Wednesday, January 29, 2014

In Which I Set Goals

(Wednesday Weirds will return soon, for those of you who are frequent WW readers. Yes, you.)

We're well into January now, which means it's time for me to lay out some 2014 goals.

Things are a bit different this year, of course. I have an agent now (MUPPET FLAIL!) Which means this is my first year in awhile when querying something or other won't be on my list of goals. Which also means I have to come up with some new ones.



Also, I'll be tackling my MFA, and will have duties for that as well. I'm going to try to avoid any MFA related stuff on my goals, because I HAVE to do that, so it's not really fair putting them on the list, if you follow.

Anyway, here was my list from last year.  And now onto my list for 2014


1. Write a new novel. We have to work on something new for the MFA, but actually finishing the whole thing is what I'm going to aim for. I'd really love to finish it before my second semester, but we'll see how things are going and how crazy my life is.

2. Write at least two short stories. I've been sitting on two that I want to write and I originally planned on doing them while I was querying ATR, but it turned out I didn't query it very long so I didn't have the time. So now I want to make the time to get these buggers written and hopefully submitted somewhere

3. Read 105 books. I somehow managed to read 103 last year. Was it a fluke? No frickin' clue. So I guess we'll find out in 2014 if I can do it again. Aim high or go home, I guess.

4. Look into teaching a class. For awhile now I've thought about teaching a query letter workshop at The Loft, our local writing center. But I've never been a teacher and I have no idea how to put together a lesson plan or anything like that. I'd like to spend some time figuring out the logistics, so I can maybe put in an application this year or the next to teach some query skills in the future. Just trying to pay it forward and all that junk.

5. Redo our basement bathroom. Not a writing goal, obviously, but our basement bathroom needs a complete overhaul due to water damage. It's a very small bathroom, but we've never done drywall before so there'd be a bit of a learning curve. Of course, as always, our motto is "I could do a lot of things if I had money."  *nods head seriously*


That seems like a fair amount of goals. I thought about putting Revise ATR with agent Mollie on there, but, like the MFA, that's less of a goal and more of something that's for sure going to happen, so it felt a bit like cheating to include it.

So there you have it! How about you? What are some of your goals for this year?

10 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Over a hundred books? I am in awe.
Plus you have an agent so that will add to the excitement this year!

Summer Frey said...

We are getting ready to remodel the bathroom at the old house. I'm disappointed we never made it happen while we lived there, but I'm excited to see it go through. Original plans were for Evan and his dad to do the brunt of the new drywall, lay tile, etc, but then he got lazy and we know a handyman whose prices are extremely reasonable, so we'll probably have him do the whole thing.

I guess I'll just get to be excited about doing it all in this new house!

My goals...hmmm...

Guess I want to try to query SMTE or something.

Go on vacation (yes, it's a goal.)

Paint the new house (interior.)

Either redo the bathroom floors, or redo the kitchen cabinets/counters.

Possibly get some work-related certifications (ACLS, PALS, etc).

Learn how to read an EKG like a boss.

Slamdunk said...

I like that you have set the bar high. Reading 105 books is fantastic--I am hoping for a third of that total.

My current goals are boring and work-based, but at least I have gotten off to a good start.

Maria Zannini said...

Those are some pretty big goals. 2014 won't know what hit it. :)

Josh said...

I like the bathroom goal. We have a similar goal - to finish remodeling the bathroom. We had to redo the tub/shower area because the wall tiles started falling off, but that's all we had money for. So we have a half modern / half 1950s bathroom. Be nice to finish it up. Would be easier with more money (nods head as well.)

Unknown said...

OK, I will admit I am a long time reader of the WW posts :) but I have loved following your journey on QT and can't wait to see what happens this year for you!

Rena said...

Okay, wow: that's a lot of books. Like for real. I used to read like that, but then... I guess it was murdered by life (and epic fantasy novels which take FOREVER!)

And I love doing remodel projects. As my Mom says "It's not home until you've changed a toilet or two."

mshatch said...

Wow, you read a lot of books!

Leandra Wallace said...

Having read your query on Patrick's interview of you over on QT, anybody who took a query class w/you would be one lucky person! And good luck w/your bathroom redo. Me and my husband are so not DIY people. Thinking of even trying to attempt a project like that makes me want to have a nervous break-down! =/ But I'd say you and Twin could knock it out! =)

Tracey Neithercott said...

I love your motto. I also believe I could do a lot of things if I had money. Or, wait, no. I think *my* motto is "I could pay someone else to do a lot of things if I had money." Gotta aim high, you know? ;)

Good luck meeting all of these goals!

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