As a Children's Librarian, I would review what I had accomplished each year and make a list of goals for the the next year. I worked on strategic plans for the upcoming five years. Should I do the same thing as a writer?
When I retired from my library job in August, I immediately set up a few goals for myself. I knew that I needed to be more involved with other writers to push me into completing projects. I registered for a Fall SCBWI conference and a writer's workshop where I received feedback on two particular projects. I also read the 2014 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market. From that I learned that I needed to create a writer's blog, so late last year I started working on a personal webpage. I also went through the listings of all the publishers and noted the ones that would accept submissions for my various projects. And I started submitting. I also joined an online critique group for nature and science writers. But what am I forgetting to do?
I started to make a list of the things I am currently doing:
1. Revising a YA Historical Fiction book
2. Revising at least 3 picture books
3. Revising a non-fiction book
4. Submitting 1 picture book
5. Writing a non-fiction proposal
6. Meeting online with a science/nature critique group
7. Creating a writer's blog
8. Reading the works of other writers, both for pleasure and research
9. Reading professional articles and blogs
What do I still need to do? What are my goals for the New Year? So far my list looks like this:
1. Join SCBWI and attend local meetings
2. Join a local picture book critique group
3. Join a local YA critique group
4. Continue to create my writer's blog
5. Attend the Hamline Alumni Weekend summer session
6. Complete edits on the YA novel and send out queries
I will most likely also attend another SCBWI conference and another writing workshop or two. What about you? Have you made any New Year's Resolutions for your writing life? I would love to hear them.