It's a new year! I know many of us are very much looking forward to a fresh start in 2012, a year full of Excitement! Possibility! Potential! As long as we don't all die in the apocalypse!
And with this new year comes those pesky promises we make to ourselves. Do you have any writing resolutions for 2012? A novel you want to finish or a habit you want to kick or a manuscript you want to finally send out?
I would like to write better evocative gestures and character-revealing details in 2012. What about you?
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76 comments:
I'll settle for author representation, and it feels close at hand.
Happy New Year, Nathan!
I will write fewer aimless scenes about cooking, and instead drive the plot forward!
I will write more than I did last year.
And try to show more than tell.
Finish my WIP, which i should do this week, (first draft) and sign a third contract.
Yes: FINISH THIS NOVEL!
I do have one. I shall enrol for The Writers Bureau's Comprehensive Writing Diploma Course.
No resolutions, Nathan, just goals: find an editor that will fall in love with You're Not Icarus, my YA thriller, just as my agent and I did.
Happy New Year! May all your wishes and dreams for 2012 come true.
Get my first rejection letter for a short story or full length novel.
Also, just more writing in general.
Happy New Year, all!
My ultimate goal is to finish my WIP and to then submit it for representation, but I've broken up that goal into smaller, more manageable bits. Crossing my fingers and holding my toes. Good luck, everyone!
If this book doesn't land an agent, write the one that will.
If it does, write the next one...
My goal of 2011 was finish the book. So for 2012? Finish editing and send out the manuscript!
This is my year for submissions! Scary but exciting.
My resolution is to continue enjoying my writing and my new philosophy that each rejection brings me closer to the inevitable acceptance. Happy New Year.
To get those characters out of my psyche once and for all, and send them on their way. And have them stop butting into the ironing and country walks!
I will finally draft my story, getting out of my head and breathing the fresh air. :)
Happy New Year Nathan!
I posted on new Year's Eve my "goals" for 2012 (as I never stick to resolutions!) and they were to finish the second draft of my novel, get someone else to read it, and to submit three short stories to paying markets. The second one terrifies and excites me in equal measures...
The first in my ExtraNormal series is being released later this month, and then comes the real challenge of starting and completing the second in the series before the year ends. Speed writing is an entirely new concept to me. I worry the quality will suffer. But I've been double-dog dared, so what do you do?
My resolution? Is to find balance. I tend to ignore life while writing... ;)
My writing related goals for 2012 (never do "resolutions"):
# Finish editing current wip
# Make at least 24 new posts to my two subject-specific blogs(preferably at least 12 each)
# Try writing one or more novellas and self-publish on Amazon
get er done!
Finish editing my WIP and finally send it out.
To stop eating while I write. I gained 10 lbs with the first book.
To write like it's a job, not a plaything. To be rewarded for such dogged work and turning writing into a true blue, paying the bills job.
I have all sorts of writing goals for 2012. Also, more sleep. I think I'm going to take sleep vacations.
"Where'd you go on your vacation?"
"I went to sleep. It was grand."
To expand my subplots. I alway have great main characters and plots, but my manuscripts end up about 7K words too short. I need some darn good subplots to lengthen my work!
Also, what you said. :)
My goal was to finish my manuscript by the end of the 2011 year and be ready for submission by Spring. So I'm a few days behind. I have two chapters (one scene) to work a couple kinks on.
Then my 2012 goals are to get at least one agent to request a full manuscript and attend my first conference.
I posted my writers resolutions on my blog, but my objective is to keep moving forward, keep the time schedule tight, and get into submitting mode for my novel.
Check my sidebar for my 2012 resolutions list: (in brief format)
DG Hudson - Rainforest Writing
I've got a few. Mostly specific projects I want to get done, like a second novel and a screenplay.
Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
I've got quite a few goals for the year actually.
http://michaelabayomi.blogspot.com/2012/01/goals-and-resolutions-for-2012.html
Michael Abayomi
International (Self-Proclaimed) Bestselling Author
Happy New Year, Nathan! I hope you had a completely relaxing and fun holiday. :)
I like the picture for this post - cute.
My resolution is to start my blog, which is connected to my non-fiction writing, and will hopefully get some projects started.
I've also decided to start writing poetry. I'm not a good poet, I'm pretty bad actually, but I love writing it so much, I've decided what the heck. So, 2012 will be my year to write bad poetry to my heart's content.
I will write at least 500 words a day. I will also make sure that every scene moves the plot forward, and I will better characterize my characters.
I want to write every day. EVERY day, even if it's just a blog post. Also, I want to finally finish my book- I'm down to my 3rd round of edits and rewrites!
Yeah. Trying to quit.
First, I have to agree with Bryan, sleep would be amazing. This year though, is going to be a great writing adventure. I am going to start doing some freelance with a local paper and we still hope to get one of our books Traditionally published.
This is the year I'm going to try to publish my first novel. I hope all goes well.
I will be throwing my hat in the Children's writer ring with a picture book. Looking forward to the challenge!
I will not be overwhelmed with promotion and marketing again and will write more instead.
I'm with Matt in the first comment. Snagging an agent is first on my agenda.
I feel, humbly, that this is the year for "The Commuter," my WIP.
New acronym: WIPP= Work In Publishing Process
Happy New Year, Nathan! Blessings to you and yours.
My goal is to FINALLY land a good agent. Keeping my fingers crossed!
I'm putting the finishing gloss on my new novel, WHAT BEAUTY (Siren & Muse Publishing, march 2012) ... then on to more notes for the next novel. At 48 years old, I'm at my most creative energy level, and have eyes only for good, solid story.
I've got more than one writing goal, but right now my main focus is on finishing edits to my main WiP before the end of June.
You're freaking kiding, right! You want me to publish my goals for 2012? Then I might be held accountable and have to really live up to my expectations. No, really, I just want to publish three more books this year. Totally doable, don't you think?
Enjoy always, T
I would like to improve my first drafts without choking the creative spirit. This includes more showing and less telling, sharper conflicts, deeper struggles and self doubt in my characters.
I also must finish a non fiction title for which I have a contract: Identity and the Quartered Circle.
I need to find a publisher my novels in the Cup and the Ring series. (My non fiction publisher doesn't do fiction).
Write more consistently in my Blogs and marketing pages. One of them is Writing in the NY Lake District http://writinggoodstuff.blogspot.com/ which people are welcome to join as contributors if they ask and are serious.
Mostly I have an action plan geared towards production. I have a book on contract, so that comes first. Right now my day is work on the book, then write 1700 words total on any project or group of projects and five posts a day on one of the blogs I write. It requires me to get up earlier, but I'm pretty sure it's a workload I can handle.
Hi Nathan. I don't make resolutions, but I set goals for myself. I'm journaling every morning, writing my memoir every day, reading parts of "writerly" books that inspire me and jump start the fire in my soul. So far, so good! :)
To finish.
Evocative gestures...yes, every novel needs these character revealing details. They can be tricky to get right without continually resorting to eye and eyebrow movement. I'm wondering, though, if it's more about how the sum of the parts add up to make us feel about something - not just see and understand. I'm sick of conflict. After watching show after show, reading story after story of conflict and suffering I'm a nervous wreck. I want joy and fun - and beautiful discoveries. It can be made to work - anything can be. Perhaps with a new approach to plotting, structure, theme.
Let us take new paths this year in our creative journeys. Move culture and thought forward and not just repeat the same formulas and awareness.
Amen *g*
Polish up two manuscripts which I've finished, When Kings Fall and Not Without My Demons. Unfortunately I got carried away on the second and ended up at 160,000 words--time to pull out the editorial chainsaw, put on my goggles, and keep a box of tissue nearby as I weep and kill my darlings. Wishing everyone a happy and successful New Year.
Yes, to finish by WIP. Sadly, that was my resolution last year and I totally failed. But this year, FTW!
Find an agent or publisher or get novel onto the Kindle. Finish another novel. Do a couple short stories. Improve my craft. Take courses. The usual.
I read Neil Gaiman's New Years wish and it was to go out and make mistakes. Make wonderful mistakes, make amazing mistakes. Make mistakes that nobody else has made as long as you are doing something!
That's what I'm going to do-make wonderful, amazing mistakes that nobody else has done.
Happy writing to everyone!
I just keep moving down the road. Tales From the Dew Drop Inne should be out within the month. My editor is working on the Stylite. My agent has Times To Try the Soul of Man. I have a children's movie script underway, and then there's the newest novel, for which the research has begun. Who has time for resolutions?
Happy New Year! I want to finish my rough draft and get a good start on the editing.
I'm going to finish my second novel, get it properly edited then self-publish it.
I'm going to work on voice, get rid of those pesky darlings, and finally start querying. No pressure or anything. Haha!
I'm focusing on adding structure to my writing routine and eliminating clutter and distractions. I plan to spend at least one day per week writing in a cafe or the library--away from those distractions.
At the end of last year, I was happy to have sold many of my four, 5 Star rated self-published children's books, however, children don't buy their own books and adults mostly only buy their children books at Christmas and birthdays. Though I've resisted, I've been urged by my writing friends to write a Y/A book. So this year, I hope to do just that. Though Children's books will always be my genre because I adore writing for children, mainly reluctant readers.
How about you, Nathan?
Well, my goal for 2011 was to find an agent and I did that, so my goal for 2012 is for my book to sell. I also hope to finish writing three more books this year, but that's a little ambitious. Happy 2012, Nathan!
To make the hubby say, "Just got the chills," when reading my second novel.
To (temporarily) forget everything I've learned and write with childlike abandon. To have fun!
To finally finish editing my first series so I can look at it and say, "Wow, I did it."
And to be happy even when I don't have the time to write.
I want to break my habit of mindless Internet surfing, which is basically procrastinating. It can take up hours, and it's usually not even very interesting. All that time would be better spent on writing, and then I wouldn't have to keep making excuses for why I'm not making as much progress as I should be making.
Keep on writing and going at it, is all I expect to do. Get another 6 novels done in my series too.
I resolve to 1) Market my new novel, "Pearls: Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore" 2) Write the second book in the series and 3) Save the historic hotel that inspired the series.
Nathan,
I intend to improve, improve and improve and never be satisfied with my work even if the readers love Operation Downfall and it is getting good reviews on Amazon. I want to be better, the best that I can.
Happy New Year
To dig deeper into the emotions and motivations that drive my characters, and to show that on the page.
Goals include writing and publishing five stories in my novella series, writing another novella that's all planned out and just needs to be actual words on the page, and somehow balancing the rest of my life with writing!
Happy New Year to you too. :)
Finish the first draft of my current novel. Preferably the second and third draft too.
My writing resolution is simply to write. I forgive myself for not writing much during 2011 while I was in grad school, but that ends in May and no more excuses!
Happy New Year!! Finish revisions and get this baby out... that's what I'm hoping to do this year.
I commit to writing weekly. I'm going to be free to write not for my next book or blog post but just because I'm inspired to write. As a full time working mom it is hard to find the time, this year will be different.
Same one I had as last year.
http://www.findingthewritemoment.blogspot.com/
Less a resolution than a hope, but I'd really like to be able to pick up where I leave off after a prolonged pause. Sometimes the train of thought's still at the station, sometimes not. I want to learn to be the conductor, not the passenger.
Nathan I don't have any resolutions per say, just various goals. Two serious writing goals that I have are to maintain a regular blogging schedule and learn to not hate the revising process so much.
While I did not make any resolutions, there are some things I hope to accomplish this year. One of which is to complete my master's degree and the other is to see the book I am co-authoring published. Thank you for the many helpful ideas and resources you provide.
Hmm mine would probably be, to finish writing at least 6 more chapters before summer. It's a hard steep but I suppose can be done.
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