New Year's Resolutions...and jeez...I haven't updated in awhile!

It's that time of the year again. You know, when we inspire each other to do things and then kinda go about our merry way, forgetting we made the resolutions to begin with? Actually, for me, not this time. This year I have resolutions I am really serious about sticking to. I don't care how many hours of work I have to put in. The weird thing is, I am pretty good at sticking to my goals, its just when it comes to the New Year...some reason I choke and I throw all my hard work out the window, even if I really want what I aspired to do that year.

So, fess up guys:p Who else makes resolutions and then kinda...just...gets bored or scared or busy? Tell me I'm not the only one? Well, I challange you to do something a bit different this year. Make your resolution something really special, maybe a dream you have. Obviously it should be something you know you can accomplish in a year, or at least get started on it. Whether its saving up for a house, losing some weight, doing something crazy and dangerous just for the heck of it...but make it something you know you really want, something you are passionate about. Take your time with this. Then, write them out, on here if you must. Put them up where you can see them every day. If you really want what you have written down...I know you will make at least a little progress.

And now, for some resolutions of my own:

1.) Finish the revisions to my projects and send at least one manuscript out this year. I will never get used to rejection, plus I will never have the chance to succeed, if I don't put myself out there. Make it the best I can then let it go...

2.) Participate in JulNoWriMo or NaNoWriMo, or both if I can manage. A real writer writes, so I need to make sure I keep creating new stories I care about.

3.) Spend time with those I love, doing the things I love.

4.) Go to school if my finances allow (This isn't as important as the others...but it would be helpful.)

5.) Lose the rest of my baby weight. (It's only 8 pounds, but 8 pounds I don't want to see anymore!)

These are my most important ones I wish to stick to. These aren't my only ones, but everything else will take time and I'm not so sure how long it will take to make a change. My eating habits for example. One day I'm eating healthily, the next I'm fine with eating half a gallon of icecream while sitting down to watch The Biggest Loser! I want to set a good example for my baby. At some point I really need to get on this.

Writing Update: I have two finished first drafts...but I haven't gotten through revision yet. I'm gonna tell you all right now...writing the first draft was a piece of cake compared to this! Especially going through How To Revise Your Novel. I'm seeing all the mistakes I've made and its overwhelming me. Sometimes it makes me feel like I'll never be published. Other times I have lots of hope where my writing is concerned. But I have to admit I am not really on the ball with my editing. And I need to be.

When I can actually come back with some progress I'll tell you more about the editing thing. Otherwise when I post it'll be more personal. Like, sometime this week I'd like to tell you about a new hobby of mine.

A couple things

Hey guys, long time no talk huh? Sorry I've been so quiet. Honestly I didn't mean to be. I've been hard at work revising my WIP I did for JulNoWriMo and it hasn't been easy. If I'm right I probably won't be done with revision until the end of the year. Then I'll let a couple people have a look and see if I missed anything. Then *gulps* It'll be time to write a query letter and submit my work. I'm a little overwhelmed by the thought, but I'm sure you already noticed that! The reason for that is simple: I'm afraid of rejection. I don't think I know any writer that isn't. But the reality is I need to get over that if I want to actually get published...so I'm sticking with my goals and making sure I actually send my work out. Regardless of whether or not I get good responses in return.


When you think about, I mean really think about it, the main reason most writers don't get published is because they give up too fast. Rejection stops them in their tracks. They don't persist. They roll over and let their dreams pass them by. At least this is from I've seen. Sure, a lot of books can't get published. I understand that. But that doesn't mean you give up and never write again! You start on a new idea, a better idea. And think each rejection brings you closer to an agent.


I know, easier said then done right? I can't even stick to my own advice! But I'm going to change that this year, get out of my comfort zone and at least try. And even if this book doesn't land an agent I'll keep writing. Because its who I am and I'm not giving up on my dream.


So, to all the other writers out there, I think this is the best advice I can give you: Read. Write. Revise. Query. Repeat. Persist. No matter what. Even if an agent tells you you are horrible, that is just one agent. You never know when you'll get a yes. And your writing can always improve.


About  other WIPs: I haven't had much time to keep planning my next WIP that I wanted to write for Nano. Revision is a lot harder than I ever expected. But I'm close. If I really I'm push myself I might be able to write it in November, but I won't be upset if I can't. Things have been really hectic this year. Next year I'm going to push it up a notch and try for three books that year. :) I'm such a masochist.


So, what is your dream and what are you doing to achieve it?

Plot Cards And Why You Need Them

For the past few days I have been plotting my novel using the techniques in the Thinking Sideways course. This involves writing one sentence, under thirty words, for every scene in the novel. In the sentence you should include: your characters, the conflict, the twist and the setting. Without these elements you can end up writing a weak scene, you can get lost, you can even end up writing a novel that isn't worth saving.

Plot cards are important for many reasons. They keep your story on track. They allow you to write strong scenes. They can be used when you must plan and write a novel in a very short amount of time. For me, it has been a struggle writing my plot cards, but I know that in the end I will love what turns out and I will be that much more likely able to finish my project.

I will be honest. I never did project planning before taking Thinking Sideways. It never even entered my mind. I was the type that just got an idea in my head for an awesome character with a problem and wrote like crazy. Problem was...I hit the brick wall fast because I had no idea where my story was suppossed to go.

I have found that even though I was not much of a planner that this Lesson is helping me more than I can even imagine and it is a tool I will continue to use even after I finish this course. I love some of the ideas i'm getting. But I also see what needs to be fixed.

Well, that's it for today I think. Next time I'll either talk about fixing plot cards or even starting the first pages of a novel, depending on where I am at that day.