My goals don’t change a lot from year to year and while I did get some things done in 2016, I (once again!) didn’t accomplish as much as I wanted to. According to this post I wrote a year ago, I wanted to finish the first draft of Vivid, post something on Wattpad, and write a book for NaNo. The reality is that I had to ditch Vivid because I realized it was slightly problematic and I needed to do more research. I posted a few things on Wattpad and then unpublished them because they weren’t as good as I wanted them to be. I didn’t write a book for NaNoWriMo because I was busy writing poetry to submit to literary magazines and writing contests.
What Did I Do?
I finished the first draft of The Deadline and at 38,000 words, it’s the longest thing I’ve written so far. It’s a YA contemporary about a Indian girl who tries to write a book during the summer. The first draft definitely didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to – it’s basically a hot mess. But this is a book I’ve wanted to write for a few years now so I’m going to keep pursuing this idea. I absolutely love the characters in it and I want to further develop them. I also wrote four or five short stories and three (?) flash fiction pieces…some of which I deleted last week. But one of my mini goals, this year, is to edit old stories that have potential. I was published in fifteen literary magazines and a few other websites/collections curated by writer friends. (If you’re interested in reading my work, click here!) I also did an online mentorship (run by The Adroit Journal) and a one week creative writing course at NYU. I joined the staff of two literary magazines. Other things I did: self-published a mini poetry collection online, posted a bunch of poems on my tumblr blog, started a newsletter (and unfortunately discovered I couldn’t keep up with blogging and emailing subscribers), blogged about both bookish and writerly things here, and made an ‘official’ website. I also started outlining a book inspired by Hindu myths.
Now for the resolutions..
1.Write, write, write.
More specifically:
- Finish the writing projects that I start.
- Write more short stories and flash fiction.
- Write at least three times a week.
- Keep track of my progress on different projects and plan out my time wisely.
- Keep writing poetry.
- Write a book! Edit a book!
I definitely need to rewrite The Deadline (goal is 50,000 words!) and write the first draft of my Hindu myth book (goal is 80,000 words).
2. Be brave with my writing.
More specifically:
- Submit my writing to more places.
- Ask for feedback and apply it.
- Tell IRL people about my writing.
3. Read more diverse books.
I want to continue to seek out diverse books and especially buy work from and support marginalized writers. I’ve also been thinking of joining reading challenges like #DiversityBingo2017 (which is explained in this tweet!).
4. Blog, blog, blog.
More specifically:
- Review diverse books!
- Blog at least once a month.
- Do a few discussion posts.
- Schedule posts before going on a random hiatus
5. Take care of myself.
More specifically:
- Exercise more often.
- Eat healthy
- Get 8 hours of sleep.
- Believe in myself.
I love your goals! How is your book coming along? I am also in the NaNo community!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Nina! Well I’ve written about 10k words but I’ve put it aside to focus on a different project for a bit. Oh that’s cool! How are your writing projects coming along?
LikeLike
Wow, those are some really fantastic goals! It sounds like you have done a lot already, and I hope you continue to reach your goals, (even if it’s not in the original time-frame you set for yourself!) I am rather cowardly and don’t often set goals for myself because what if I DON’T REACH THEM? That is silly of course and I am trying to overcome it. My main goal right now is to WRITE, whether what I write is good or bad- because failing is okay. I must drill this into my subcranium, (do sponges have subcraniums?? Help) if I want to get over my fear-of-imperfection-induced Writer’s Block. Keep writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! No, no I totally understand. It’s one of the reasons why doing blog posts like this one can be daunting but what I realised is that as long as I start working toward the goal, I’m gotten further than I was yesterday! So even if you don’t reach your goals, that’s okay because I’m sure you’ve made some progress whether it’s small or big. Well I hope you can push past that fear and get all the writing done this year! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I shall!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like you achieved some pretty amazing things in 2016, Rachana! Even if you didn’t get around to some of the things you had intended to. I think lists like that can often serve as a guide rather than a “must do”, which makes it 100% more acceptable to not do everything.
I love your goals of this year! I think they align somewhat with mine – not that I have written or thought of any specific things beyond write, read, blog, haha. I suppose the main thing that I REALLY want to happen in 2017 is to finally become an author, rather than a writer – getting that publishing deal. I want that most years, but here’s to hoping that this one will finally be THE ONE.
I hope 2017 is awesome for you,lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Chiara! And that’s an excellent point! I just love crossing things off lists though haha. Ooh yes that’s an awesome goal! Go go go! ❤ Well you're an amazing writer so I really hope you get that deal. Good luck! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, it looks like you did a lot in 2016! The book based on Hindu myths sounds amazing I’d 100% read it if you published it. 🙂
I finished NaNoWriMo in 2016 despite falling quite a bit behind in the middle, and I’m hoping to replicate that success this year. I had a 4-year period where I didn’t do NaNoWriMo, or write much at all, so it was encouraging to be able to get over my writer’s block/slump at last.
I haven’t made any formal writing resolutions yet, but I would like to work more on editing my work, which is something I didn’t do as much in the past because I mostly wrote for myself without any intention of publishing it. Now that I’m thinking more seriously about publication I’ve been changing my approach to writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! And wow it’s so cool that you finished NaNo! I’m not sure if I ever will write 50K words in a month (maybe that’s just not for me?) but I really admire those who can churn out words like that. And I’m so glad you were able to get over such a long writing slump. Hmm well it looks like I’ll be seeing your books on the shelves as well then! 😀 And that’s a great goal. Editing is so so painful for me but absolutely necessary. Good luck with everything!
LikeLike
Congratulations on everything you’ve done this year, they are amazing! Having courage about our writing is really hard, more often than not I can’t ask people to read it and ended up just keeping them to myself… I also want to read more diverse books this year!
Happy new year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Tasya! I hope you find the courage to share your writing with more people too! ❤ And I hope you get to read lots of awesome diverse books this year! Happy new year to you too! 🙂
LikeLike
Congrats on your writing achievements! And good luck with your 2017 goals and aspirations! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I’ll definitely need that luck 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the first draft! Don’t worry. The first draft is always a mess. It doesn’t resemble something workable until it’s revised a few more times and skewered by your trusted beta readers. I’d love to know where you source places to publish your short fiction.
I’m long winded so short fiction is always something I want to do, but never really commit to outside of flash fiction sprints.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! On one hand, I know what you’re saying is true. But on the other, I just want my draft to be perfect (which is of course unrealistic). I’m still a relative newbie to writing short fiction so I haven’t been published anywhere yet but I’ve been keeping track of places where favorite writers have been published so I can maybe submit there someday. Sometimes my writing gets kind of long winded too but it’s something I’m working on so we’ll see haha.
LikeLike
Hi, love your blog!! I’m excited for what 2017 has to offer. I haven’t exactly penned down goals for the new year yet but I will soon enough. Best of luck with yours!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi!! Thanks Jess, good luck to you too! Hopefully we’ll both accomplish all the goals we have for this year.
LikeLike
Oh, wow, I am in awe of the amazing things you got done in 2016. Being published in 15 literary magazines, a writing course, finishing a first draft,… Wishing you all the best with your goals for 2017!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah 2016 was pretty fun. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, you have written so much the past year, this is so great, congratulations! I hope that 2017 will be just as productive for your writing 🙂 Take care of yourself, and have a wonderful year!! ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thanks Marie! <33 You're too sweet. Take care too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think maybe we should all take a slice of your cake! I am THE WORST at finishing drafts so go you! For me that is yhe hardest part! I’ve also had to get into the rhythm of scheduling posts because I never know when a random wave of anything might hit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m terrible at finishing drafts too! *HIGH FIVE* That’s actually why I was so surprised when I finished that first draft last year. Yeah life sure has a habit of interfering with commitments like blogging. I should probably schedule posts more often but I tend to be a very spontaneous blogger. I like to write up posts randomly and publish them that very day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay I love your goals!! Especially reading and writing more diversely. ❤ That is amazing and something I think we should all aspire too do. *nods* I think I calculated that 60% of the books I read last year were diverse, but I'd LOVE for that to be higher. And I'd love to read more books were diversity elements are in the main character instead of just the side characters.
Also good luck with all the writing. 😀 I love the sound of your story! And honestly my first drafts are completely hot messes too. But they get better the more we beat them into shape. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks haha. 😀 Diversity in literature is so important and as a writer, I want to keep learning and growing so I can better write characters who are different from me. And YES, we need more diverse main characters – totally agree with you on that. Ooh thanks, I’m glad you like my story idea. Well here’s to messy first drafts then haha. ❤
LikeLike
Congrats on finishing your 1st draft! I’m still working on mine… well 2 first drafts actually and both of them are kind of a mess. Nonetheless, hope you have a great year ahead! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I still have a long way to go but it’s cool to see it all laid out in the word document.
Well I’m sure your two drafts will be amazing by the time you’re done editing! ❤ I hope you have an amazing year too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely share all of the goals you listed under #5. Also, you’re ideas for novels sound SO GOOD. Best of luck with all of your writing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
*your
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, definitely take care of yourself Holly. I hope you get to accomplish any other goals you’ve set for yourself this year. And *thank you!* That’s so sweet of you to say so! <333
LikeLiked by 1 person