So these were last week’s goals:

1. Finish the current draft of the YA novel. DONE.
2. Work on SWMF on seven days. DONE
3. Write/finish a synopsis for SWMF. DONE
4. Enter a writing competition of some kind. Not done – but I am getting together a submission for SWMF, which is what I have been working on every day. Should be done over the weekend.

I’m pretty pleased with that lot. 🙂 Especially finishing the draft, as it’s draft 3 and I feel like I finally have enough of the story in place for the rest to be editing rather than rewriting. Which is so much more fun. Drafting is like walking across a tightrope and being unable to see the other end – you just have to trust that you’re doing the right thing and keep going, despite feeling sick and dizzy with uncertainty and fear.

Editing, for me, feels like finishing a sculpture: the essential shape is there, and you are chipping away pieces (some tiny, some large) so that the form gradually emerges in all its beauty.

Not that I’ve ever walked a tightrope or created a sculpture. But I do have an extremely active imagination.

Onto this week’s goals:

1. Submit SWMF to the thing. I don’t want to clarify what the thing is because I will jinx it (not that I have a hope of getting anywhere with it, but still, I am determined to try).
2. Work on SWMF on seven days.
3. Print out the YA novel ready for reading next weekend.

Onward. Wishing everyone else the best with their goals! Feel free to comment below if you want some accountability. 🙂

 

Firstly an update on last week’s goals:

1. Work on the YA novel on six days. DONE
   
2. Write 3,000 words on the YA novel over the week. DONE
   
3. Work on SWMF on seven days. DONE
   
4. Enter a writing competition of some kind. Not done…I guess I’m still working on this one.
   

This week’s goals:

1. Finish the current draft of the YA novel. This was originally a goal I set over Christmas and, as always, I underestimated how much I had left to write (not to mention how much time I would have over Christmas!). This time, though, the end is truly in sight.
2. Work on SWMF on seven days.
3. Write/finish a synopsis for SWMF.
4. Enter a writing competition of some kind. Leaving this on the list for now.

Feel free to tell me your own goals below!

 

Well, hasn’t it been a horrible week? The deaths of two beloved stars of the arts have profoundly affected everyone I know, both on and offline. I’ve also had some shocking news in my private life (not, I hasten to add, anything to do with my last post – in that situation all is well), plus a couple of a couple of minor health niggles, which probably wouldn’t have got me down too badly individually, but when combined with everything else that’s happened this week, well…Last night, I pretty much wanted to curl up and cry and wait for Monday.

But that would be to ignore one thing that has gone well this week: writing. A few weeks ago I was struggling to fit in ten minutes’ writing a day. These days it’s unusual for me to spend less than twenty minutes a day on writing. It’s become that elusive thing: a habit, and one I’m very thankful for.

So without further ado, next week’s goals:

1. Work on the YA novel on six days.
2. Write 3,000 words on the YA novel over the week.
3. Work on SWMF on seven days.
4. Enter a writing competition of some kind.

(I’ve given myself a day off the YA novel because I think it’s helpful to have a day away from my laptop once a week. SWMF is still all on paper.)

No. 4 was a bit of a surprise entry on my list of goals for the year. I have far too much writing lying fallow on my hard drive, and I didn’t enter a single competition or submit a single story anywhere last year. It’s time to change that – even if I don’t get anywhere, at least I can give myself the opportunity to succeed!

Those of you reading along, do you have any goals you want to add? I hope your writing year has started well!