We’re All in This Together: Writing Goals for 2014

Last month our WAITT members talked about accomplishments for 2013. This month, it’s time to look forward. We are sharing at least one writing-related goal for 2014 and how we are going to get there. I can’t wait to see what these ladies accomplish in 2014!!!

Sue Heavenrich

Archimedes Notebook

The beginning of the year seems like a great time to focus on “new beginnings”. But it’s not beginnings I need to focus on; it’s endings. So one of my goals this year is to get stories finished and sent out the door. And that means revision. Which is why this past week I’ve been participating in ReViMo – a week of focusing on revising manuscripts.

That’s just my first step. The next is to take those revisions to my critique group for feedback – which means further revisions. Then comes the scary part: sending them out into the world.

Now, time to commit some numbers to this goal. I want to submit 6 new manuscripts this year. That means spending a month finishing something I started during PiBoIdMo or (later this year) from the week of writing nonfiction picture books (aka: WOW). And then another month to revise and get feedback and revise. To keep myself on track I’ve taped a 3X5 card to the wall near my desk. It’s got 6 boxes- each just the right size to write in the name of the story and the first place I submit it…. starting with the story I’m revising today.

Amie Rose Rotruck

www.amieroserotruck.com

My goal is to get back to writing my OWN stories.  Not just writing.  Writing my OWN stories, as in I create the world, the characters, the history, the maps, everything.  Why does this need to be specified in those terms?  I am, I must admit, a bit of a Fangirl about certain things.  This has been a bit of a double-edge sword in my writing career.  On the one hand, it lead to my first and second published books, which certainly is good for my resume and getting my name out there, plus showing to potential editors that I can work to a deadline (well enough for the same publisher to hire me again).  For both Bronze Dragon Codex and, to a lesser extent, Young Wizards Handbook, I had the chance to write and play around in a world (in those cases, the world of Dragonlance) that I’ve loved since I was in middle school.  That took up most of my time from 2005-2009, interspersed with working on only two other books: my Hollins thesis (Thread) and a middle grade novel (written mainly to see if I could write a book within a year that wasn’t a work-for-hire).  I then took a break after my daughter was born, and resumed writing seriously in 2012.  During 2012, I auditioned for two book-packaging company projects, as I kept hearing about ideas that I really wanted to work with.  Thus, when I acquired an agent in early 2013, I was somewhat embarrassed and appalled to realize that I only had ONE book of my own that was in publishable shape.  I’d gotten seduced by the fun of writing work-for-hire (which I often describe as writing fan-fic and getting paid for it) and the absolute high of actually being PUBLISHED, even if it wasn’t 100% “mine.”  After I acquired my agent, I focused on working on a sequel to Thread and also began another project, as I felt the middle grade novel needed some serious revision and didn’t seem to be the type of thing my agent would be excited about.  But.

Last summer I found out that my favorite movie of all time was running an author contest for someone to write a prequel novel to the movie.  Once again, I found myself with a chance to write and play in a world that I loved with the chance of it leading to publication (I’ve never quite seen the point of fanfic writing, as why write something that you’ll never legally be able to publish?).  I spent most of the latter half of 2013 working on my contest entry, neglecting my “own” worlds yet again.  I don’t regret doing that at all and I am still VERY excited about the contest and really, really, REALLY hope I win.  But while I wait for them to select a winner, now is the time to start building my own portfolio, as it’s quite embarrassing to have been taking my writing career seriously since 2001, semi-seriously since 1992, and only have one polished novel to present to an agent.  Do I regret taking on work-for-hire?  Absolutely not, since I love it.  However, to grow my career, I do need to create something new, not just hang out in someone else’s playground.

So, goal: complete and polish one new novel that I can present to my agent.  That, and finish excavating my office so I’m not writing in complete chaos!

Carol Munro

www.carolmunrojustwritewords.com

Freelance writer since 1996

I’ve set two major goals for myself for 2014. First, I’ll study craft and improve my skills. I’ll spend time at conferences, workshops, and seminars, online and on location. And I’ll write-write-write, revise-revise-revise, polish-polish-polish. Second, before year end I will have an agent. I want to find someone I can count on as a partner in my writing career, someone who won’t pull punches with me if I try to pass off mediocre for polished, someone who’s respected in the industry and is a knowledgeable professional.

I’ll achieve both these goals by maintaining focus, evaluating my progress on a bi-weekly basis, reviewing what still needs to be done for me to be successful. An eye on the prize kind of thing.

There’s so much to learn about working in the picture book industry. I think it’s important to focus on one aspect at a time. In 2012 I studied the industry itself, learning about the publishers, their submission guidelines, their catalogs. The eye opener? How closed the doors were to unpublished and unagented writers. In 2013, I decided I needed to read a heck of a lot more picture books, and I wanted my first kid-lit contract. I read 500 picture books (being a Cybils judge helped me achieve this goal), and I sold a story to Highlights.

Do I think setting goals works? You betcha! If you aren’t setting goals, do it.

Do I think I’ll meet my 2014 goals? You betcha! If not, what the heck am I doing here?

Life is short. Go get what you want! I mean it.

Donna L Sadd

Varied Posts from a Gal who Wants to be a Writer when She Grows Up!

http://donnalsadd.wordpress.com

My writing goal for 2014 is the same as it was last year…to learn the craft. I graduated Mira Reisberg’s The Children’s Book Academy, and am currently taking Susanna Leonard Hill’s awesome Making Picture Book Magic course. Additionally, I joined Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 at the Gold level this year and, hopefully, plan to begin submitting a few manuscripts as well.

I will be attending Kristen Fulton’s WOW Picture Book Writer’s Retreat, GA in July, and Pat Miller’s NF 4 NF- Children’s Writing Conference Nonfiction for New Folks, TX in October.

I also try to participate in every writing challenge that I can to practice my skills and because the camaraderie spurs me on. Currently, I’m doing Shannon Abercrombie’s Start the Year off Write and am doing daily poetry posts to my blog for Kat Apel’s Month of Poetry (#MoP14).

I’ve included links because it’s not too late to get involved, and the courses are ongoing.

Alayne Kay Christian

Author of  “Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa”

http://www.alaynekaychristian.wordpress.com

Represented by Erzsi Deak, Hen&ink Literary Studio

I have tons of goals brewing in my head. However, there is one thing I am certain of. . . . For me to be as successful as I want to be this year, I need to get focused and stay focused on what is most important to me – my writing. How am I going to achieve that goal? Currently, I am evaluating my time by asking myself, “What things am I allowing to steal me away from my craft?” But even when I am done evaluating my time and freeing up more time to write and edit, what will keep me focused? I need a plan. And I have one. I plan to take advantage of some of the fantastic forms that Marcie Flinchum Atkins offers on her blog. As a life coach, I know quite a bit about setting smart goals and little tricks for holding myself accountable. I’m not so good at organization. But Marcie has created forms that will give me a shortcut to getting organized, setting my smart goals and remaining focused on them. Here are a few links that will lead you to the forms and some thought provoking posts on organization and goal setting for writers. Thanks for sharing, Marcie!

Organize Your Writing Life Posts

Goal Writing Posts

 Vivian Kirkfield

Educator – Parenting Speaker – Author

My main goal for 2014 is to get my work out there. As I read blog posts written by successful authors, I observe that most of them have been plugging away for MANY years…studying the craft, making time for writing (BIC=butt in chair), revising and submitting. You know what they say about the lottery…if you don’t play – you can’t win.

For 2014, I am (as American Idol judge Randy used to say) IN IT TO WIN IT! And winning it doesn’t necessarily mean getting a book published (although that would be lover-ly). It means doing whatever it takes to make my writing the best it can be and seeing to it that agents and editors SEE it.

The steps I plan to take to climb this ladder (will one of you please keep it steady?) are

• Participate in writing challenges (like January’s Start the Year off Write and ReviMo and November’s PiBoIdMo)
• Participate in 12×12 at the Golden Book level and make better use of the Forum than I did last year
• Participate in Rate Your Story at the Pro membership so that I can get feedback on manuscripts
• Take Susanna Leonard Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic class next month
• Continue my involvement with my two critique groups that each exchange manuscripts once a month
• Continue participating in FB groups like Sub Six
• Continue blogging once a week with Perfect Picture Book Friday and an additional 2 days each month for Goal-Busters and Will Write for Cookies (David Seow in the spotlight for January…Jane Yolen, Emma Walton Hamilton and so many more in the months so come.)
• Make multiple bowls of popcorn with an ice cream cone chaser every night while watching a movie classic with my husband
• Gratefully accept all the encouragement and support this incredible community doles out!

Marcie Flinchum Atkins

Children’s and YA Writer

One of my goals this year is to spend more time in revision. I write across multiple genres, so I have a multitude of revisions I need to do. Here’s the plan:

1) Revision of an older middle grade novel. I will be working through THE PLOT WHISPERER and really dissecting it.

2) Revision of a newer middle grade novel. This first horrible draft is DONE. I’ll be a attending a revision workshop in March to work out a plan for revision for it.

3) Picture Book Revisions

* First, I made a list of the current drafts I have and what the status of each. Here’s a post where I talked about how I’m doing that.

* I’m participating in ReviMo, which ends today. However, the posts will still be archived, so if you are looking to revise picture books, I’d head there.

* I’m participating in a picture book workshop in June.

* I’m involved in 12×12 (which you still have a little bit of time to sign up for, if you’re interested). I’ll be doing revisions and new drafts this year.

Your Turn

What is one writing-related goal YOU have for 2014? Leave us a note in the comments. I can’t wait to see what we do in 2014!