The Horror Hounds 2012 Goals

FOTSGreg · Dec 27, 2011

Since nobody's started one yet, and time is growing short, I figured I'd start this thread.

Goals:

Finish the novels Fire On The Suns, Gated, and Third Pulse. Write 1-2 new novels (one in planning stage, one in idea stage). Write 12-15 new short stories. Sub the short story Survival. Find a new day job. Possibly return to school to complete a degree (and start working toward a new career).

How Do I Plan To Accomplish These Tasks:

1-4 hours per day writing, minimum, with BIC using Word, Pages, and Dragon Naturally Speaking, my desktop, laptop, and iPad, collectively.

Perseverance in the face of being mostly over-qualified in finding a new day job.

Dedication to finishing what I started many years ago & the anticipation that new career opportunities lay just around the corner with completing my education and continuing it.

Mostly dedication & perseverance in the coming year (Year 2 of my 5-Year Plan).

Shadowflame · Dec 27, 2011

Goals for next year?

Hmmm.

Well submit at least 3 short stories a month.
Participate in Flash Contests at least 2X a month
edit/write/brainstorm at least 500 words a day
work on 1 of the 3 novels I have. Edits, plot lines, characterization etc.
Continue to read at least 3 books a month and post reviews
work with the small press organizations I work with now.
And say no to a few things that might crop up this year.

Looks good enough for me

LaurieD · Dec 27, 2011

Goal for 2012

DO NOT GIVE UP!!!

That's all I can realistically plan right now but it's good as it is for now.

betterthanwho · Dec 27, 2011

I'd just like to finish something I start. Maybe get to the point where I can submit my first story to somewhere. Baby steps for me.

acelticdream · Dec 27, 2011

Just a few hours ago, I joined the Novel Challenge in the Write1/Submit1 sub-forum ... for my murder mystery novel (see sig).

Since this is the Horror sub-forum, I'll post that goal here for From Nightmare to Reality (see sig) ...

a) Have 1st draft completely written by March 31, 2012
b) Find beta/editor and have ms edited and polished to be ready for submission by June 30, 2012
c) Write query and synopsis to have ready to send out at a moment's notice as needed (July 2012)
d) Query agents throughout July and August 2012!

This timeline is staggered from my murder mystery one which will be happening first, with a similar timeline.

Basically, I would love to have 2 novels out on submission during 2012 ... definitely would love to have both accepted and published to boot!

amlptj · Dec 27, 2011

My goals.

Finish:
The House
The Amnesia Journey
And Edits/rewrite of The F.R.E.A.K.s

TedTheewen · Dec 27, 2011

My Goals for 2012 are:

Write 1/Sub 1 for each month.
Finnish final draft of one of several first draft novels I have floating around.
Never give up!

amlptj · Dec 27, 2011

TedTheewen said:
My Goals for 2012 are:

Write 1/Sub 1 for each month.
Finnish final draft of one of several first draft novels I have floating around.
Never give up!

That's the spirit! Awesome!!! Never give up and never surrender!

Kitty27 · Dec 27, 2011

Here my goals:

1. Refuse to believe that agents&readers are tired of horror and vampire novels.

2. Send out query for DR.

3. Continue work on Red Alice and have it ready to query by March 31,2012.

4. Finish horror short stories and start subbing.

5. Continue to support my fellow horror writers as we go hard for our dreams!

AbielleRose · Dec 28, 2011

Finish Caledonia and start looking for a home for it. Stop eating salt and vinegar chips. Write more.

FOTSGreg · Dec 28, 2011

Abby, salt & vinegar chips do not count as a vice. Nor does chocolate, Chips A Hoy or Oreo cookies, bacon, coffee, tea, hard cider, beer, or pepperoni, mushroom, and those salty little fishes pizza.

A vice is not setting a writing goal and doing your best to maintain it.

Yeah, pot callin' the kettle black, but what the hey...

Haggis · Dec 29, 2011

I just checked my total subs from 2011. Abysmal. Then I looked at my file of stories started but not finished. Sucktacular. Then I picked up my file of new stories, turned it upside down and shook it. Nothing fell out.

This will not do.

Goals:

Start at least one new story per month

Finish at least half of stories in the "started but not finished" file

Double sub rate from 2011

Continue to be the charming, self- effacing Chihuey you've all come to know and love

soapdish · Dec 29, 2011

Goals:

Rewrite the novel, starting over from scratch.
Sub all my short stories that I either didn't sub this year or that were rejected this year, which will involve a little revision here and there most likely.
Try to not start any new short stories because they are wildly addictive.

I am aiming for 500 words a day, figuring I'll fall short on some days and make up for it on others.

Halfway through the year I should have the rough draft of the novel complete and then I'll spend the second half of the year editing and polishing it.

Non-writing goals:

Spend more time with my children.
Get outside more.

dolores haze · Dec 29, 2011

Goals:

1. I'm currently waiting for two editorial letters. My goal is to survive editing two books at once and turned out two polished books that people will want to buy and read.

2. I have two books currently out on sub. My goal is to keep subbing them until they're sold.

3. I'm currently writing two books. My goal is to finish them within the next few months and get them beta'd then subbed.

4. Two short stories are currently on sub. Goal is to keep subbing them until they're sold.

5. Stay on top of my blogging with more variety in content.

6. Write one short story per month.

7. Get more comfortable with and just plain better at publicizing myself.

parumpdragon · Dec 29, 2011

Not sure if I still qualify as I am in the Hounds, but not writing Horror.

1.) finish editing the MS/book that I finished writing just before Christmas.

2.) get the guts to send out my query to my top 20 agents.

3.) finish a WIP I have a lot of words on, but got stuck trying to finish at some point.

BriMaresh · Dec 29, 2011

Brimonster's Goals for 2012:

Finish the nonfiction but pays project
Write 1, Sub 1, monthly short story edition.
Query a novel

Accomplish this by:

keep moving forward.

PEBKAC2 · Dec 30, 2011

My goal for 2012:
Finish and sub one story per quarter
Read and send feedback on at least one piece of writing in SYW every two weeks.

zahra · Dec 31, 2011

Finish 'Watch All Night' and sub it.

Revisit 'Freets' between 1st and 2nd drafts of 'WAN'.

Do at least one short story for subbing.

Anything else beyond that - well, whatever comes and bats its eyelashes at me.

Just stop dicking about and being crap, basically, pull my socks up and be a real writer.

feeblepizza · Jan 3, 2012

Making my first sub(s), ever. Also, exercise perseverance and finish every last project that I start.

Feidb · Jan 5, 2012

Well, gang. I was hoping to get my icky bug, The Greenhouse up on Kindle and other e-formats before the end of 2011. It wasn't in the cards. Here I am on another draft with some more tweaking to do. Still no decent cover either. Need to find a line editor (besides myself) I can wheel and deal with.

Still working on The Factory too. I've been reading it to my writer's group for the past year and it is about 2/3 through, though the actual novel is complete. Then it will be ready for a beta reader and a few more edits. By then, maybe I'll be able to slip it in behind The Greenhouse in e-format if a publisher doesn't show interest. I have it submitted to an agent right now, but have been waiting a long time.

I finally launched my web site in mid 2011 and though I'm getting modest hits so far, it's because I'm taking it slow. I write in several other genres too, so I have to strike a balance. Funny thing is, this icky bug section is the only one I participate in here on Absolute Write. I probably should go to the Fantasy or the Thriller sections but they just seem too big for me.

I need to start plugging my web site in more places and draw in more readers. I post an article once a week. So far, they've all been about writing. Eventually, they'll start veering toward my upcoming books. Several bloggers have told me a magic number of three blogs a week, but I think that is too much. I just don't have the time with my job change and all the other writing I have to do.

Uno87 · Feb 18, 2012

My goal is not only to get published, but to become a better writer.

I have a manuscript in the beta stages and am excited about where the journey will lead. I'm always looking for like minded people to share whatever knowledge I've acquired along the way. Do you write horror and need to bounce ideas off of someone? Maybe we should talk.

Can't wait to query! I've already got one all cooked up and man does it smell delicious.

TumbleHome · Feb 25, 2012

I'm so glad this thread is here, for me personally I do better when I write my goals out. If other people can see them, even better.

- Finish a rough draft of my screenplay by July; get it in good enough shape to shop around by the end of the year (hopefully October.) I'm lucky enough to have a screenwriter pal to tell me about the numerous mistakes I'm making, thankfully.

- I'm terrible at number goals, but I want to keep the train of writing and FINISHING my short stories going- no breaks in-between!

- Keep knocking around an idea for a novel. This one isn't pressing like the others, because if I have to force an idea it won't be worth anyone spending their time to read it. Still, I would love more than anything to have a great concept, fully fleshed out for a novel.

FOTSGreg · Feb 25, 2012

Great!

Keep those goals coming in.

DL Hegel · Feb 29, 2012

Tigery Goals 2012 (before december 21st, just in case):

25 to 35 outstanding poems for another collection.

More short stories, ones that actually sell.

A possible quick dip back into the pond of music journalism.

A Tigery wisdom essay for a snotty arty publication.

To ~~torment~~ help the sheepster as much as possible.

Occasional jabs at Rob whenever possible.

I know the last two aren't writing goals but a tigress needs some fun.

slcboston · Feb 29, 2012

Haggis said:
I just checked my total subs from 2011. Abysmal. Then I looked at my file of stories started but not finished. Sucktacular. Then I picked up my file of new stories, turned it upside down and shook it. Nothing fell out.

This will not do.

You know, I'm in a similar boat. My subs last year were pathetic. I'd double it, but mathematically speaking that wouldn't get me anywhere.

I have stories that are finished, stories that need finished, and as of this week, actual new stories. They shall all go out.

As will the query. Seems pointless to have one if I don't use it.

:e2writer:

Also borrowing this from Haggis:

Haggis said:
Continue to be the charming, self- effacing ~~Chihuey~~ Sheepy you've all come to know and love

The Horror Hounds 2012 Goals

Today is your last day.

Gametrovert

aka Skwirrel

Just me ... dreaming and writing.

Speling & grammer murderer, Sorrie!

AW's Most Adorable Sociopath

Speling & grammer murderer, Sorrie!

So Goth That I Was Born Black

Crazy Cat Lady

Today is your last day.

Evil, undead Chihuahua

writing

international guttersnipe

I sometimes hiccup fire

New kid, be gentle!

Will crit for food.

Was Zahra; lost profile - REBORN!

kinda human mostly cat

Been Here A While

Inconsequential. Also: short.

Today is your last day.

Tigress Tyrant

Pasture-ized