A New Year...
ManuscriptsI didn't really take December off. I finished revising "The Story of After" before Christmas, but it took far more time than I had planned (doesn't everything?), which left me feeling drained during the break. As a consequence, I've been dragging my feet a bit at getting back into a routine now that the children are back in school. I have, however, been far from idle on the writing front. I actually managed to get quite a bit done regardless of the number of decorations that needed to go up and then get taken down, the number of goodies that needed to be baked, and the number of presents that needed to be purchased, wrapped, and either shipped out or put under the tree. Oh, and then there was the little matter of slicing my left index finger open, but we will save the stories of attempting to type with a finger covered in heavy gauze for another time, perhaps.
In December and early January I managed the following... in no particular order:
1. I finished revising "The Story of After." Wow. Done. Ok... probably not done, but done enough until a professional editor who is not related to me or friends with me has some important demands. At that point, I will cheerfully revise to their heart's content.
2. I added a scene to "Sand and Prophecy." I am convinced, however, that I actually need to take some time to plot beyond the first six chapters at some point.
3. I began writing a new book. Working title: "Amara." My working titles are usually the name of the main character until I can think of something more clever. "Sand and Prophecy" is definitely an anomaly because it was never called "Cili." "The Story of After" used to be "Izabella," and "The Shadow Falls" used to be "Elsa." I also have a "Cyprian," though I hope in the near future to change that. Apparently, I did not have enough daughters to use up all of my favorite names.
4. I also read several things in preparation for ReBoot Camp, Winter Edition. Unfortunately, I was not able to be a participant this time. Still, I tip my hat to Bret Carter for assigning "Becoming a Writer" by Dorothea Brande.
5. I began working on a list of agents to submit to. It's time--time, once again, to swallow the pride and start accumulating those rejection slips. (Electronic rejection slips? I suspect that there will not be nearly as much satisfaction this time around without the tangible, three-dimensional evidence of my failure to impress.)
My favorite Wise Reader, my dear sweetheart, is busy reading through my manuscript, after which it will begin making the rounds. My next project will be working on the revision of The Shadow Trilogy again. Hopefully, it will keep me so busy that I won't have time to do more than sniffle at the rejections and move on.
What are your writing goals for this year?