2012 Goals: Year in Review

When I set seven goals back in January 2012, I had no idea just how far I would come and how much would change as I worked through each month. Overall, I consider myself quite successful even though I didn’t achieve every goal with perfection. I learned a few things and realized that sometimes a new direction is needed rather than plodding along on the same path for the sake of reaching a benchmark. For a goal oriented person such as myself, this is a huge leap and I’m glad to have learned how to be a little more flexible with my determination.

December turned out to a month full of distractions beyond my control. My muse opted to stay silent as I dealt with family situations, health issues, and the holiday season. Normally, I would be incredibly frustrated with a quiet muse, but given the circumstances of the last few weeks I decided to take a small break from writing to get my reality back in order. Starting tomorrow, however, that break is officially over as I consider my goals for 2013 and jump back into editing Novel #2.

To recap my 2012 goals, I couldn’t stop myself from creating a little chart much like I did for NaNoWriMo. One side of the chart backtracks to where I was when each goal began and the other side shows where I stand as 2012 comes to a close.

Goal #1: Submit 5 pieces of writing.

To read my submissions visit the following links:

Fatespeak

Blueberry Hunt

The Expanding Pear

Poetry

Goal #2: Finish minor changes in Novel #1

Goal #3: Work on Novel #2

I am so excited to jump back into Novel #2! Within the next week, I’m hoping to send the first five chapters to a beta reader.

Goal #4: Send out 5 query letters.

World Literary Cafe is a fantastic resource for aspiring writers and people who love to read. I highly recommend it as it is a great to place to hang out with people who love the written word.

Goal #5: Keep up with my blog.

Thank you so much to my readers! Your visits and comments are an amazing source of motivation and inspiration for me as a writer. Whether it be musings by way of fiction, crafts, or poetry, it’s a good feeling to know people care about what I’m writing!

Top 5 posts of 2012

1. Wreck This Journal: Letting Go

2. Wreck This Journal: Time Flies

3. Wreck This Journal: Be Unpredictable

4. Wreck This Journal: Stay Positive

5. Beautiful Book Inscriptions

Goal #6: Network more with other writers.

Here’s where post various musings on writing and the creative process:

Facebook 

Twitter

Goal #7: Inspire others to keep writing.

– – –

Now, it’s time to start considering goals for 2013! Hmmm . . . I have a lot to ponder.

Happy New Year!

– – –

c.b.w. 2012

 

Advertisement

November Status Report: 2012 Goals

November certainly had its fair share of challenges, but I ended up learning a couple of valuable lessons. First, I am always stronger than I think I am. Second, my determination to write goes far deeper than I thought. Despite a car accident, two family emergencies, an eye infection, and the craziness of Thanksgiving, I never let writing get too far away from me. Even when it felt like the last thing I should be doing. While words are my passion, they are also my savior when life tries to kick me in the teeth one too many times.

Most of my focus was centered on completing my goals for NaNoWriMo, but I still made some progress on a few of my 2012 goals. Here’s how it went:

1) Submit five pieces of writing to contests, journals, literary magazines, or the newspaper.

Done!

2) Finish minor changes in my first novel.

Shelved, for now. After much consideration, I truly believe leaving it alone is the best thing I can do right now. My muse is adamant about working on Novel #2 and she’s not in the mood for anything else!

Starting word count:  7,975
Ending word count: 7,975
Total word count: 0

3) Work on my second novel. Revise Novel #2.

I’ll be going into more detail on Novel #2 revisions later this week with a NaNoWriMo recap. Things went incredibly well as I achieved the highest monthly word count ever on this project. As I’ve learned repeatedly this year, I thrive on setting goals.

The goal I set for NaNoWriMo was both challenging and doable despite the difficulties reality tried to throw at me this month. If anything, these goals kept me grounded when everything else seemed to be falling apart. I am grateful to my muse for sticking with me and letting my story be a wonderful place to go at the end of more than a few tough days.

Starting revised word count: 10,865
Ending revised word count: 27,507
Total revised word count: 16,642

Along my sidebar, I keep a bar graph that shows the daily progress of revisions on Novel #2. I am beyond thrilled to report 1/3 of Novel #2 is now revised. My muse is still crazy about this project, so I will stay fully immersed in it through December.

4) Send out five query letters and be ready with a synopsis.

The last draft of my query letter for Novel #2 went to a beta reader who had some really positive things to say about it along with a few ideas for revisions. I’m working on those revisions and will be sending it to the same beta reader as well as another one, (I hope you’re game, Bonnie!).

5) Keep up with my blog.

My NaNoWriMo goals kept me pretty busy, but I still managed to stay relatively consistent in posting. In December I’m hoping to mix things up a little by including more posts about crafts, photography, and maybe a short story. Thank you to my readers for your continued visits. I appreciate all of your comments and “likes.” Your encouragement to keep writing means so much to me.

6) Network more with other writers.

I played  more on Facebook this month than I did on Twitter. It was a nice place to go during NaNoWriMo madness! My thanks goes to everyone who has stopped by and followed me Facebook and Twitter.

My Facebook Page has grown from 221 to 234 Likes.

On Twitter, my followers have grown from 425 to 464.

As I continue revisions on Novel #2, I’ll be dropping little hints about the characters and the story throughout December. To gain access to these forthcoming tidbits, please visit my sidebar to follow me on either network.

7) Inspire other writers to keep writing.

As always, I hope I am a positive presence!

– – –

c.b.w. 2012

October Status Report: 2012 Goals

After the insanity of September, I’m very surprised to report that October was just as crazy. It turns out a hardcore writing schedule is harder to switch off than I thought. Rather than sit back enjoy the victory of completing the first draft of Novel #2, I found myself with an incredible urge to keep working. I jumped right into revisions and my muse is showing no signs of slowing down.

While I love the constant inspiration currently flooding my imagination, some of my other goals have once again taken a back seat. This year has a been characterized by an interesting learning curve as I have come to accept the fact that creativity doesn’t always like to stay in the boundaries of organization. The color-coding, to-do list part of my brain has actually lightened up a little bit, so it’s not bothering me as much that I can’t cross everything off my 2012 goals this month. Instead, I find solace in focusing on what I got done!

1) Submit five pieces of writing to contests, journals, literary magazines, or the newspaper.

I didn’t submit anything, but I am working on a story I started in London. It’s something I hope to submit at some point and it’s a nice little project to have on the side for when I get stuck revising Novel #2.

2) Finish minor changes in my first novel.

Novel #2 is keeping its hold on my focus. I haven’t touched my first novel in two months and I don’t suspect I will be for a while. Both the story and characters are silent in my head because they are being drowned out by everything in Novel #2. It’s hard to work on a large project like this when my muse wants nothing to do with it at the moment. So, on the shelf it remains.

Starting word count:  7,975
Ending word count: 7,975
Total word count: 0

3) Work on my second novel. Revise Novel #2.

Much like last month, I can’t stop thinking about Novel #2. After completing the first draft – Yay! – I went back to page one and started revising. This is weird for me because usually I like to let a project sit for a while before returning to it for revisions. Not this time. All I wanted to do was be in the story again and listen to my characters.  I’ve never experienced a pull like that after finishing a writing project, which is why I decided to listen to my tagline and follow my muse. She seems to know where we’re going and who am I to question her?

Starting revised word count: 0
Ending revised word count: 10,865
Total revised word count: 10,865

See NaNoWriMo (Revised) for the goals I’ve set for November on this project. It’s insane, but I’m up for the challenge.

4) Send out five query letters and be ready with a synopsis.

My query letter for Novel #2 has gone through three more revisions. My goal for November is to have it ready to send off to two beta readers.

5) Keep up with my blog.

Despite my crazy writing schedule, I managed to post on a very consistent basis this month. Thank you to my readers for your continued visits. I appreciate all of your comments and “likes.” Your encouragement to keep writing means so much to me.

6) Network more with other writers.

It was a good month on social media! I made an effort to be a little more present on Facebook and Twitter and I have to say it was a lot of fun. My thanks goes to everyone who has stopped by and followed me Facebook and Twitter.

My Facebook Page has grown from 198 to 221 Likes.

On Twitter, my followers have grown from 288 to 425.

To join in the fun, please visit my sidebar to follow me on either network. As I work through revisions, I’ll be posting frequently on both networks with ramblings fueled by extraordinary amounts of caffeine.

7) Inspire other writers to keep writing.

As always, I hope I am a positive presence!

 – – –

Happy Halloween! May you have your fair share of jack-0-lanterns and candy! Last year I wrote about the origins of Halloween on this post: Hallowed History. If you’ve ever wondered where Halloween traditions began, you may want to re-visit my spooky history lesson.

– – –

c.b.w. 2012

September Status Report: 2012 Goals

At the beginning of September, I set an insane goal of finishing my second novel by the end of the month. I knew it was crazy the moment it popped into my head, but I also had the belief that I could do it thanks to an exercise called the Love List, (see What I Love About My WIP).

It’s truly amazing what a surge of motivation can do for a Work In Progress! I fell in love with my second novel all over again and I literally could not wait to work on it every day. After working nine to ten hours at the day job, I’d go home briefly to eat and then head out to my favorite coffee café for my second shift as a writer.  Every part of me is utterly exhausted, but I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.

My September in a nutshell.

As a result of focusing so much energy on one goal, some of my other goals had to be put on hold. Initially, this really bothered me, but ultimately it came down to listening to my muse and finishing something that means a lot to me.

1) Submit five pieces of writing to contests, journals, literary magazines, or the newspaper.

For the first time in three months, I did not submit anything.  However, a small victory was achieved when I received my very first rejection letter. I framed the letter and hung it above my writing desk as a reminder that I am on my way, (see My First Official Rejection Letter.)

Thank you to my readers who participated in the Poetry Poll series, for the poems you chose helped me cross the threshold of receiving a rejection letter!  All of you helped me get one step closer to achieving publication.

I set the goal of submitting of five pieces this year and I’m proud to say I can cross this goal off my list.  Up until last month, I had the count listed at four submissions, but after reviewing my submission log I realized I was wrong. Earlier this year I submitted an entry to a competition in the Fourth Writers’ Platform Building Campaign. Seeing as I won that competition, I’ve decided it counts as Submission #5.

Of course, reaching this goal doesn’t mean I’m done!  I’m looking to submit at least one more piece before the end of December.

2) Finish minor changes in my first novel.

I’m sad to say I did not touch my first novel during the month of September.  With all my energy devoted to Novel #2, I let Noah and his story sit. October will hopefully be a better month for this goal.

Starting word count:  7,975
Ending word count: 7.975
Total word count: 0

3) Work on my second novel.

This is the huge success story of the month. Through some serious dedication and stubborn determination I finished the first draft of my second novel.  Let this be a solid piece of evidence that you can do anything if you want it badly enough.  My passion for the story took over and pushed me to go further than I thought possible.

Starting word count: 66,210
End word count: 75,808
Total word count: 9,598

Let the revisions begin!

4) Send out five query letters and be ready with a synopsis.

My muse never ceases to amaze me as not only did she go nuts with inspiration for finishing Novel #2, but she planted the seed for a query letter. Towards the middle of the month, I began writing a short synopsis for the Novel #2, which eventually developed into a full query letter draft.  It all started with one sentence that hit me while brushing my teeth.  After chiding my muse for terrible timing, I found my notebook and wrote it down.  From there, everything fell into place.  Some things are just meant to be!

5) Keep up with my blog.

I may have disappeared during the last week of September, (see Into the Writing Cave),  but I was very good about posting on a regular basis throughout the rest of the month.  Thank you to all my readers for sticking with me even when I wander off for a bit.  I promise it was for a good reason, (that I hope you will all get to read at some point!).

6) Network more with other writers.

My self-imposed immersion into the imaginary world of my second novel left me with little time to play in the realm of social networking.  That being said, I was quite active on Facebook during the writing process this month.  I hope those who followed me enjoyed the journey of a severely caffeinated author!

My thanks goes to everyone who has stopped by and followed me Facebook and Twitter.

My Facebook Page has grown from 188 to 198 Likes.

On Twitter, my followers have grown from 287 to 288.

To join in the fun, please visit my sidebar to follow me on either network. My goal for October is to increase my presence on Twitter and join in more conversations with other writers.

7) Inspire other writers to keep writing.

As always, I hope I am a positive presence!

 – – –

c.b.w. 2012

August Status Report: 2012 Goals

As expected, the return of my day job has slowed the progress of my 2012 goals.  However, I’m happy to report I still accomplished something on most of my goals.  The numbers may be a bit lower across the board, but I’m proud of myself for writing every night, even after a long day at work!

1) Submit five pieces of writing to contests, journals, literary magazines, or the newspaper.

I submitted three poems to Wordrunner eChapbooks‘ call for poetry relating to the theme of “found.” Two of the  poems I sent were chosen by my readers in the Poetry Poll series.  Unfortunately, I had to eliminate  the third poem because after reading the fine print a little closer, I found out at least one of the poems had to be previously unpublished (including blog publication), so I rallied by writing a new poem to complete the trilogy.  Wish me luck!

In mid-August, the winners were announced for the Write It Your Way (Writer’s Digest – Summer Stories) and unfortunately my story Blueberry Hunt didn’t make the final cut, but I’m still really proud of how it turned out.

So far this year, I’ve submitted four pieces which means I’m one submission away from reaching this goal!

At the moment, I am working on a story to enter in the Sixteenth Annual Zoetrope: All Story Short Fiction Contest, (Deadline October 1)

2) Finish minor changes in my first novel.

I didn’t get to work on this goal as much as I would like, mainly because Novel #2 has most of my attention.  Even still, I managed to get a small block converted from the third person to first person.

Starting word count:  7,657
Ending word count: 7,975
Total word count: 318

3) Work on my second novel.

The numbers don’t quite reflect the time and effort that has gone into this project this month.  A slight plot change (one of the characters threw a little curve ball), a couple chapters ago created the need for some tinkering in the end sequence.  My muse and I spent many hours pondering, brainstorming, and scribbling until we came up with some viable solutions.

Furthermore, the completion of a Love List for this project has me moving full throttle to finish it.

Starting word count: 64,427
End word count: 66,210
Total word count: 1,783

4) Send out five query letters and be ready with a synopsis.

This goal remains on hold as I work to complete the total overhaul of Novel #1.

5) Keep up with my blog.

Even though I’ve cut down on how many posts I write each week, I remain consistent in updating on a regular basis.  Thank you to all my readers who continue to stop by to read and leave comments. Your visits are very much appreciated.

That being said, I am in the process of making a big decision.  The motivation to finish my second novel is so high right now, I want to take advantage of the momentum and finish it by the end of September.  In order to do this, I may have to cut down to one or two posts a week to give myself more time to write my novel.  I love my readers and I want to write for all of you, but my story is calling me!

6) Network more with other writers.

It’s a little slow on this front, but I’ve decided that’s okay.  Until I figure out how to get around the social networking block at work, I can’t be as connected as I’d like to be with the writing community. I’m hoping to have something worked out soon so I can visit other Facebook pages and tweet more often!

My thanks goes to everyone who has stopped by and followed me Facebook and Twitter.

My Facebook Page has grown from 178 to 188 Likes.

On Twitter, my followers have grown from 283 to 287.

I tend to update my Facebook status while I’m working on Novel #2 and sometimes I can be rather entertaining in the middle of a writing binge.  To join in the fun, please visit my sidebar to follow me on either network.

7) Inspire other writers to keep writing.

As always, I hope I am a positive presence!

 – – –

c.b.w. 2012