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| (Photo by Chris J. Fries - 2012: Sunset Peony) |
For this post, I'm taking a brief pause in my Quest for Story series. It will return with part six in my next post on Wednesday or Thursday, but since this is my first post for September, it also means that the sun has set on August.
So for this post, I want to review my August writing goals and make new ones for this month.
Here are the ten goals I posted back at the beginning of August with their month-end results and grades:
1. Give my short story “Too Quiet” a final once-over and resubmit. Completed and submitted (result pending) -- 10 out of 10 points.
2. Finish the editing of the revised “Waiting Backstage” short story and resubmit. Completed and submitted (result pending) -- 10 out of 10.
3. Complete the requested revision of “Apologies” and resubmit. Story revised and edited, but cannot resubmit yet because publication which requested it is temporarily closed for submissions -- I'll call it 8 out of 10.
4. Write at least one new short story or flash piece and submit. New concept created and outlined, and the story has been started, but not yet finished -- so maybe 5 out of 10.
5. Create at least one micro flash piece and submit. Actually, three were written and submitted (and I've already received rejections back on them) -- 10 out of 10.
6. Finish the outline for the revision of my WIP novel, and revise at least the first chapter. Some work done on the outline, but nowhere near finished, and not many chapter revisions made -- Call it only 2 out of 10.
7. Complete the post for Nicole’s Olympic Blog Relay and submit to her for posting on August 6th. Yep, did this -- 10 out of 10.
8. Vote on each entry in DL’s WRiTE CLUB 2012 competition (twice per week). I've voted on every one (and they've expanded to three each week), with long posts offered as feedback like I'd want to hear -- 10 out of 10.
9. Add a new post on this blog at least once each week (preferably twice). Posted twice each week in August -- 10 out of 10.
10. Read and comment on at least ten blogs I follow each week. I've commented on way over 10 blogs each week, so this is definitely 10 out of 10.
So all together, this adds up to 84 out of 100 -- a solid "B" if I'm grading it. Not perfect, but solid. However, I am a little disappointed that more new writing wasn't done. Items 4, 5, and 6 were the goals that focused on this and I only made 17 out of 30 in these, a clear FAIL. So this month I plan to emphasize this area a little more in my goals.
With that in mind, here are my writing goals for September:
1. Finish the short story I began in August and submit.
2. Come up with at least five other new story ideas.
3. Create story outlines for at least two of those ideas.
4. Write and submit at least one story from those outlines.
5. Write and submit at least one piece of micro-fiction.
6. Complete the overall outline revision for my WIP novel.
7. Revise at least the first chapter of my WIP novel.
8. Vote on each entry in DL's WRiTE Club 2012 competition.
9. Take part in Alex Cavanaugh's Genre Favorites blogfest on September 17th
10. Finish my Quest for Story blog series, posting preferably twice a week.
Because I only want ten goals, I haven't included one about visiting and commenting on at least 10 blogs a week, but that is something I will also certainly try to do. I'm also going to submit the re-written "Apologies" as soon as the publication reopens for submissions, but I didn't make that a specific goal.
So with this new set of goals for September, I'm hoping to get some solid writing done. Wish me luck!
13 comments:
That's amazing progress on some pret rigorous goals! I'd be ecstatic to get a "B" on those.
These were big goals, and I'd say you did pretty well. I know what you mean about wanting to produce new writing though. I'm mired in revisions and feel bad I'm not writing as much new stuff as I'd like. Still, revisions must be done too.
Good luck with your writing in September!
You did really well sticking to your goals last month. Wish I could say the same... August was not my month. But I'm hoping with the kids going back to school I'll be able to get back on track. And good luck with your September goals!
I'd say that was better than a B!
Awesome progress! It's great that you're able to track it and keeping crossing out those goals.
Wow, impressive! But if a magazine requested revisions, why would you not send them in just because the mag is closed for new submissions? Technically, yours isn't a "new" submission; it's a follow-up on a revision they already requested. At any rate, you sure set the bar high for yourself, but you're doing a great job jumping over it.
Wow, great on accomplishing so many goals. Kudos.
I keep forgetting to stop by Write Club too. My blogging has just fallen off so much I miss everything.
......dhole
Good luck! :) My goal for September is to dive into a new novel.
I'm trying to vote on each entry in DL's WRiTE club but sometimes I just can't decide ...
Good luck with your goals, Chris. It is vital to have an articulated target.
That seems like a pretty good result to me. Best of luck with your September goals!
To all: Thanks to each of you for the comments! I apologize that I've been a little busy this week and haven't had much time to do much blog visiting. But I'll be sure and pop in on your blogs ASAP, though!
@mmshaunakelley: Thanks! I guess I'm too much of a perfectionist -- I was shooting for an A+, lol!
@L.G.: You're right. Getting revisions done means that finished work is getting subbed, and that's very importatnt to me. Thanks for the kind words of support!
@Elise: Back-to-school is always a hactic time. Hang in there, and good luck with September to you, too!
@Alex: Thanks! I do tend to grade hard, lol!
@Nicole: I appreciate that. And while I alway hope for 100% completion, I do set the bar a little high, so that I'm more likely to get at least something done, lol!
@Susan: Thank you! And with the pub I'm working with, their on-line submission site is also used for resubs, and the whole systm is currently off-line with submissions closed. I have also e-mailed the editor I was dealing with, but even in the worst case, they do tend to reopen pretty regularly, so it shouldn't be too long either way.
@Donna: Thank you very much! And I hear you: it is hard to stay on top of all the blogging/visiting I want to do, too -- this week's especially busy.
@Tonja: Thanks! And much luck and support to you on that novel!
@Suze: Sometimes it's very hard to decide, and the edge is only by the slimmest of margins. When it comes down to a draw, I tend to ask myself, "which one would I FIRST want to pick up and finish reading?" And thanks for the wishes of support!
@Simon: Thanks! I really appreciate it!
Chris - you are seriously inspiring me with your goals! How cool that you're putting them out there and then checking back in about how they've gone. It's interesting for me to see what you're up to, and probably a good tool for yourself to see where you need to put more or less focus going forward. I love it.
Also - I am still flitting back and forth (y'know, just in general), and have cut way back on my internet time, but even though I haven't been so good with the commenting I am really enjoying your quest series!!
Basically what I'm saying is keep being awesome, friend.
@Jes: Awww, thanks! You're very kind, m'lady. I really appreciate it!
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