Four stories also lines up with the WOTF quarters, where each story will begin its journey.Mine:
1. To finish "Touch of Fate," my novel in progress which is about to enter its third (and hopefully final) draft. I was hoping that #2 would be its last draft but it seems clear that the story wants to be a suspense rather than a mystery. I want to be writing query letters by December 2005!
2. To write four solid short stories, one each quarter. I don't want to write a short story a week or a month like I have done in the past because these often turn out sub par, but I want to continue writing those shorter stories that have a better chance of being published in a year instead of ten years. Four stories also lines up with the WOTF quarters, where each story will begin its journey.
3. To read one new fiction book each week. That means that by the end of the year I will be 52 books closer to well-read by anyone's definition.
4. To research at least four new nonfiction topics that I have never looked deeply into before. I'm considering beginning with lesser-known mythologies (ie not Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or Norse). Possibly African or Asian myths.
5. To continue submitting stories despite numerous rejections until they find their homes. I cannot make a goal that is not in my power (such as a goal to sell x number of short stories) but I can do everything in my power to make 2005 a banner year for me.
1. Figure out the problem with my novel length WIP "Emissary" (my characters have been literally stuck on a ledge for a year).
2. Finish the seven short stories that are half finished. (In the Pines, GreyHounds, Last Eagle, Rose Garden, Well of Souls, Cobblestones, and Quillen)
3. Improve my punctuation and formatting.
4. Do a rewrite on my rewrite challenge story (Sirens), using the helpful feedback from my Hatrack friends.
5. Complete my WOF entry "Stormhorse".
2. Work up some serious minded stories suitable for WOTF (And most of the rest of the magazine world. Silliness has a smaller market I have discovered.) 4 is probably a good number on that.
3. Do NaNoWriMo again.
4. Get a full outline of a novel together (possibly for combination with #3)
5. Keep stories in the mail (I like this one, it's the easy one!)
1. Rewrite my NaNoWriMo draft into something worthwhile.
2. Read, read, read. Everything, but especially within genre.
3. Write, write, write. Anything, everything. If it intrudes upon my consciousness, I must write it down. Write it now; figure out its usefulness later. I miss too many good snippets of dialogue and description by mistakenly believing that I will remember it later.
4. Start outlining the novel whose story precedes my NaNoWriMo story.
5. Stop doing all my writing at the keyboard; put that fine Waterman to good use and WRITE with it!
6. Do NaNoWriMo again. Insanity also loves company.
7. Try to participate here more consistently.
I have a 500 word minimum daily writing goal. Most days I write more, sometimes up to 2000 words. But those days I'm tried or the writing is difficult, I force myself to write 500 words.
Last year I read 60 books. Everything from Dickens' GREAT EXPECTATIONS and Tolstoy's WAR AND PEACE to Orson Scott Card's SEVENTH SON and Stephen King's THE GREEN MILE. That was too much. I didn't read as carefully as I should have. My new goal is to read constantly without thinking about quantity. Once deciding how long it should take me to read a novel (or a short story collection), I figure out how many pages I need to read a day to finish it.
I certainly like Christine's idea of studying four nonfiction topics. For me they will be American History, Nazi Germany, the history of art, and the life of either Washington or Teddy Roosevelt.
I will write everyday until all the words in my head are on the page. I am not setting a word count right now, I will see if I think I need to.
This may sound sappy, but I am going to spend time with my wife and do more things with her. I am also going to take long rides on my motorcycle, because that is the thing that centers me, and clears my head for writing. After riding, I am going to work in the yard, plant some more flowers and play with my dog. There, I think I put in all the important stuff. That should keep things balanced, so I don't feel bad about spending too much time locked in my room with the computer.
So for writing, I would like to complete the three short stories I am working on. I would also like to start fleshing out the fantasy novel I outlined in the Dave Wolverton workshop I attended this year.
If I can do all that I will be happy.
2. Polish and then obsessively sub my 4 best stories.
Also I will do 2005 Nano, and write more stories as they occur to me, and continue to do crits here and in other forums.
Get my website in working order.
If funds permit, go to the Maui writer's conference this year.
I'm revising my goals a little. This year is going to be a learning year for me and as such I am going to read everything I get my hands on.
Happy New Year!!!
[This message has been edited by dspellweaver (edited January 03, 2005).]
Terra!
1) To continue my avid reading (around 10 books per month minimum)
2) To carry on trying to write a book and to sort out the ideas (I tend to get on with one and then have ideas for another and start on that.
3) Write a proper plan for whats going to happen in the tale
4) Write a scene every few days (even if it wont go into the plot of the book as it can give an insight of the characters that may come in useful
5) Possibly interview each character, sometimes a quirky thing can come out that leads to other idea's.
6) Submit written scenes every month for critique and then rewrite each within the following month after advice has been given.
I should add quit smoking but its my only vice.
Good for you! Take it from me, you can do it. I quit 2 years ago and I still pat myself on the back for it. It's tough to do, but oh so worth it in the end.
I have an excellent list of "Good Things to Look Forward to When you Quit" that someone gave me. If you'd like to have it for inspiration, send me a message and I'd be happy to share it with you.
Terra!
1. To read as much as I can, fiction and nonfiction.
2. To write as much as I can: 1000 words daily, minimum.
3. To send my stuff out to at least 10 markets before putting it in the grave.
to get my brain in gear and actually concentrate on one thing at a time, rather than flitting from one project to the next!
At the moment, that's about it.
R
Since I know ahead of time that there's no way on Earth that I'm going to keep that resolution, I can dispense with the stress now, and just be happy-go-lucky.
See. I'm smiling already. 