I've completed and passed a couple of difficult courses with the Open University, gaining myself 70 credits towards a degree. I have also started writing. This being a very recent activity. Writing is something that I have always wanted to do, but never really did anything about it and 2010 proved to be the year I would act on this and take it seriously. My novel stands at a little over 21,000 words. It was started in October. It's been a little slow, but I have set myself 11 targets for 2011 and one of those is to complete the manuscript.
Instead of making myself a News Years resolution, I have set myself 11 goals. The majority of them are writing related because I really want to work on this in the coming year, but there are some personal ones in there.
1. Read 40 books ( Inspired by juppppy)
2. Complete first draft of novel and subsequent edited drafts
3. Query agent with completed novel
4. See a musical
5. Lose 1.5 stone
6. Start yoga
7. Submit 12 pieces of writing to competitions
8. Write at least 6 blog posts a month.
9. Be more organised. Set goals. Write things down.
10. Raise the profile of the blog and have an extra 12 followers by the end of 2011 (one a month. Today it stands at 15)
11. Push Doctors until a final diagnosis is agreed for son and I.
What do you have planned for the coming year?
Holy moley that's a lot of goals! I aim to win the lottery, write for at least an hour each day and lose a couple of stone. I think the second and third goals are much more likely to actually happen
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot, but hopefully most of them are achievable if I really work at them. Good luck with yours, including the first!
ReplyDeleteWow, Rebecca. Your goals make mine sound whimpy. The only goal I'd put off for later if I were you (as if you're asking), is sending your manuscript to an agent. Wait until you've had time (and I'm talking months, maybe a year, maybe two) to insure it's your best work, near perfection. As with any art, it takes time to learn the craft. I've revised my novels over and over and may never be satisfied, but they've gotten so much better in the process. I cringe when I see my first efforts now. Contests are great ways to learn and to get feed back. As are classes, as you already know.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best and hope to follow your progress as 2011 progresses.
Oh, and by the way, there's a great contest coming up that I entered last year and learned much from. It's called the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. I'll be blogging about it on January 10. But the deadline is soon, so you might want to check it out on your own.
There, I've followed. That's one step for you.
ReplyDeleteExcellent list! I wish you good luck with the medical investigations in particular.
As for me, I intend to write the other 50K words of my NaNoWriMo novel, using JanNoWriMo to do it, then edit and start submissions sometime in the Spring.
We're moving to Malaysia March 1st, taking two Alaskan Malamutes with us, and then I have the rest of the year with a part-time maid and a large house to myself during the day to write a second novel. No more excuses!
The 'little things' (lol) include losing at least two stone by getting back lost fitness and returning to healthy eating ways; learning to speak Malay just a bit and, finally and importantly, resurrecting my meditation practice.
Given my circumstances for 2011, for which I am incredibly grateful to hard-working Derek, it should not be impossible--and I intend to not let myself make it so.
Thanks for your great comments.
ReplyDeleteMargaret - I do intend to leave the ms to stew for a few months and do several edits as well, it just means that i have to word extra hard to get the first draft completed early in the year. Preferably in the first three months. I turn forty this year and I would love to have made my first query, though I do understand that the work, edits and marinading have to be completed first.
I'd read about the Amazon competition somewhere very recently and considered it, but I am going to put in for the CWA dagger comp. It has a closing date of the beginning of February. They want the first 3,000 words so its do-able but may slow down the first draft deadline....
Good luck with your entry. I will definitely be following your progress on your blog.
Cynthia - thanks for the follow and my first step towards one of my goals! Very much appreciated.
You certainly have a busy year ahead of you. 50 k in a month and such a big move. Impressive goals. I wish you all the best with them.
It seems many of us at the beginning of a new year have a goal to lose some weight. At least i know i have company on that gruelling journey :0)
Some excellent goals there... good luck! You could add this to my 11 things for TWENTYELEVEN linky: http://www.twobecomefour.com/2011/01/11-things-for-twentyeleven.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca. Kinky added :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 2010, Rebecca, I always think it's wonderful when someone who has wanted to write finally gets going purposefully. Great set of goals for 2011 - good luck with that novel, slow and steady will get you there (the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time!). Looking forward to following your progress.
ReplyDeleteHappy to help with number 10!
ReplyDeleteThank you Paula! I really appreciate it :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a list! You're right, if you are super-diligent and focused on these goals, you'll achieve them—but it's gonna take work! Thanks for commenting on my blog and following me on Twitter so we can follow each other's progress! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kayla. It's the great thing with blogs and twitter, mutual support in an often difficult task. I look forward to keeping up with you :)
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