Wednesday, July 20, 2011

In Which I Provide An Update

So it's been awhile since I've given an update on my goals and junk and today seemed like a good day to do so.


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I'm still querying Glimpse, though I've decided to take a bit of a break to make a change in the MS, then get back on the query horse. I'm hoping things will be back on track by the end of august (assuming amazing things don't happen before then and I get an offer or something. ohmygodcouldyouimagine?!)

I'm in the midst of my first draft of Break Free, and I'm totally loving it. I had a bit of a rough time with it the last week and a half, a combination of a tough couple of scenes to organize and write combined with a ticking personal deadline and a busy dayjob, but I think I've managed to power through the worst of it. I hit 50k earlier this week and suspect I may have hit or passed the half way point of the story. I won't know for sure, though, until its done. Just because I'm a plotter, doesn't mean there's no mystery. There's tons of mystery!

My current goals are to try and finish the first draft of Break Free by August. I don't know if I'll hit this goal (part of the reason I was having troubles with the writing) but I'm still going to try. Once I do finish the first draft, I plan to put it aside and make the change on Glimpse. Once that's done I'll send Glimpse back into query waters and start to revise Break Free. I was really hoping to be able to finish revisions on Break Free before NaNo, but the clock is ticking and I don't think that will be possible. I still have plans to participate in NaNo, at least right now I do, but we'll see how things are going closer to November.

I'm behind on my goal to read 55 books this year. Not too far behind, (by the end of July I should have 32 read and I'm at about 28, 29) but still. It's no big deal if I don't make this goal. It's just for fun.

So how about you? I want to know where you're at with your writing goals? TELL ME!

26 comments:

Hart Johnson said...

I think you're making great progress, and I know you can do it. Just keep swimming!

I had one goal this year missed entirely (a round of editing in April) but I've written two books and by the end of summer should have edited two to the point of ready, so I am calling it good... I ALSO plan on doing NaNoWriMo... I'm debating the in between... I'd wanted to write a 4th book, but I think editing may be my bigger priority...

Luanne G. Smith said...

Sounds like you're making great progress.

I've queried a dozen or so agents. Already pretty discouraged. Marketability issues seem to be a common remark in the feedback -- which just translates to this sucks and there's no way in hell we can sell it.

So...I'm working on something new. Chapter one is underway.

Sorry for the pathetic, whimpering comment, but I feel better. :P

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you're well on your way. Keep going! I'm a little behind on where I'd like to be but hopefully I can catch up in the next couple of weeks.

Summer Frey said...

Mine was originally to be done revising Four by the end of the summer, but that's a joke now. Honestly, I'm not holding myself to anything right now. I'm going to write if I feel like it, play Dragon Age II if I feel like it, and generally just not stress myself out. Best of luck to you, though!

Sarah Ahiers said...

Hart - that's awesome! You're on fire! As for the rest of the summer, i guess maybe try to decide what you'll be more prolific at, writing something new, or editing, and then maybe go with that? That's what i'd do

L.G. - aww I'm sorry you're discouraged. Just remember, though, it only takes one. My query journey has been pretty successful, but i'm still not agented yet, so try not to worry. I have to say, starting a new WIP while i was querying something else, was the BEST DECISION EVER. It really helps to take your mind off the stress

Tracey - a little bit behind doesn't sound too bad. You can do it!

Summer - thanks! And i mean, you also moved this summer too, which is a huge thing and takes up a lot of time. Definitely cut yourself some slack

Jacqueline Howett said...

It sounds like you're on the ball, but maybe you could cut back on reading soooooooo many books for a while, in order to reach your goal. Good Luck!

Patti said...

Sounds like you've made good progress, I really need to start recording mine. I just thought the other day that I should keep track of how many books I've read this year.

Austin Gorton said...

I want to know where you're at with your writing goals?

I'm, er, still blogging on a regular schedule. That's...something, right?

Otherwise, I'm still very...slowly...revising Onwards, but I hardly feel like that counts.

Kelley said...

Good job on all the progress! I right now have no writing goals other than to start writing again! Other goals include finishing unpacking whats left before classes start.

Rebecca T. said...

Yeah for goals and progress on them!

I um... well, I've blogged more regularly. And I'm whomping on my goal to read 100 books. Writing *cough cough* yeah. Let's not talk about that, shall we?

Happy Wednesday!

Ninja Girl said...

I think you can do it Falen! I'll be pulling for you to finish in August :) I'm was in the middle of my third ms, about 2/3 of the way finished, when I had an epiphany about my first ms. Now I'm trying to go back and fix a few things (one particularly big thing), and so far it's slow going. Not b/c it's hard to write it, but I'm just not moving as fast as I'd like. I want to get back to my third (I LOVE my third!) by my first novel's my baby, and it deserves some time too, right???
Hope you reach your goals,
Ninja Girl

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Go, Sarah! And that's still a lot of books. I'm on a writing break, but I need to think of one more adventure for Byron.

Anne Ahiers said...

@Jacqueline-
HAHAHAH! i said the EXACT same thing to her (well, not verbatim) on facebook. cracks me up

Jamie Gibbs said...

Congrats on hitting 50k!!! Mt current writing goals are ...


write something! anything!! Hehe

Sarah Ahiers said...

Jacqueline - you sound just like my twin. I'm one of those people, though, that always has to have a book to read. It's only really an issue when the book is AMAZING

Patti - i only started to keep track last year. It's been fun, though

Teebore - hey. It's better than nothing. Could you make yourself a revising goal? Like one page a day? Onwards has to be less than 200 pages, right? So if you did one page a day, you'd be done super fast!

Kelley - unpacking is always a worthy goal. I try to do it as fast as possible. Makes it easier

Rebecca - you HAVE been blogging more - i've definitely noticed you sticking to that goal

Ninja - it totes deserves time too! I'm super impressed you were able to stop writing on your 3rd. Once i start a draft, i have to see it through to the end or it'll never get done

Alex - oooh! Maybe something like fighting off space slugs?! Wait...that's ridiculous. Space snails!

Anne - what you didn't understand was, sometimes it's better just to sit and finish the book as fast as possible so it stops interferring

Jamie - well congrats! Because you wrote this comment ;)

Anne Ahiers said...

oh, i understand. i just don't approve- especially when i see the complaint on facebook about finding time to write, and then see you on the couch reading.
you can do whatever you want (to an extent)- i'll just be making my displeasure clear

julie fedderson said...

"Goals and Junk"--that made me laugh! And I think reading a book a week is an incredible feat!

Sarah Ahiers said...

Anne - but remember, that comment was left on FB HOURS before i was reading. You know damn well i don't write in the evening. Uh uh.

Julie - huh. You know, i never made the connection to 55 books is one a week. That makes it sound more daunting...

Kristin Rae said...

Over 50k words!! That's huge!!

Unknown said...

Good luck with your goals! You seem very dedicated which is always a good sign! :)

Eric W. Trant said...

I keep my goals low. That way I'm not disappointed!

I am still writing. Score!

- Eric

Maria Zannini said...

You are doing great. All that clean living is paying off. :grin:

I was delayed due to the blog tour, but I'm back on track now.

Matthew MacNish said...

Off topic, but: dude! I'm playing LA Noire right now too. It's pretty cool. Is there multiplayer?

Sarah Ahiers said...

Kristin - it is! Though sometimes i think it seems like nothing. Then i try to remember that my querying MS is only 56K

Ashley - thanks! I don't always follow through on my goals, but i just like to have them

Eric - hah! That's an awesome goal

Maria - clearly you haven't seen my house if you think my living is any sort of "clean"

Matt - Yay! gamer buddies! Actaully, the bro has been playing a lot of red dead redemption, which is awesome, so LA Noire has taken a bit of a backseat. I don't think there's a multiplayer, but i guess i've never actually checked

TL Conway said...

Sarah, the thing that catches my eye when I read your blogs is knowing that you write between NaNo.

I'm not sure why that sticks out so much to me; I imagine most writers don't wait for Nov 1 to roll around before they start writing again.

But something about the way you talk about it... I don't know. But when I read your blogs I find myself wondering what in the world am I waiting for? Just write already! Thanks for the nudge in the "write" direction.

Hannah said...

Well hopefully by the 2nd week of August, I'll be revising EGS and plotting some new shiz. I just need some brainstorming time and you know I don't have tons of that...yet.

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