Well, the arbitrary date we’ve assigned to indicate the beginning of another pass around the sun has come. I’m all for any opportunity to think about goals and aspirations for the future, as well as doing some planning. It’s like outlining, but for your life.
That was deep, hey? Anways.
I’m finished the third draft of The Unravelling. Other than the possibility of a few more minor tweaks, I feel like what I have now is what I’m comfortable querying on. I have a critique scheduled for my first 15 pages early next week, and based on how that goes, I may do a bit more work on the first two chapters, then start figuring out who I’d like to send it off to. I started researching literary agents this week and plan to spend a good amount of time in the next few days working on a framework for my query letters.
- Goal: Send out my first query letter by the end of January. Try to send one a week after that.
- Goal: Be organized about this shit. Keep track of everything in a spreadsheet (I do loves me a good spreadsheet).
I’m on the fence about using a professional editing service. Before, I felt like it was something I definitely wanted to do, but now I’m wavering. I might send out a few rounds of queries first, and if there are no bites, then go with a paid edit.
- Goal: Curb my chai latte habit (slightly) so I can save for an editor if needed.
- Goal: In the meantime, find a few people who don’t know me at all to read the thing.
I’m also looking ahead to starting in on The Unseeing in earnest sometime soon. I think my outline is pretty much complete, and things are starting to build themselves up in my head around the few scenes I’ve already jotted down. I’m not at the bursting point yet where I won’t have any choice but to start writing, but I feel like it’s soon. I miss sitting down here on my writing couch in my writing room and just letting my thoughts carry me away every night. It’s been so long!
- Goal: Start my first draft no later than March.
- Goal: Finish my first draft no later than the end of 2013 but hopefully sooner.
Can’t forget the most important one:
- Goal: Be awesome.
Easy Lifestyles
Excellent post. Very enjoyable. Writing and blogging is something that I enjoy very much.
Great blog you have here. I’ll be sure to let others know about it for sure.
Have a great day.
jumpingfromcliffs
Ha! Loving the last goal 🙂 As to the others, the very best of luck with them. It’s clear there’s a lot of thought and work that’s gone into the whole process so far and it’s very difficult to get to the point of “OK, I’m happy to let it go now.” Sending your MS to a proper grown-up publisher is a bit like releasing a baby otter with a poorly leg back into the wild… or so I imagine anyway, never having done either… Seriously though, I admire your goals and really hope that they pay off with a publishing deal.
And don’t forget, if you genuinely do want someone who doesn’t know you from Adam to read your masterpiece, I’m more than happy to volunteer.
Nicole Bross
Baby otters! 😀 I like the comparison. I did feel a lot like this when I sent my oldest little to school for the first time.
I genuinely would love if you had the time to read over my MS. Can you drop me a line at nicole (at) bross (dot) ca and I’ll send it to you in the format you prefer? I can make you a .doc, .pdf, .mobi or .epub. Probably others too. Thanks, and thanks for the encouragement!
fantasywritermom
You are several steps ahead of me, and I can’t wait to hear what you find out!
Nicole Bross
I’ll post about it tomorrow! I’m really looking forward to it.