July 2009 Goals

1. Complete second film script (nearly there)
2. Research next year's marketing tour of US and Canada
3. Market the third book in trilogy (just finished)

:eyes cattle prod suspiciously:

My July goals:
1. Finish and submit a 6000-word short story
2. Complete my novel rewrite outline
3. Rewrite at least 30K words in my novel WIP

I am setting lofty goals this time around...

1) finish character study of MC
2) start and finish next draft of my novel OR log 80 hours of time writing it (that way if I don't finish, I can still cross off a goal for a substantial amount of work completed)
3) interview 3 people
4) identify 5-10 possible new interviewees
5) meet with my critique group
6) complete all online critiques submitted to me as of writing this post (that's at least three novels, maybe four, plus two chapters)
7) set and maintain a writing schedule
8) maintain a relative level of sanity while waiting to hear back from the publisher about my picture book


...personally, I think that last one is the most difficult.

Happy July everyone! Best of luck, and happy writing!

Lurker coming out from the woodworks here. I've followed you guys and your goals (and a big congratulations to everyone for accomplishing so, so much -- it's set a spark under me for the first time in a while) and think this is a great device to see things achieved.

That said, my first goalset ever on the Water Cooler:

1. Finalize a vague roadmap of an outline for a short story called "Dying in Pamplona."
2. Sit down and write the story to completion.

Good luck to everyone. I'll be checking in to bitch and moan, I'm sure.

Okay here it goes....

1) add another 25k (atleast) to my story "Numbered Hearts"
2) reach atleast 10k for my other story "Scarred for Life"
3) start to research editors and right down pros and cons.

1. Continue space story

That only one goal.

This is also my first time joining this thread

1. Reach my 50K goal on my WIP. (Which is an additional 11,604 words.)

If that 50K really finishes the book, then:
2. Print it at my friend's workplace.
3. Outline the book to help with the revision/rewrite process.

If that 50K doesn't finish it, then:
4. Keep writing.

Edited to note to self that as of this post I was at 38,396 words.

*takes big breath*

After my crash and burn of last month, I thought very carefully about my goals for July:

1. Start outline for memoir
2. Do what may be final edit on Betrayal's Harvest
3. Find or create additional photos, diagrams, illustrations, examples to satisfy the insatiable thirst of my How To editor for more!

That looks pretty good to me. Good luck everyone!

Joining the "goals bandwagon" for the first time...

1) Get word from the remaining beta readers for Birth of a Vixen and finish edits.
2) Set up the possible meet and greet with FBI for research on Dream Prophetevourer.
3) Keep MS Word up long enough to write at least 2-3 hours everyday, no matter what.
4) Maintain writing flow for Vengeance From The Shadows while at work and Dream Prophet at home.

Revise query and synopsis now that I've added 16,000 words to my novel.
Give novel another edit/proof pass.
Query agents again.

Thanks Aston

Welcome newcomers and good luck everyone on those July goals! Something about writing them down on paper (or post) seems to make them more concrete. So, here goes! My goals for July are:

1. Agent representation.
2. Get an agent.
3. Oh, and can't forget the biggy... Find a great agent.

Suzan

Suzan said:

Welcome newcomers and good luck everyone on those July goals! Something about writing them down on paper (or post) seems to make them more concrete. So, here goes! My goals for July are:

1. Agent representation.
2. Get an agent.
3. Oh, and can't forget the biggy... Find a great agent.

Suzan

Click to expand...

Remember, Suzan: Two out of three ain't bad.

Of course I know you'll score on all three fronts.

Good luck everyone

EDITED TO ADD: Another Goal for July 2009.... *** Apply to one job I really want, every-single-day. No skipped days.

Aston, those tips are great! I would like to add one more suggestion... what really works for me is to stagger how big the goals are. I put up some that will take me all month, and others that I can finish in a few hours... that way I can cross things off early in the month, get all motivated and happy, and still have things to work for.

And to count my 80 hours this month, I have a package of good old foil stars. One gold star for every hour I write. But that's just me needing a LOT of instant gratification... and wanting an excuse to use my gold stars.

But both of those could just be me.

That is true.

Here's my end-of-the-week check-in, since there's no way I'll be getting any work done on the 4th of July!

1) done
2) 1 hour and almost 1,000 words
3) sent out e-mails to arrange the interviews-- waiting for reply
4) nope
5) set the date
6) critiqued the two chapters
7) in process, doing well so far
8) if "relative" is the operative word, then yes!

Finish Chapter 11

Finish rough draft of Chapters 12 through 14

1. Polish, then send out my short story, "Rehearsal", till Hell won't have it. That'll be a first!
2. Current WIP: 15000 words by the end of July, with maybe a clue on what the book will be about.