I often list other goals besides writing goals on these ROW80 posts. This round, I’m going to focus on my writing goals. I might share some of my other successes from time to time, including weight loss, but my STATED goals are going to be writing related. I’ve been too lax on writing, which caused me not to publish anything but a short story for an anthology in 2013. If it’s in my power, I will publish this year. So….
1) Work on edits for Hearts of Evil based on beta readers’ suggestions. I have two beta readers who are VERY good editors AND proofreaders. I’ve heard you should never mix those and that you should have different people for these three jobs. However, this is working for me. Two of my beta readers are authors. One is an editor in her day job. The other is a well-known “seasoned” author. They kick my butt (in a kind way), so it works. My other two beta readers are, well, readers. One has the unedited version. The other will get the edited version. This last one catches typos that others sometimes don’t. Which is odd since she’s 79 years old and doesn’t see well. LOL
2) Work on plotting Fire Wizard starting today. I have a lot of questions already answered based on Susan Bischoff’s Story Toolkit. She’s a little more detailed than I want to be, but I use what works for me. I now just need to write out what will happen in every chapter.
3) Write 5,000 words per week. I’m not going to specify which days I’ll write like I did last time, I just need to make that 5,000 word goal.
4) Publish Fire Wizard by June 30, 2014. I downloaded a simple publishing worksheet set up by Ruth Ann Nordin. I’ve already filled it in with my projected timeline for this book, including word count goals and first draft. The 5,000 word per week goal won’t necessarily be all about First Wizard, although some weeks it might be. I have another project that I abandoned a while back that I might take back up. More on that later.
I hope your eyes haven’t glazed over yet. I tend to skim when people write blog posts that are really long (unless it’s really exciting!), and I try not to go overboard, but these are my goals, and I needed to talk about them. Now I’m going to pop over to some of the rest of my ROW80er’s blogs and see what they are doing this round. You know, in between doing what I’m supposed to be doing here at work. 🙂
lauralynnelliott.com 
Good luck reaching your goals. The sidebar on the right shows you’re more than 99% done with your WIP. Congrats.
Thanks, Emma. I was actually finished, but when I do edits that the betas suggested, there will be a higher word count. So I’m leaving the meter until it’s completely finished.
As always, great goals, Lauralynn. You’ve got so much going on in the rest of your life, I hope you can see the writing as a break–sometimes that works for me, sometimes not.
Your editors and betas sound perfect–I hope the edits go quickly.
I’m determined to stay positive and hope, with all the difficulties we’re having (including financial), that this latest WIP will sell well.
My editors/betas are great!
We have the same weekly word count goal this round, Lauralynn! Let’s keep each other accountable. 🙂 Your next book sounds fun!!
Yes, I think that’s a great idea. It’s not too many words, but not too shabby either. Just right!
I hope this next book will be easier to write. It’s back to paranormal romance, but not a vampire or ghost this time.
My eyes didn’t glaze over the post, but you know how long I get when I write blog posts. To me, yours was short. 😀
Those are great goals. It might be easier to do weekly word count goals instead of daily ones. I’m thinking about switching the idea from daily to weekly. Too many things can pop up during the week.
What is Fire Wizard about? Can I get a hint? The title is intriguing. 😀
I’ll email you a hint. LOL
I think you’ve set some good and reasonable goals and I wish you all the best of luck with them. For myself, I’m hoping this will be the year I finish something and get something ready to submit for publication. Thanks for the links to the blueprint, it looks very helpful!
Thank you, Kathy.
Susan is so detailed in the way she plots her books. Really, too detailed for me, but I like to use at least some of her ideas because they really make sense. She’s very smart!
Here’s to a fabulous year of words Lauralynn. Wishing you a productive Round One.
Thanks, Raelyn. Let’s be productive!
Goals? I should look into this “goals” thingie. Yes, yes I think I might be feeling a wee bit of inspiration in the tips of my fingers. Must. Go. Write.
Best of luck to you on your goals.
Go write! Now!
Thanks a bunch! 😉