Yesterday was my Wednesday to blog over at 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News. Considering year end is coming closer and goal setting for 2019 is not far behind, I’m talking about how writers can use positive thinking. Check out my article at http://4rvreading-writingnewsletter.blogspot.com/2018/10/how-can-writers-use-positive-thinking.html
It’s time to review my writing goals for the year. I fear I’ll be sadly disappointed, but work and family come first.
GOAL 1: Submit Clever Tom to agents
Not yet. Deadline was February 15 and I haven’t really driven into that one. I’ve participated in Picture Book Pitch on Twitter, but nothing further. I’ll need to go back and look at that hashtag “PBPitch” to see if I can get some ideas of appropriate agents.
GOAL 2: Participate in STORYSTORM
Did this in January and won.
GOAL 3: Blog twice a week on all four blogs
When I am busy with work these get neglected, but at least two of the four stay regularly updated. I also added contributing to the 4RV blog twice a month and also contribute to Christian Children’s Authors.
GOAL 4: Guest blog at least once a quarter
Since I had a virtual book tour for Amos Faces His Bully I did a bunch of guest blogging. I’ll probably set up another book tour in November.
GOAL 5: Contribute to Guardian Angel Kids this year
Looks like my best hope is the December issue.
GOAL 6: Finish Amelia’s Mission and get it ready for submission
I’ve been polishing the earlier chapters a bit based upon feedback from my local writers group and my critique partner. I’m in the middle of Chapter 20 now. 🙂
Overall, not a bad effort. What are some of your goals? Do you review them quarterly? How do you stay on track?
Happy New Year! Tomorrow it is back to school and work for everyone–actually, I’ve been working off and on since the day after Christmas–and it’s time to set some goals for 2018. A few of these goals will be carry overs from 2017, but that’s okay. I still made some great progress last year.
GOAL 1: Submit Clever Tom to agents
This is my most recent story. It was a Picture Book Idea Month (now STORYSTORM) idea that I was finally able to iron out the details of and write down thanks to my writing group. Not thrilled with the title (titles have never been my strength) but totally in love with the story. It appears in good shape, so I plan to shop it around and see if I can’t get any bites on it. (Smaller goal is to research at least three children’s agents by February 15, 2018 and see who might be the best fit.)
GOAL 2: Participate in STORYSTORM
Just started today. No more logging ideas on my blog, but I’ll provide a weekly update. I’ve managed this challenge more than once. It has lead to one published book, another due to be released this year, and the story above. I also have several other partially written or waiting to be edited stories in the works thanks to this annual event. Can’t wait to see what this year brings.
GOAL 3: Blog twice a week on all four blogs
In addition to this site, there’s The Book Connection, An Imperfect Christian Mom, and Books Can Be Deadly. This seems manageable and not too overwhelming with my work schedule. I’m doing my best not to make my mommy blog only about books. There is so much more I would like to share there. I blog twice a month at Christian Children’s Authors. (Smaller goal is to set up my calendar a month in advance and log in two days a week for blogging.)
GOAL 4: Guest blog at least once a quarter
I love guest blogging on other people’s sites. I’m going to be reaching out to friends via email and social media to see who will host me. I’m always willing to return the favor. (Smaller goal is to reach out to fellow bloggers within the next two weeks to see about getting on their schedules.)
GOAL 5: Contribute to Guardian Angel Kids this year
I’ve wanted to do this for a while. Guardian Angel Publishing has been so wonderful to me. I must make time to return the favor by supporting their online magazine. This was a goal from last year and I want to make it a reality this year. (Smaller goal is to research all themes by January 31, 2018 and see which issue I would like to contribute toward.)
GOAL 6: Finish Amelia’s Mission and get it ready for submission
I’m seventeen chapters in. This will be my project at all my writing group meetings this year. Amelia is away at school now and has met a good friend. She also has encountered some mean girls who are out to make life miserable. She’s still pondering Aunt Martha’s secret and what she should do about it. (Smaller goal is to attend all monthly meetings.)
Oh me, oh my. I blinked my eyes and 2016 was done. I set myself three goals for this year and achieved only one: I attended writing group fairly consistently, missing only a few. I’m long past the point of being disappointed when I don’t hit a writing goal. What did bum me out is that I wasn’t disciplined enough to review my goals more than once since December. It’s important to review goals at least once a quarter to stay focused.
Enough whining, because good stuff happened in 2016. Here’s what I accomplished:
Book Release
This November, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving was released by Guardian Angel Publishing (GAP). This was totally unexpected, so I had to make time to promote the book once it came out. I still have a few copies available for review if anyone is interested. You can email me at ccmal(at)charter(dot)net. Please put “Mac and Cheese” in the subject line.
Amelia’s Mission
One of my goals was to finish this middle grade novel by the end of the year. That didn’t happen, but I am now in the middle of Chapter 16, so there’s progress.
Writers Conference and Agent Meeting
I sat on the planning committee for WriteAngles again this year. We ended up having an agent slot open, so I snagged it. I’ve met enough agents at this point that it is no longer intimidating and practice is always good. I pitched Amelia’s Mission and she helped me polish my query letter.
That leaves my edits for The Sisterhood as a totally untouched goal from 2016. This is the first full-length novel I completed. It needs a lot of editing, which I didn’t get to this year. I’m going to hold off on it for now. It’s too large of a project for me to commit to tackle in 2017. I truly want to get Amelia’s Mission finished first anyway.
Searching for Popularity is an incomplete manuscript that I changed from memoir to young adult novel. It probably won’t garner much of my attention until Amelia’s Mission is done.
The following completed books are searching for a home:
A New Home (chapter book) – Romeo, Juliet, and Peter are three abandoned kittens searching for a new home.
Crabby Cathy (picture book) – Cathy is a mean girl who shoves people around in the schoolyard and takes things that aren’t hers. But when Amy and Chloe decide to befriend this bully, they see a side to Cathy they didn’t know existed.
Everybody’s Home for Christmas (chapter book) – Rachel is sad that her military father isn’t around for Christmas like the other dads. With some encouragement from her mom, she spends the days putting together a care package to send to him in Afghanistan, and before she goes to bed each night she prays for his safe return. Will Rachel experience a Christmas miracle?
The Real Cinderella Story (picture book) – A snarky story of Cinderella told by one of her sisters.
Amos Faces His Bully is under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing. Wouldn’t it be great if an illustrator took on that project and it released in 2017? That is my hope.
Considering my real estate work schedule and my family commitments, I am keeping it simple again this year.
Are you setting your goals for 2017 yet? Want to share any of them?
It’s my Friday to blog at Christian Children’s Authors. I am so honored to be among the talented group of writers contributing to this blog. Today’s post talks about prayerful goal setting. You can find it at http://christianchildrensauthors.com/2016/10/21/prayerful-goal-setting/
The Children's and Teens' Book Connection 