheless moving closer toward achieving one of my goals and I think I might well do it by the end of the year (I am hoping to wrap the editing up by the end of June - Summer Holidays = zero work.)