A change of plans …
At the end of 2010, I set a goal for myself. No, wait. I set a bunch of goals for myself. Namely, or perhaps numerically, I set five, goals. Yet, now, I find myself with my thoughts scattered and the pieces of my orderly life hitting all sorts of crazy places, except my targets … yet.
The first three, were to write three YA novels, starting with After Dark, under my Emi Gayle pen name.
The second two goals, were to write two adult novels for myself.
Well … due to work, life, stuff, priorities, needs, wants, muse, etc. my plan isn’t going as fast as I’d expected, and I think I’m going to have to alter what I’d originally thought to something else. Here is my new ‘plan’:
o Write one book per quarter. This will limit me to four of which I have:
– After Dark, Day After, Darkest day — these are my currently in-progress Emi Gayle stories
– Surrender — this is a follow on to Little White Lies
– Truth or Dare — this is a follow on to First Kiss(es) <– this one I am bumping to 2012 for now, or I might sneak it in if the rest are done of if I need a break in the trilogy (which I might).
o Finish out an anthology project I am working on with a friend (12 short stories! — 6 left to go!)
o Write and submit two magazine pieces (they are waiting for me, and I’ve delayed)
o Publish Little White Lies (I have two options pending on that one)
o Publish Hide and Seek (I have an option pending on that one)
So, as you can see, not only did my goals list NOT shrink, except by one potential NEW novel, it grew to encompass some significant work on two existing novels.
Once I know if Hide and Seek went anywhere with the ABNA contest, I’ll know what (if anything) I can do with that manuscript.
Once 2/28 passes, I’ll know (hopefully) what will happen with Little White Lies.
It seems like a never ending cycle of waiting … and I’m not a good ‘wait-ER’. If nothing else, writing has given me a big hefty dose of patience-learning (though I’m pretty sure that’s not an actual activity).
So, my plans have changed as we ride into the end of February 2011. Have yours?
My 2011 goals haven’t changed all that much: Get My Fair Vampire under contract to be published somehow and outline sequel(s), finish Sins, finish Don’t Ask, finish anthology (and 1/2 of 26 is 13 last I checked, Missy) and contracted for publication, write at least 50k of new novel for NaNo (maybe MFV sequel?). Do a lot more short story submissions than I have been. If I have time, I may revisit The PURE and All’s Fair.
ROW80 has been terrific about keeping me focused on a few things at a time (with “few” still having quite a bit of diversity).
“My Fair Vampire under contract to be published somehow …” –> 🙂 🙂
finish anthology –> it’s gonna be sad when it’s all done. 😉 ha! Or maybe not to us, but to … ‘the boys’
I think you SHOULD revisit The PURE … honestly, it’s my fav or yours. hehehehehehehe ‘cuz I’m a sucker for corporate spoofing. 😉
Yeah for keeping up with your goals!!
I know…I too will be sad when the anthology is done as will Mr. Gillian. We’ll have to come up with something else for the naughty duo or trio or quartet or who knows? Maybe the Ladies of the Pens collectively could produce something for Taylor Publishing….
Thanks for the vote on The PURE. I too love the corporate spoofing. It’s what I know only too well.
I think you should take a pass at Gayle and Jon and get them ‘out’ 😉 🙂
The ladies of the pens have the potential to create an amazing anthology, I believe. 🙂
My plans are changing little. I still intend to have the stuff published tha I inititiall stated–just not necessarily in the same order I’d first thought (since rethinking my strategy, I realised I’d got it wrong). I will have my latest NiP written, rewritten and edited a thousand times by the end of thi year, ready for publication in spring of 2012. I also tend to publish more novellas (some related to my novel series, and some not) in ebook format than just the one I already have completed.
Setting goals is awesome when you’re in the mindset to ensure you see them through. 🙂
Man, my sleepiness showed its face in that last comment. Just read it squinting through one eye and maybe you won’t see all the typos 🙂
See and I don’t usually ‘like’ goals, rather to look back on my accomplishments, but these ‘high level’ things stuck with me and now they’ve morphed. It’ll be interesting to see what I actually get done at the end of the year. 🙂
If anyone can do it, Aimee, you can!
Hehe…I’m not a good waiter, either. I’m nearing the date when I SHOULD hear something back on The Glass Man, and I’m freaking out! I have only two concrete goals this year: Get Crossing Hathaway edited by the end of March, and collaborate on an anthology with Becca hart before the reading period in September. We’ll see if I can make it.
Those are good plans, Joce!! You’re going to let me know about The Glass Man, right? When it happens??!?! 🙂 🙂
Good luck with The Glass Man, Jo.
And I’m with you, somewhat, Aimee, about paying more attention to achievements than goals, but sometimes you have to make goals in order for those achievements to happen in order for you to have something to look back on … right?
Sorry, sleepy posting again 🙂
When the time passes and I look back, I go “wow” …. I actually accomplished something. 🙂 Maybe my goals just aren’t really ‘stated’. 😉