As you might know, I'm currently looking for people to help spread the word about my books' impending book releases and reviewers. If you'd like to help me out, please feel free to sign up for any and/or all of the three lists I have up for the purpose.
Right, and now today's shameless plug is over and I can get started on today's topic.
Objectives
Today I'm sharing one of the big secrets on how I actually finished the books I'm publishing done. Ready? Brace yourself:
I got my objectives right.
See, once upon a time, I made the same mistake as a lot of writers out there. I said: "I want to be a writer!"
Which is great, but really, I became a writer the day I decided to sit down every day and write a few words. (Really, that's all it takes. Being a writer and being anything else aren't mutually exclusive. All it takes is to have a regular writing schedule and sticking to it.)
That did not mean that any books were getting done, though.
Because no, writing every day doesn't guarantee finishing a book. I've already written about it elsewhere in the series, so I'm not going to go into it again.
The point is that it takes commitment and dedication to finish a story. Not to becoming a writer.
To finishing the story you're working on.
That's the objective you should be concerned with. After that, your next objective should be to finish edits. After that, to take some sort of action toward publishing your book. (Be it self publishing or finding an agent/publisher.)
Et voila! You're a writer anyway.
But now you're a writer with a book to sell too.
All because you put your focus in the right place.
How do you approach your writing career? Do you set short term goals? What's your goal at the moment?
Practical tips, I will surely save this and come back to it often. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSorry to be so late answering, with an invalid husband some days life is hectic, Misha. On Saturday I have some one who will paint my little house, I have three small chairs with cushion pads on order. Have been given a small coffee table and bought a very small computer table, so almost there :0)
ReplyDeleteShort term goals are easier for me.
ReplyDeleteIs this the first time you've asked for tour hosts? Did I say yes already? The blogfest this week put everything Ina blur..
I've said this before too. But lately, it seems like I'm not listening to my own advice.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely short to medium term goals, depending on what stage of the work I'm at. Draft... edit... publish and all that goes with it. In the end, the actual writing part is only a small percentage of the total effort.
ReplyDeleteCurrently working on final revisions and cover art ready to publish this summer.
I'm not a writer (though I enjoy writing) but I remember that massive sense of achievement on the day I actually finished a story. I was seventeen, it was half past one in the morning, and no one was awake to celebrate with me.
ReplyDeletePrior to that I'd started lots of stories but I usually lost interest in them or they fizzled out. Even now I can still remember that feeling of actually finishing something.
I think setting lots of little goals which build up to a big one is a good approach. You can focus on the little steps and know they'll built up to the big picture sooner or later. ;-)
Good luck.
Cait @ Click's Clan
I set small goals at first, like finishing chapter 1 and then taking things from there. But my dream of becoming published is always at the back of my mind, pushing me on. Have a great weekend Misha.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true, Misha! A writer can write all day, but it doesn't mean the writer will ever finish what they're writing unless they set a goal to do so. I usually have monthly goals that are open to modification, but what doesn't get done one month moves to the next so the project be finished eventually and constantly moves forward.
ReplyDeleteFinish a story-- that's a VERY clear and worthy goal. Finish it. Revise it. And then GET IT OUT THERE. And sell, sell, sell while working on the next project.
ReplyDeleteYup yup!
Always happy to help with a cover reveal or anything. When is it exactly? Send me an email or message via UR.
ReplyDeleteAs far as writing goals? I just got back from a big book con and I sat in on a fast draft panel. I will never be as fat a writer as the ladies on that panel, but one of my goals is to write faster. That means setting stricter goals on word count.
I'm glad you found it useful, Blogoratti.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely, Carole.
Alex, I do a bit of both, but I find my long-term goals go nowhere unless I use short-term goals as stepping stones.
Beth, sometimes we forget to listen to ourselves. Even if what we say makes a lot of sense.
Good luck Ian!
Cait, it definitely is a huge rush to finish a story.
Murees, I'm the same.
Cherie I work the same way. Set a ton of monthly goals and move the ones I don't finish to the next month.
Lenni, that's true. The nice thing about a goal like FINISH YOUR NOVEL is that it's measurable, so you can tell when you've achieved it.
Mailed you, Catherine. :-)