Goals for the New Year
When New Year's arrives, most people make resolutions about things they're going to change. I used to, but they never happened and I just felt guilty that I hadn't made the changes I wanted to. So now I set goals.
Well, now it's 2019, just barely, and I've set my goal: I'm going to finish one manuscript this year.
I'm currently working on two manuscripts, going back and forth between them as I get inspiration for one or the other. One is I'm guessing two thirds or three quarters done, and the other is about a third of the way done. The latter is one I'm trying my hand at plotting so I have a more solid idea of how far along I am.
So my goal is to finish one or the other of those manuscripts this year. Both would be fantastic, but if I just finish one of them, I'll be happy.
With all the editing I'm working on—I'm currently editing three books at once—I have trouble finding the time to write new material. In working on the editing for my books, I have to critique other people's work so they'll critique mine. Their critiques help me as I edit. It takes a great deal of time to edit a chapter, and sometimes I have to rewrite sections, or even a whole chapter. Considering everything I have to do in order to get my work edited, it's very time consuming. However, all the time I'm putting into editing is well worth the effort.
My daily goal is 1,000 words, a chapter if I can manage it. My chapters are usually 2,000 to 2,500 words. I can usually produce 1,000 words in a couple of hours, sometimes less depending on how well my creativity is flowing. It's a modest goal, but if I can reach it, I'll be well able to finish a manuscript this year.
The average novel is 80,000 to 100,000 words. If I'm producing 1,000 words a day, that's about three months to produce an entire novel. Not bad. I might be able to finish both manuscripts, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. Just one and I'll be happy.
A thousand words a day to reach my goal. I think I can do it.
Here's to 2019. I hope your year will be filled with great things.
Well, now it's 2019, just barely, and I've set my goal: I'm going to finish one manuscript this year.
I'm currently working on two manuscripts, going back and forth between them as I get inspiration for one or the other. One is I'm guessing two thirds or three quarters done, and the other is about a third of the way done. The latter is one I'm trying my hand at plotting so I have a more solid idea of how far along I am.
So my goal is to finish one or the other of those manuscripts this year. Both would be fantastic, but if I just finish one of them, I'll be happy.
With all the editing I'm working on—I'm currently editing three books at once—I have trouble finding the time to write new material. In working on the editing for my books, I have to critique other people's work so they'll critique mine. Their critiques help me as I edit. It takes a great deal of time to edit a chapter, and sometimes I have to rewrite sections, or even a whole chapter. Considering everything I have to do in order to get my work edited, it's very time consuming. However, all the time I'm putting into editing is well worth the effort.
My daily goal is 1,000 words, a chapter if I can manage it. My chapters are usually 2,000 to 2,500 words. I can usually produce 1,000 words in a couple of hours, sometimes less depending on how well my creativity is flowing. It's a modest goal, but if I can reach it, I'll be well able to finish a manuscript this year.
The average novel is 80,000 to 100,000 words. If I'm producing 1,000 words a day, that's about three months to produce an entire novel. Not bad. I might be able to finish both manuscripts, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. Just one and I'll be happy.
A thousand words a day to reach my goal. I think I can do it.
Here's to 2019. I hope your year will be filled with great things.
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