The 2007 Pledge-O-Mart

Rashenbo · Dec 20, 2006

Welcome Shoppers... errr, Writers.

2007 is going to be an exciting year: words will be typed by the thousands, agents will be queried by the thousands, new plots will be created, new characters will meet many unfortunate ends.... The possibilities are vast and completely open before us.

It's time to fill up your goal basket. Let's make some goals and take some pledges.

Writing Count

In 2007 I pledge to write at least 1,000 words a week. (I have time issues so I'm going to go with something realistic here)

For Unfinished Novels

In 2007 I pledge to complete my current novel first draft by March 15th.

Query Letter

In 2007 I pledge to send a total of 50 query letters(once my novel is finished and probably in increments of 10 per month)

As a rejection is received a new query will be sent, the theory will be to have 10 out at all times.

Rejections

In 2007 I pledge to capture at least 30 rejections.

Those are my pledges for 2007... What are yours?

Note: This thread is in response to this thread and hopefully it's ok that we start it...

I will be adding my pledge count to my signature like:

Week 1 WC: 1,000
Novel Completion: ETA 03/15/2007 - on target!
Queries sent: 0/50
Rejections: 0/30

glassquill · Dec 20, 2006

Here goes nothing.

Since this thread is up, it's time to jump into the pool and start swimming like mad. :tongue

2007 Pledges

Writing Count
I pledge to write at least 750 words a day. If the word count for a day exceeds the pledged amount, extra words will not be included in the next day's amount.

Unfinished Work In Progress
I pledge to complete the first draft of my work in progress by 28th February 2007

Other pledges will be added as soon as I can think of more.

SherryTex · Dec 21, 2006

This year I pledge to continue to write 1-3 columns a week for submission.

I will submit a column a week to somewhere.

I will write the next two chapters of my book The Painter --have written two.

I will continue fishing for an agent for my finished book.

I will not become discouraged no matter how many "I'll pass." responses I receive.

WriterInChains · Dec 21, 2006

In 2007, I'll write every day. New words. No quota -- new words every day (even when they're so bad it hurts).

In 2007, I'll work on the areas of writing I'm worst at, the ones I secretly hope every agent and editor will overlook (because they won't).

In 2007, I'll count my submissions & not rejections. I'll focus on the positive side of things and keep getting my work out there (then maybe the "near misses" won't be so discouraging?).

In 2007, I'll make 50 submissions. (Didn't quite get 50 rejections in '06, but it's the thought that counts. The rest of them will reject me when they get around to it.

)

In 2007, I'll stay active in WW, both at monthly meetings and with Books For Kids, and volunteer at the conference in August.

In 2007, I'll take some classes for fun, like conversational Japanese or motorcycle safety.

spacejock2 · Dec 21, 2006

I will write several new short stories and submit them to F&SF.

I will finish the first draft of Hal Spacejock book 4.

Meerkat · Dec 22, 2006

I pledge to collect 31 rejection letters in 2007, and regret already retrieving the mail this morning as a result.

Anne Stevens · Dec 23, 2006

Writing Count

In 2007, I will write (not research, or stare blankly at the computer screen while my mind wanders, but actually write) for at least 6 hours a week.

For Unfinished Novels

In 2007 I pledge to complete my current novel first draft by August 31st. (Hey, I'm only on chapter 1!!)

Query Letter

In 2007 I pledge to send a total of 30 Query Letters.

Rejections

In 2007 I pledge to capture at least 20 rejections.

Week 1 Time Count: 15/6 (Go me this week!!)
Novel Completion: ETA 08/31/2007
Queries sent: 0/30
Rejections: 0/20

johnzakour · Dec 23, 2006

I plead:

To finish the Blue Haired Bombshell (in time for a Dec 2007 release)

Put the finishing my YA Fantasy series (in time for a mid-2007 release)

Finalize the deal for my new YA SF series (in time to get one of the books out for 2007 or early 2008)

Publish another humor / guide book

Edit an anthology. (Learn to spell anthology...)

Start three more books for 2008 release. (You gotta plan ahead...)

Finally get a movie made!

CasualObserver · Dec 24, 2006

In 2007 I pledge to:

Write and edit 1500 words per week.

Have my novel ready for submission by June.

Capture 30 rejection letters.

chibeth · Dec 25, 2006

In 2007, I will:

-write at least 1000 words a day, 6 days a week
-finish my WIP(s)
-submit one MS
-begin querying agents
-blog at least twice a week

nancy02664 · Dec 29, 2006

I pledge to...

1. Complete the proposal for my WIP in January
2. Finish my WIP by September
3. Blog daily

I've learned that if my goals are simple, I'm more likely to remember them and thereby more likely to achieve them.

klostes · Dec 30, 2006

My Goals for 2007:

To write every day; posting on email lists, forums and in my LJ will not count.

To finish Lizzie's story and maybe Seely's.

To keep submitting the finished works I do have, one a week, until they all sell or are placed with an agent.

To take myself seriously as a writer, and to take my writing seriously.

To remember that goals help me start, and that I can't finish if I don't start.

Inkwell · Dec 30, 2006

In 2007, I will:

Finish my work in progress.

Start another, and finish it too.

That's all I'm asking for.

AllyWoof · Dec 31, 2006

johnzakour said:
I plead:

To finish the Blue Haired Bombshell (in time for a Dec 2007 release)

Put the finishing my YA Fantasy series (in time for a mid-2007 release)

Finalize the deal for my new YA SF series (in time to get one of the books out for 2007 or early 2008)

Publish another humor / guide book

Edit an anthology. (Learn to spell anthology...)

Start three more books for 2008 release. (You gotta plan ahead...)

Finally get a movie made!

I think I'll just plead insanity.

ritinrider · Dec 31, 2006

Ok, since this is a really, really, new year for me, I'll set some honest-to-goodness writing goals. And, I'll actually try to meet them.

1. Finish NF book, (tenative deadline Mar. 15)
2. Complete book proposal for NF book
3. Send out 4 queries/week on NF book until publisher is found
4. Finish fiction book (tenative deadline, May 1)
5. Work on writing and selling nf articles (no firm deadline or quota here)

I was going to list more, but want to have some hope of actually reaching at least some of my goals.

Nita

Dixie · Dec 31, 2006

Ok so a new leaf will be turned over in 2007--

write 1,000 a week

start some short stories

gather up the nerves to send in some submissions

maybe get some rejections in the process.

SpiderGal · Jan 1, 2007

More and more submissions - that's my 2007 funda.

inanna · Jan 1, 2007

I pledge to finish edits and revisions on the first book of my trilogy by March 15th.

I pledge to have a query letter for said book ready to go by April 15th.

I pledge to send out query letter to *number to be determined later* agents by April 30th.

I pledge to finish edits and revisions on the rest of the trilogy by July 1st.

I pledge to send out five more queries for every rejection I receive.

san_remo_ave · Jan 1, 2007

My resolutions for 2007:

Writing Count: At least 1,000 words a week.

For Unfinished Novels: Complete my current novel first draft by June 30th. Complete edits by Sept 31st.

Query Letter: 20 query letters --will worry about rejections in 2008 because I need to focus on completion first and foremost!

alanna · Jan 1, 2007

2007 Pledges

~ send out 250 submissions
~ finish the novel (so close! i'm doing some serious editing to the umpteenth draft right now...

)
~ find an agent for the novel
~ write another book (have a few ideas, haven't decided which to pursue next)
~ use my writing to raise awareness for the Darfur crisis
~ write new material, scenes, whatever (as long as it's NEW, not editing), for at least 1 hour every day
~ get 10 publishing credits (I think I can reach this... if I do all of the above and I can't, there are issues, lol)

dates will be set throughout the year. Right now, I intend to have the novel (at least this draft, which I will send to my betas

) finished by January 8, and at least 15 submissions by the end of January.

heehee... now let's see how I do...

jester · Jan 1, 2007

I pledge to find an agent

I pledge to get my first childrens story published.

I pledge to finish half of my WIP by the end of this year

I pledge to keep all rejections in a file to laugh about at a later date.

Jester

britlitfantw · Jan 1, 2007

For the year of 2007, I pledge to:

- complete the final draft of Choice: A Dancer's Tale
- find an agent for Choice
- begin rough draft of Renegade: A Sorcerer's Tale
- write and submit three short stories
- blog thrice weekly

I've been looking forward to this thread. Happy New Year, and best of luck everyone!

bsolah · Jan 1, 2007

bsolah's 2007 goals

At the moment, I only have three goals, as I haven't quite worked out whether I'll be focussing on short stories or novels this year.

- Get a short story published in a magazine or anthology
- Buy a laptop and turn my room into a writer's sanctuary
- Establish some sort of routine where I'm writing regularly.

More information on these goals on my blog

Melina · Jan 2, 2007

Here's a great way to start the year:

Why not pledge to enter the contest in Freelance? Click on the link in my sig for details...

giftedrhonda · Jan 2, 2007

Writing Count:

In 2007, I pledge to write at least 5,250 words a week. (3 pages a day)

For Unfinished Novels:

In 2007, I pledge to complete my current novel's first draft by February 28.

Query Letter

In 2007, if I have not gotten an agent from the manuscript I'm currently "shopping" around, I pledge to send a total of 50 query letters (once my novel is finished). I will send in batches of 10.

As a rejection is received, a new query will be sent.

Rejections

In 2007, I pledge to capture at least 30 rejections.

The 2007 Pledge-O-Mart

Rashenbo

glassquill

RB's favourite chewtoy

SherryTex

Working on 2nd WIP

WriterInChains

Feed my eyes

spacejock2

Meerkat

Claims the loan was a gift

Anne Stevens

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

CasualObserver

chibeth

nancy02664

Baby Name Maniac

klostes

Not an Interactive Model

Inkwell

AllyWoof

Becoming a Serious Writer!

ritinrider

Dixie

SpiderGal

Princess of Nerds

inanna

Queen of Typos

san_remo_ave

Back at it

alanna

jester

britlitfantw

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

Melina

Getting better all the time

giftedrhonda

Gifted Goofball