Wednesday, January 2, 2013

IWSG, New Year

Not only is it the first Wednesday of the month, but it's the first Wednesday of the new year! That, of course, means it's time for another post from the Insecure Writer's support group.


This month I want to talk goals. (I bet you weren't expecting that!) Last year I made a few goals and I set myself some deadlines. I didn't reach a single one of those milestones, but I'm still glad I set those goals. Even if I fell short, I still had those objectives in mind, and they pushed me to do more with my writing than I ever have in years past.

I'm always insecure about what I can really accomplish, so I'm going to lay out my goals for IWSG in hopes that I can gain strength from this support group to actually attain my dreams of publication.

1. Finish writing my current unnamed YA romance novel.

2. Polish Stealing the Stars, My NaNo novel.

3. Give my first oral pitch at a writers conference.

4. Polish said YA romance novel.

5. Self-Publish a Christmas Anthology that will feature some of my awesome blogging buddies :)

That alone should fill up 2013 writing wise (and I want to squeeze another book in there too if I can). Hopefully, I'll be able to accomplish all of it. But if not, I'll be happy if I accomplish at least two of these goals. Here's to an awesome 2013!

35 comments:

Kyra Lennon said...

Good luck with your goals! Happy New Year, Jennie!

Louise said...

Those are some fantastic goals! And you're right, even if we don't reach all our goals, it's still good to set them, to give ourselves some direction and some impetus to move forward. For me, at least, it's too easy to fritter and dither my time away otherwise!

Tonja Drecker said...

That's a nice list. Good luck in reaching them, and if you don't, it's not a big deal. Life changes constantly, so goals have to be flexible too.

Anonymous said...

Great list-- good for you for stepping out in action!

r said...

Your goals are lovely and specific! Good luck with them :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The last one surprised me - that is really cool.
You can do it!

Cassie Mae said...

OOH! I can't wait for that anthology :D And are you going to Storymakers? I'm so hoping to see you again! (Longer than like, two seconds)

Livia Peterson said...

Good luck, Jennie! You can do it! Can't wait to REWRITE my story that will be in your anthology! :)

Rena said...

Yes, to a good 2013! I'm sure you can make all of those goals, even if they are big. Good luck!

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

Great goals! And I love your title, by the way! I'd totally pick up a book called Steaing the Stars!

Tasha Seegmiller said...

Good goals! Giving a pitch isn't as scary as I thought it would be - you will be awesome. Keep plugging along - 2013 will be great!

Linda King said...

The thought of an oral pitch terrifies me! Best of luck with everything in 2013!

Jessie Humphries said...

Wow, I am impressed at those goals! And oral pitches are fun. Unless they scream at you and humiliate you in public. Except for that!

Carrie-Anne said...

Good luck on all of your goals!

Annalisa Crawford said...

Sounds like you've got a busy year ahead - good luck with it all!

Weaver said...

Ooo . . . good luck with the pitch. I've never done one. The thought scares me to death!

Michelle Wallace said...

Best of luck with all your writing goals! It seems like you have a good plan!
Your Christmas Anthology sounds very interesting...

Kimberly Gabriel said...

Good luck with all of them! The oral pitch would be the scariest for me. I sound like such an idiot when I try to describe my stories to people. And I'm a reading teacher - I pitch books to my students all the time. You'd think that might translate into talking about my own work comfortably. Let me know how that one goes!

Anonymous said...

Great goals and very reasonable. I think you will find yourself meeting and surpassing them this year. Maybe even making new goals:) good luck this year! Now I'm off to make my own New Year's Goals list!

Ink in the Book said...

I haven't shared my goals for the new year yet. But I plan to post them soon. Yours sound great and I wish you success with all of them;)

Shell Flower said...

I LOVE your anthology goal. Sweet. This all sounds totally do-able. Practice that pitch and remember it will be a conversation with you and the agent, not you giving a speech while the agent is your sole audience. Seriously. This tip saved me and I luckily got it from an agent panel right before I went to pitch a couple of them. I tossed my notecards and went for it, but it would've been nice to be prepared for that.

Krista McLaughlin said...

Those are great goals Jen! I never accomplish all of my goals either, but I feel better having them and putting my best foot forward. :)

If you need any help, I'd love to help with any beta reading for your book! :)

kjmckendry said...

Those are all great goals. I would definitely be scared of #3!
Good luck with them all, I'm sure you can do it.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Wow! That's a great group of goals! Best of wishes for life and writing in 2013!

Tara Tyler said...

awesome goals and i bet you cross most of them off. we cant cross all our goals off, then wed just have to make more!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Your goals have me fired up. I think completing my current WIP this year is reasonable. I know I've got to get my butt in gear somehow. I'll borrow off some of your energy. Okay? LOL

Carol Kilgore said...

Great goals!
Having them in place will keep you moving forward. It's all about the journey.

David P. King said...

Will this year be your first oral pitch? Awesome! And, umm ... about that anthology, maybe I can help? :)

Nicole said...

Love your NaNo title, and Christmas anthology sounds so fun. I've thought of doing one myself. Good luck in 2013!

Ciara said...

I remember my first conference pitch. Don't worry, you'll do great.

Morgan said...

Love your goals, J... You're going to ROCK it... You just have to keep us posted! I'm soooooo invested in your journey. :D

Cynthia said...

Sounds like you're going to have a productive 2013. Good luck with all of these goals!

Kelley Lynn said...

Yeah Christmas Anthology!!! Ah! Can't wait. I know what i'm going to do so I just have to sit down and do it :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Those sound like great goals; good luck to you with all of them. There's no good way not to be nervous for your first oral pitch, but know that they want to hear what you have to say. Just talk to the editor/agent you're pitching to, remember they're just another person. And, personally, I like to have a glass of water with me for the dry mouth that sets in with panic. ;0p

Shannon at The Warrior Muse

Sheena-kay Graham said...

My writing plans for 2012 were unfinished as well. But like you I hold no regrets. I have made set goals for this year though and plan to accomplish them all. Best of luck accomplishing your goals this year.