Tuesday, March 1, 2011

March Writing Goals

I need goals to make progress (whether I meet the goal or not), and I like reading other writers' goals, so this is one of those posts. My big goal, at the moment, is to finish my current draft by the end of April.

In January, my goals were to critique a manuscript for a friend and to add 12,000 more words to my first draft. I finished the critique but fell short at 11,000 words. In February, I just wanted to add another 12,000 words. I wrote . . .




.


. . .  wait for it . . .


.  


.

 . . .  11,000 words. 

This month, I'd like to write down at least one of the picture book ideas that came to me last month and make up my deficit by adding 15,000 words. But if I only write 11,000 words, I'll probably still finish up this rough draft by the end of April. I may finish it this month. It feels like I'm so close to the end, but there are still a few major events to write, and I think I'll scrap most of my beginning. 

That got me thinking: when I scrap my beginning and start writing through the story again, it would really be my second draft. The story will have a beginning, a middle, and an end by that point, even if I wouldn't hand it to someone else.

And I realized I have a NaNoWriMo novel with a beginning, a middle, and an end from November of 2009 that I haven't even read through. I hadn't been thinking of it as a finished draft because the word count was under 30,000. I left holes in it where I wanted to look things up (NaNoWriMo isn't a great time to research). But I also left holes in the first novel* that I wrote. Hmmm. I think I'm going to call it a finished first draft and make sure I read through it (revise and fill holes) at some point this year.  

So, when I finish my current draft, I'll have three rather longish stories to revise. *scratches head* At least I don't get writer's block, right?

*I've gone through five drafts on Star Swans (my first), but it's still not ready to query.

23 comments:

  1. Yes, call them finished first drafts! You rock.
    My Blog

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like you're making great progress, Myrna, even if you're not quite hitting your goals. In the end, it's not a race, just a pleasant nature walk along a forest path. There is no one grand finish line, because the end is always changing. As long as you're enjoying the trip, that's all that really matters.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with Krista. Enjoy the journey. Your word counts are awesome. Don't be discouraged!

    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  4. wow Myrna, 11000 words each time sounds great to me :o) Go and make some bread! lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Krista! I'm not trying to race. I just thought that with the end of basketball season around the corner, I might be able to squeeze more writing time in this month.

    Thanks, Amy! I hope I'm not sounding discouraged. It's okay if I don't reach my goals, as long as I'm making progress.

    I did, Niki! It smells like it's just about done. My taste buds are about to be thanking you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. lol oh how gorgeous!! now you're making my mouth water.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maybe YOU should go make some bread ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. haha I will tomorrow morning, promise. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like you are steaming along!
    Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That actually sounds pretty darn good. It sounds like you have a lot to choose from too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks, Al!

    No, Sue, none for me ;)

    I do, Holly. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. At least you realize you're not ready to query. I though I had a bestseller after my first draft! Ugh. I still cringe thinking about it...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for your comment, Sherrie. There are a lot of people who think they can sell their first draft. Some aren't willing to revise, but it doesn't sound like you're one of those. You may end up with a bestseller yet.

    I won't even let my husband read the first draft ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. 11,000 words in Feb. That's Fabulous. I've also got three stories going right now. I revise/write the one that dominates my head. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks, Brooke. Good luck with yours.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It sounds like you're doing great! 11,000 words is seriously awesome. Good luck on this months goals! I'm right there with ya! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm in the same boat too--many "exploratory" drafts and nothing ready even though agents are asking. :o) (Patience is a what, again? lol)

    Having seen the beauty of your writing, here's what I say: call them drafts and keep going. You're almost there, you 11k wonder, you!

    ReplyDelete
  18. ROFL at Sherrie's comment.

    I think you're doing awesome. It's not a race. Enjoy the process. :D

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yay for no writer's block. Never seems to bother me, either. Nice to meet you and your blog! :) Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yup, better than being blocked.

    You sound quite productive. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks, Chantele! Good luck with yours!

    Aww, thanks, Jackee! It's great to have you back in the blogosphere.

    Thanks, Stina. I know it's not a race, but I still make more progress with the goals. And I do enjoy the process. :o)

    Thanks, Carol. I'm glad you don't have a problem with it either.

    Medeia, I'm so excited for your book to come out. :o)

    ReplyDelete