In March I had a chat with my Muse I promised I would stop tormenting her. That I would go back to my pantser ways if she'd promise not to leave me if I used just a wee bit of structure. We have an accord. It seems to be working out for both of us.
My writing goal for the year is to have my WIP completed and revised prior to The Muse Online Writers Conference. I am also taking that week off work to attend. (shh I haven't told DH yet ;)
I noticed last year that a lot of the attendees were not frantically writing trying to stay up with all the course work. They were using the conference to strengthen their work. Sounded like a plan to me.
How 'bout you? What are your goals for the year?
I struggle with plotting and planning. The more I force it, the more frustrated I got and the more contrived the story felt. I'm learning to let go a little more and write however I write, realizing it might mean work later on in the revising process and that's okay.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pantser without doubt.
DeleteI always start a book with a general idea of what it's about... but up till now they have been able to take the direction they took. I'm beginning to have to develop certain things about my world within them - or at least have things developing in a reasonably consistent manner. I found the Four Sentence Outline a great help in my last book. But I'll have to look it up again to get the four sentences right. It's something like - the situation that kicks everything into action; the first twist in the tale; the second twist, and the conclusion. But it's not quite that. Ah well. I'm no help, am I?
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing
Jemima at Jemima's blog
Actually that makes a lot of sense.
DeleteI have a standard goal - Plant more roses. And I fulfill it every year.
ReplyDeleteI bet your house is the best smelling on the block.
DeleteGood for you...excellent book goal! Mine is to have my book submission-ready by summer.
ReplyDeleteThat would be so exciting.
DeleteThose are really good goals and I am sure you will reach them with ease. My goal is to simply change my attitude and be more positive. It might sound easy, but to me that is the hardest thing ever.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't think that it would be easy. But I'm certain that you can do it.
DeleteAfter a number of incomplete novels, most of which fell apart in revisions, I am changing my panster ways. The new project I started in January has been created following a bit more structure, and it's going well.
ReplyDeletePlotting isn't for everyone though, and if you find it constraining your muse, perhaps you need a bit more freedom.
Good luck with The Muse Online Writers Conference.
Thanks. My next project will have just a bit of structure.
DeleteI've tried plotting recently too and couldn't manage it. I'm happier as a pantser.
ReplyDeleteMy goals this year is to finish off my 13th Floor series and prepare one of my already written novels to be queried.
That's a great goal. I can't wait for May to read the last installment of the 13th floor series.
DeleteGreat "G"! Goals are important.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on my third novel, and I'm definitely a pantser. I've tried plotting, and the writing turned formulaic. With my current WIP, I have beat points I'm trying to hit, but I don't have a clue how the story will end, and that's the way I like it.
Goal for the year? Finish novel #3. :)
~VR Barkowski
3 novels that is freaking awesome!!
DeleteSounds like a great goal! And I'm glad you realized you just have to write the novel the way you write and not the way others write (Although I still just don't understand how pantsers write. I'm such a plotter. LOL!).
ReplyDeleteThis month's goal is to finish rewriting Part III of my novel during Camp NaNo. Ten thousand words down and twenty thousand to go.
I have some monthly goals I set, but can't recall them. At least I wrote them down in a blog post so I can look and make sure I'm staying on track. Other than that, my goals are to get some stories ready for publishing by the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteI know I set several goals at the beginning of the year, but for right now my goal is to actually plot my next novel.
ReplyDelete