by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
So, a while ago, I posted about my writing goals for 2013. I figured I’d give an update.Submit my second Laurel Highlands Mystery story.
I admit, I haven’t done this one yet. Mostly because I’ve been bogged down in other things. See, when I wrote the original list, I forgot a very important goal, which is…
Complete and submit my Black Orchid Novella Contest entry.
How this slipped my mind I have no idea. But it did. The contest deadline is 31 May, so there is time. I’m finishing up review of comments from my critique partners now (yay for critique partners) and should finish this week. Which means I’ll have some time to let it simmer again while I work on other things (namely the synopsis for Hero’s Sword #5 and started the SFD of Hero’s Sword #4). This shouldn’t derail me too much, but really, I should just submit that story and get it done.
Read at least one craft book per month.
This one I’m making good progress on. I completed Fiction Attack! and am working my way through Revision & Self-Editing. I usually read a chapter and then apply it, which has been working really well. Next up will be Plot & Structure, also by James Scott Bell. And if you’re thinking I’m a huge JSB fan, you’re right. If you are a writer, I seriously urge you to pick up some of his books (notably P&S and Revision). He’s got a great writing and teaching style.
Complete revisions of Hero’s Sword 3 by tax day (4/15).
Ha! One that I completed! Well, sort of. I need to do another read through, I think, looking for more stuff from Revision & Self-Editing. But I did complete another two rounds and trimmed another 2,000 words by the end of March, so I’m going to call this a “win.”
Complete the SFD of Hero’s Sword 4 by May 31 and first revisions by July 31.
Haven’t started – mainly because I was struggling with an idea for book #5. But I’ve got that now, so I’ll probably tackle that synopsis next, which will set me up to start the SFD.
Complete and submit two more Laurel Highlands Mystery stories by the end of summer.
Not started yet. These are generally between 8,000 and 15,000 words (long story story to novelette). I’ve got at least two ideas sketched out. If I can get two more complete and submitted by fall, that gives me four. A fifth is scheduled to come out in an anthology at the end of the year. That allows me to…
Plan an anthology release of the Laurel Highlands Mysteries by the end of 2013
Not started yet. This is not to say that the anthology will be released at the end of this year – but I will have a plan. I’ve got decent hopes that I can get the next two sent to Mysterical-e and since they say they like series, there’s a decent chance they’ll be accepted. If so, the anthology may include a brand new story. Timing of the release TBD, but I can have a plan by year end (especially since one of my targeted craft/business reads is exactly how to make a plan).
So there I am – a little status update. Because part of setting goals is being accountable. So if you’ve read to the end, thanks for helping me stay on track. I owe you one. =)
You’re doing well. Stay with it.
I’m on target on some of mine, a little behind on others.
Thanks. The thing that’s hard to remember is that it’s impossible to set something in January and have it stay the same for 12 months. So much can happen. Like forgetting that whole Black Orchid project. =)
Good luck to you!