Round two starts here!
So in my wrap-up for round one, I gave myself a fail for lack of focus. This is going to be the basis of my new goals. And to get that focus, I’m giving myself a deadline. Arg! That’s one of the benefits of being an indie. No stinking deadlines from The Man! Well, maybe The Man’s got a point with this. Let me break it down.
Main goal: Finish revisions so I have something to send The Shiznit and Pink Hammer.
Bite size goal pieces: Revise one to two chapters a week. I’ve got something like ten to go, so this is totally doable.
Daily goals: 250-500 words on workdays and 500-1000 on my days off. I was against word counts originally, but these are small enough so I don’t want to hang myself and it’ll keep me focused. (There’s that word again.) My chapters generally run 2000-3000 words, so at least a chapter a week makes sense.
Side goal: If I ever get stuck or frustrated with the WIP, I’ll switch over to plotting my next story.
Seems I never do anything very well the first time, but by the second, I’m in the groove. We shall see.
Hey there!
Sounds good! Just one comment about the ‘side goal’: plotting something else can became a serious distraction, at least it is for me.
Keep us posted. 🙂
Thanks Natalie. I don’t expect to be plotting the next book a lot, but I don’t ever want to stop thinking about this series. Plus, the plotting might help with the current story if I do get stuck.
I’ll be posting updates every Wednesday and Sunday.
When I’m in composing mode, I find that keeping track of word counts and having goals really helps me. I think it’s all about finding a system that works for you. Some authors find word count goals too restrictive, but I feel a deep satisfaction when I meet them, and downright smug when I blow past them.
Best of luck with your goals, and thanks for visiting my blog this week.
You’re welcome, India and thanks!
I think NaNoWriMo turned me off to word counts because I liked almost nothing of my first draft. Originally, I thought it better to write for a certain amount of time each day and focus on the quality of my writing. Not word count. That didn’t work too well, so I figure a more manageable word count should keep the quality where I want it while forcing me to progress at a better rate.
Ooo I have a nickname now? Cool!
Your are the closest to a real life superhero I know. Sort a demands a name.
Go Andrew! I’m really up for Round Two (why do I keep capitalizing that?). I think after everyone understood how things went with them in Round One (again with the capitals), we have more of a handle on how to set goals and what to do to accomplish them.
The capitalization is because this is the most important writing challenge in the whole universe. Go you too!
With you totally on that whole focus issue. I feel like my round one taught me what not to do with round two! Good luck to you – sounds like you’ve got a great mind-set to start this off!
Yes, I want happy updates every time for Round Two. No more fail. Best to you too!
Good luck with your goals! I’m doing ROW80 for the first time and I hope to finish my WIP. 🙂
Awesome! And same to you with your goals. It’s a great challenge you can continuously tweak to keep yourself on track for your long term goals. Plus, the fantastic support.
I have learnt from round one to keep the goals realistic – good luck Andrew on this rounf – keep smiling (I am always plotting another in the quiet moments of WIP!)
Thanks, Alberta! You too.
“Witness the freak become a hero,” I absolutely LOVE that.
Best of luck to you, Andrew. It sounds like you’ve made round one a learning experience and are jumping off from there. But don’t call it a “fail,” because anything you learn from is never really a failure. Just call it an education in the school of hard knocks ;). It looks like you have realistic goals. I find it very beneficial to have a couple things “on the shelf” in case I get burned out. So if I am writing, and my brain just turns to jello, I will pull out some editing work because it uses a different part of my mind. When that gets to be too much, I take some notes on a next story, or do some line editing. Then I go back to my writing. I find that by doing that, I am accomplishing things, rather than just vegging out watching TV or something. It makes me, personally, feel better, and I am able to get back to my writing feeling fresher. I know it does not work for everyone, however, and that’s OK.
Mel
Thanks, Melanie! I wasn’t sure if anyone read the tag. I do love seeing the little guy transform to awesome.
I’m very hard on myself even though, like you said, it’s part of learning. I guess I’m worried if I give myself a pass, (At least I see it that way.) I’ll get lazy and never accomplish my goals.
I don’t think my brain could handle too much, I need to stay on one project until it’s done. Plotting’s just a maybe. Very impressed you have all that going on.
See you in future updates!
Hope you keep your groove to the finish line.
Thanks! As of today, I’m grooving.