Reflection Time
Yesterday, reading Grace Lin’s post on Blue Rose Girls inspired me to reflect on my own accomplishments for 2009. I always think that I could have accomplished more, but I do like the idea of taking time to appreciate what I have done. Here are my writing-related accomplishments for 2009:
1. Finished writing my MG novel “The Ethan Project”, which is now in revision.
2. Made it about halfway through the first draft of another MG novel, which is still untitled.
3. Identified a big roadblock in my writing, namely continuing to revisit and polish what I’ve already written before the draft is completed, and developed some strategies to help avoid it [seems to be working so far!].
4. Began participating in the MiG Writer’s blog, and reading/commenting on more blogs written by others.
5. Wrote several stories for beginning readers, to be published in two new series by my Korean publisher Unibooks.
I’m not sure about resolutions for 2010. Sometimes, I think it’s better to stick to one or two and really work hard to make them happen, rather than to generate a long list and be disappointed when, by the end of the year, I haven’t accomplished many of them.
Three writing-related things I’d like to accomplish in 2010:
1. Finish the untitled MG novel I started in 2009.
2. Plan and begin writing another novel based on one of the great ideas waiting in my notebook.
3. Write more regularly, even if just 500 words a day.
Do you have any writing-related accomplishments or resolutions for 2010?
– Andrea
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so with you on the 500 words a day. And I’m not making any resolutions this year! So 500 words a day isn’t a resolution, it’s a habit I’m trying to develop.
You accomplished a lot in 2009! Yes, we always think we could’ve done more. Look at it this way, we could’ve done a lot less.
This is a great post, Andrea! Very inspirational.
Ok, here are my goals for this year:
Finish graphic novel script and send out the proposal package.
Finish MG fantasy novel.
Write and send out YA novel.
Write and send out six early reader chapter books.
Finish & send out a nonfiction book proposal re: my writer comics.
Andrea, you’ve done so much in 2009! I agree with you in that I think it’s important to have some aims that direct us but yet don’t quelch that creativity.
I actually finished all my goals for last year except revising Chosen Warrior. So that’s on my list for this year. I also want to finish my new WIP too. But most of my goals are actually non writing related. Namely, moving back to the States in the summer and adjusting to a new culture in many ways for me. Plus, unless that 6 figure book deal surfaces, I’ll be starting a new job.
Whatever happens, I just know that this is going to be an awesome year!
Wow, Debbie. That’s quite the ambitious list of goals. Good luck!
My list is all in my head for now, but I can guarantee is doesn’t include finishing nine books.
To those commenting on my goals: note that my ‘early chapter books’ are going to be MUCH shorter than my MG/YA books. (!)
My goal for 2010 is to revise my SHELTER YA until it’s good enuf for my agent to sell it. sigh. What a market!
Debbie, I know from experience that being shorter doesn’t necessarily make it easier or less time consuming to write!
I think shorter IS harder. No way can I write picture books–I’ve tried! I like the idea of not revising as you’re working, but I always seems to start a few pages “back” and that ends up being a revision.
Anyone ever write a whole novel without revising anything the first time?