New Years' in Novels

Birol · Dec 28, 2008

We're coming up on the New Year. Now's the time to sit quietly and reflect on what you did and did not accomplish in your writing career this past year. What are you proud of? What did you wish you'd done more of? What do you need and want to work on this coming year? How do you plan to accomplish this?

C'mon. Let's hear them. First, what were your achievements for the past year. Second, what you want to work on the next. Third, where would you like to be at the end of next year. Fourth, how do you plan to get there.

There will be quarterly updates.

alleycat · Dec 28, 2008

In the "did not do what I'd planned" category: For the second year in a row, not entering a play in the National Ten-Minute Play Competition. I got busy with other things and forget about the deadline. I already have a small handful of short plays, I would just needed to go back and make them the best I can and then picked one to submit. It's just easy to put off doing it . . . and so I did.

In the "something I hadn't done before but I'm glad I did this year" category: Submitting a number of children's stories to major publishers. I'm pretty proud of two or three of these stories myself. I also got a big "thumbs up" on some of the stories from beta-readers who would not have hesitated to tell me they were bad if they had been.

I'll think about what my goals are for this year, and come back and edit this post.

kuwisdelu · Dec 28, 2008

Glad I Did: Not much, but I finally forced myself to submit more. It took getting drunk (don't worry, the cover letter read sober!) but I finally did it.

Need to Do: Write MORE and submit MORE.

Pretty typical.

ETA: Oops. I am referring to short stories not novels, actually...oh well.

Birol · Dec 28, 2008

That's fine, Ku. It's really about writing in general, not novels in particular.

alleycat · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
That's fine, Ku. It's really about writing in general, not novels in particular.

Thanks. After I posted I wondered if I should delete my post since this is in the Writing Novels forum.

nevada · Dec 28, 2008

What did I do this year? Nothing.

What did I not do this year? Write. I didn't write. I don't think I even did any Sunday Flash Fiction challenges this year. I didn't submit anything either. I had no accomplishments of any kind.

What will I do next year? I wrote ten pages last week. First work on a novel in two years. It's a complete rewrite of something I wrote about four years ago. Something bad that has the ability to be good. I thought if I started with something that already exists, no matter how bad, it might be easier. The challenge will be to continue writing it. I have friends, good friends, who remind me to write, who are asking for this story. I need to not let them down.

How will I accomplish this? By practicing BIC, and focussing on finishing the first draft, not polishing it. Just write the first draft and worry about everything else later. Thats the advice I give other people, and I need to practice what I preach.

Thank you, Birol, for asking this when I needed to have it asked.

psykeout · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
We're coming up on the New Year. Now's the time to sit quietly and reflect on what you did and did not accomplish in your writing career this past year. What are you proud of? What did you wish you'd done more of? What do you need and want to work on this coming year? How do you plan to accomplish this?

C'mon. Let's hear them. First, what were your achievements for the past year. Second, what you want to work on the next. Third, where would you like to be at the end of next year. Fourth, how do you plan to get there.

There will be quarterly updates.

-I got rejected more in the past year than I did in four years of High School.
I finished a total of seven short stories and 1/2 way through a novel. My old English teacher asked me to speak to her class about writing.
-Continue working on the novel and editing the older stories for submission.
-I'd like to have something published by the end of next year, even a short story.
-Revise and submit. Rinse and repeat.

BTW : Great question.

scarletpeaches · Dec 28, 2008

I wrote well over my quarter mill target.

Submitted nowt.

I really have to do something about my finishing anxiety.

Mr Flibble · Dec 28, 2008

Now's the time to sit quietly and reflect on what you did and did not accomplish in your writing career this past year. What are you proud of?

Sold my first book 10 months after deciding 'stop mucking about and do something'. Small press, but fantastic people. I'm thinking of it as my apprenticeship.

What did you wish you'd done more of?

Words

What do you need and want to work on this coming year? How do you plan to accomplish this?

Plot and structure - my extra special weaknesses. Don't quite know how I'm going to achieve it yet. I might try an *shudder* outline. And actually stick to it.

Ken · Dec 28, 2008

next year's goal: to get a column with a top mag and land a book deal.
(Sure am going to feel foolish when I achieve neither,
now that I've gone and made this open declaration.)
*eyes the delete post, option*

Snowstorm · Dec 28, 2008

What I'm proud of: closing in on finishing my FIRST novel. I'm SO close it drives me crazy when something prevents me from working on it. I've written (beaten with a rock so much I can't believe it doesn't bleed) the query letter, but will wait to post it SYW until the novel is finished.

What else I'm proud of: started a writers group in our 25 year-round residents community. And we've started a book! It's a traveling book where one of us writes a section, then hands it off to the next excited person. It's a hoot and we're all jazzed for the next meeting to see where the story went.

Else I'm proud of: submitted a couple short stories. A first for me! (No word yet on acceptance/rejection).

Wish I had done more: nothing to do with writing but the creativity might help my writing: learn my guitar. Every time I finally relearn the notes, I get immersed with my writing and I forget the guitar! Start all over ...

The coming year: FINISH my novel in January, and print copies for my writers group. It's the first time the novel will be "out in the world" and read with "cold" eyes. I'm nervous! My husband knows the story from when I first wrote it as a short story, but I'm very fortunate he's a ruthless and excellent editor. Also, keep improving my writing skills and creativity.

Toothpaste · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
What are you proud of?

I am proud of being a published author, of being able to sit on panels with people way more experienced than I am and not feel totally ridiculous. Of being able to actually be proud of myself.

I am proud I am slowly winning over Kirkus, that even though my second book is "just as wordy as its predecessor" that it evidently still will keep readers turning the pages.

I am also extremely proud that I finished my YA last week. That I researched a totally new genre, and had to really get to know a time in history.

Most of all I'm proud that I now have three novels to my name. I never in a million years would have thought I would complete writing one, let alone three, and be author of two that are published. The feeling at times is so overwhelming.

I'm so very proud.

And grateful.

Birol said:
What did you wish you'd done more of? What do you need and want to work on this coming year?

I do wish I had written more. Despite the accomplishment of finishing book three, I know if I had done more BIC, if I had been less, let's be honest, lazy. I probably could have had TWO novels done instead.

Birol said:
What do you need and want to work on this coming year?How do you plan to accomplish this?

I need to get out of my own head and just write. I need to stop paralysing myself with self-doubt and fear. And just a very immature "I don't wanna!" I need to set a schedule and stick to it.

And maybe spend a little less time at AW . . . but that might be asking too much

Cranky · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
We're coming up on the New Year. Now's the time to sit quietly and reflect on what you did and did not accomplish in your writing career this past year. What are you proud of? What did you wish you'd done more of? What do you need and want to work on this coming year? How do you plan to accomplish this?

C'mon. Let's hear them. First, what were your achievements for the past year. Second, what you want to work on the next. Third, where would you like to be at the end of next year. Fourth, how do you plan to get there.

There will be quarterly updates.

My accomplishments?

1) Wrote over 200k words (fiction, not counting blogging, etc.) this year
2) Submitted twice, and I've never done that before, evah
3) "Won" NaNo
4) Started blogging, also a first for me

My goals for next year? I wrote them down here.

In no particular order, by December 31, 2009:

1) Get nine short stories written, polished, and SUBMITTED
2) Rewrite and polish NaNo2008 novel
3) Rewrite and polish urban fantasy novel (that was vaporized in the Great Laptop Meltdown)
4) Finish first draft of vampire novel (or other, actually, but I want a new first draft done)
5) 12 flash fiction pieces written, polished, and SUBMITTED
6) 15 blog posts per month, minimum

*Just added, do NaNo in 2009.

So that's what I plan to do for the next year. How do I plan to get there? By making time for the writing every day, and by telling everyone what my goals are, so I'm not embarrassed in public (so to speak) by failing to do them.

Oh, and I probably won't be able to spend much time here as a result of that and school.

MDei · Dec 28, 2008

Well, I completed a novel in a month. I sent out a few more queries and I sat down to write everyday. I did really well. I also completely revamped my first novel and is halfway through my dark YA fantasy. It's been a good year all in all, unless you count the times I tried to kill my computer :Hammer:

...or the time it stopped working after it decided it was tired of putting up with my constant typing and banging the keyboard in frustration with my head :Headbang:

... I'm borrowing someone's computer while mine is in rehab...

Rolling Thunder · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
C'mon. Let's hear them. First, what were your achievements for the past year.

I'm not sure. After six revisions and nearly two years (has it been that long?

) I decided to re-couch my entire first novel from YA to MG. On my first query attempt (as a YA) I was asked for a full, but the agent declined it as 'too slow' in pacing. It's coming along well now but slow, as I need to fight RL forces of evil; like poverty, misery and hunger.

I'm pleased with how it's turning out, however. I've learned where to cut huge chunks out or whittle them down to tiny infodumps as needed. I've gone from 125,000 words to about 87,000 with more to cut. By the time I feel satisfied enough to query again the WIP should be two books totaling 60k each, which is much better for MG.

Second, what you want to work on next.

I have three additional novel WIPs at different stages of completion. All are first drafts but only one could be considered MG. One work is a literary attempt (to be worked on long term) while the other is a thriller/action plot. I also have a non-fiction book that just needs to get its own share of attention.

Of the four, the MG will be most likely on top of the pile. If the first MG sells (or at least gets an agent's interest) I want to be ready with another book in the event fate smiles upon me.

Third, where would you like to be at the end of next year.

As per many others: an agent with a contract, at least, for one of my works.

Fourth, how do you plan to get there.

Polishing, writing, editing...building my vocabulary so I can find the right word I want without struggle. Read more, of course, in the genres I choose to write. Craft equals work. It's not something I can just churn out and say 'I be genius!'.

There will be quarterly updates.

Like hell!

Manderley · Dec 28, 2008

Proud of: The writing group I started with two fellow writers. It's been excellent having these two writers reading and commenting my work and doing the same for them. I've learned heaps this year. I'm also proud of the first one-third of the novel I've written so far this year. It's of a much better quality than the 3 previous novels I attempted.

Regrets: Not writing as much and as often as I would have liked to.

Next year: I want to finish the first draft of the novel I'm working on. Ideally I'd like to have it edited and polished too, but I'll be happy just finishing first draft.

How do I plan to go ahead: I've decided to dedicate 2 working days a week to writing plus one afternoon in the weekend. I know work has a tendency to bleed into these writing days, so I need to learn to be as strict and dedicated to my novel writing as my freelance writing.

katiemac · Dec 28, 2008

I don't recall wanting to do anything this year in the first place, so in terms of not meeting any goals I'm not sure I can answer that one.

I did compete in NaNo for the first time this year and won, so I'm sitting on a 50+ word manuscript that needs rewrites. I wanted to rewrite the draft this December, but did not.

In the new year, I'd like to have my NaNo draft revised and finished, ready for submission. I'd like to have another first draft of a completely different manuscript finished. How do I plan to get there? No idea, although I should probably finish reading the stack of novels and writing books in my to-read pile and then get cracking at that draft. I'll also try to do NaNo again in November to set me up with another brand-new draft.

Mumut · Dec 28, 2008

Toothpaste said:
I am proud of being a published author. I never in a million years would have thought I would complete writing one, let alone three, and be author of two that are published. The feeling at times is so overwhelming.[partial quote]

I'm in exactly the same situation except the third book is only a quarter written.

I've submitted four middle school novellas to a publisher. I'm working on a chapter book along with a fantastic illustrater.

The Cons:
I'm not getting very far with painting the house and battling with the unruly two acres ready to sell up, buy a four wheeler and hit the road.

Kryianna · Dec 28, 2008

I submitted to an RWA chapter contest, which was a big step for me.

Next year, I want to finish edits on my two decent manuscripts, getting them to a publishable length. After that, submit, and start another manuscript.

alyssalynne · Dec 28, 2008

I started my first novel. I'm currently at 32,000 words. I'm doing my own Nano in February and hope to finish the first draft then so I can begin the re-writing/revising stage.

ishtar'sgate · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
First, what were your achievements for the past year. Second, what you want to work on the next. Third, where would you like to be at the end of next year. Fourth, how do you plan to get there.

Achievements - finally got past the research stage and made a good dent in my wip, contributed to an article in The Historical Novel Society's magazine, started writing for Suite 101.
This year I'll work on replacing the research material lost in our housefire, keep up with my Suite101 obligations and try to get back on track with my novel. Basically, I'm hoping to get back to square one.
How do I plan to get there? Lots and lots of stubborn determination and many hours online.

Don · Dec 28, 2008

This year I finally got BIC and got 27,000 words toward my goal of a novel.

Oh, and I also discovered this really cool place where I can hang out with other writers and learn all about writing.

Next year, I finish the novel, find an agent, get published, get famous, and start my next novel.

At least the first and the last, and hopefully the rest of those things too.

ChaosTitan · Dec 28, 2008

Achievements: I signed with an agent, who helped get me a two-book contract. I've completed editorial changes and copy edits on book one. I've completed a rough draft of book two. I've gotten amazing blurbs for book one. I have a website. I've blogged more regularly.

Work on: The whole self-promo thing and how to graciously take a compliment (I tend to blush and get tongue tied). Being more active in the blog-o-sphere. Get to work on rewriting an older project so I can pitch it to my agent.

This time next year: I hope to have another contract, be it for more books in this series, or for a new series. I hope to have good sales on my debut novel. By December, I hope to no longer be carrying a copy of my debut around everywhere I go (hehe).

Getting there: By doing what I've been doing, I think. It seems to work out well, so far. But with a little more concentration and a lot more scheduled BIC time.

underthecity · Dec 28, 2008

Birol said:
First, what were your achievements for the past year.

I finished at least three additional drafts to my novel and plan to finish the whole thing by the end of this week.

Second, what you want to work on the next.

I've already begun the preliminaries of a fourth book for Arcadia on a nightclub in our area that was popular in the 1950s. I have about 240 great backstage pictures of famous and lesser-known acts that came through this place photographed by a man who played in the club's house band. I plan to work on this project after the novel is completed and is being submitted.

Third, where would you like to be at the end of next year.

I want to have my novel in the hands of a publisher by then, and me preferably with a contract and a very large advance. By this time I will have started on the sequel to my novel, preferably with a multi-book deal with the aforementioned publisher.

Fourth, how do you plan to get there.

By writing a knock-out query and a riveting synopsis, and by landing the dream agent.

I'll do it, too.

Red.Ink.Rain · Dec 28, 2008

My achievements:

I finished a freaking 90k novel. And it's a good one. I enjoyed writing it, and I'm proud of it. An agent has told me that it is good, as well as several coworkers, friends, and family members. I feel like that's an achievement.

This year:

I hope to get an agent in 2009 and start submitting to publishers. I'd like to network with more writers and keep my beta reader (aka my awesome boyfriend

) more up-to-date with my writing, because he's incredibly helpful.

How I'll get there:

Persistence. Honesty. Persistence. Hard work. Persistence.
Lol.

New Years' in Novels

Around and About

Still around

Revolutionize the World

Around and About

Still around

should be writing instead...

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Baby plot bunneh sniffs out a clue

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Not a rich author yet, but I'm here

Slowly does it.

Five by Five

Well begun is half done...

living in the past

All Living is Local

Around

Finestkind

Not your kid brother's YA