2017 is gone. 2018 is here. I love that January 1 is the start of a new year, but it's also a chance to begin again. So we didn't keep all the resolutions we made last year. We can start over. I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted to in 2017, but . . . Here's the disclaimer. I competed and published two books and wrote two short stories. For me, that was a big deal. I'm proud of that. I didn't expect to accomplish that much. Last year, I was invited to join another group blog (Pandora's Box Gazette--an online magazine) where I have a monthly column on Family Life. Added to Paranormal Romantics (where I blog once a month) and The Roses of Prose (where now I'll be blogging twice a month), and my own Weekend Writing Warrior contributions, I blog between 10-12 times a month. And I enjoy that.
My main job is writing books. While I enjoy blogging, that isn't adding to my stories. So I needed to examine what I want to accomplish in 2018. As I wrote for Insecure Writers Support Group last week, my goal is to finish three books. Two are already started, one new--a total of about 170,000 words. I nearly stopped before I got started. That's a lot of words. So, I broke that down into a more manageable goal, a minimum of 500 words per day (about one page single-spaced). Easy peasy. The harder part was choosing which book to go with first.
The Spy (4th in my Outer Rim series): I'd already written almost 11k words.
Unpredictable Nature (a romantic suspense): I wrote this book several years ago, and I finished it. I think. I just can't find all of it. I know that must sound weird. That story was written on two desktop computers ago. Back in those days, I kept copies of my work on 3.5" floppy disks. I'm still looking through those floppies, trying to find that story.
Untitled (4th in the Alex O'Hara PI mystery series): as of Jan. 1, not started but thought about a lot.
It makes sense to finish the book that's closest to being done. Right? Hah! That Alex O'Hara story just won't let me go. So, last week, I started writing. I've already 6700 words. I love when the words flow, as they've been doing for almost a week.
On the right side of this blog, you'll see my progress graphic for each book. Having declared my intentions, you can hold me to it. LOL I won't be offended if you ask about my progress (or lack of).
Have a great week. Come back next Sunday for Weekend Writing Warrior where I post 8-10 sentence snippets from my new release Romance Rekindled.
If you're interested, here's my blogging schedule:
Each weekend: Weekend Writing Warrior, here
Each Monday: here
1st Wednesday: Insecure Writers Support Group, here
3rd Wednesday: Pandora's Box Gazette
It's always nice to start off the New Year with new goals, inspired and rejuvenated. Good luck with achieving them! Writing 500 words a day is very manageable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, J.H. So far, I've been doubling that number. Very pleased.
DeleteSounds like you've got a good plan and are doing what you enjoy. I blog the first Wednesday and on Mondays the rest of the month. But life does happen and you have to go with it sometimes. Good luck with your goals.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie. I'm so glad the words are flowing right now. As I wrote above, I've doubled my goal, so when things interrupt, I've got a cushion.
DeleteWhew! That's a lot of blogging. I remember when I used to blog 3 times a week, and that was WAY too much. Once a week was a challenge too. Twice a month? Pretty comfortable. Once a month? Smooth sailing. Granted, the changes went along with the demands of family and life, so everyone is different. I'm glad you're enjoying it. It would overwhelm me.
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