As it’s halfway through the year, and I’m hiding in dark rooms with A/C and avoiding miserable heat and the angry sun, I thought it appropriate to share my goals and my progress.
Writing Goals
This year I wanted to focus on short stories more than my own novels. The novels are still there, still being chipped away at, but they’re not my priority right now.
Why? Because I’m focusing on improving my craft in small bite-sized pieces as it’s easier to rework a short story and master a skill that way than in a full-length novel. And short stories have been fun, and I’m participating in several groups working on them. I also want to publish a few pieces to help build my brand and my name as an author.
Plus writing short stories about dragons and sirens and necromancy is just so delightful.
So my main goal is to participate in Wulf Moon’s Super Secrets’ challenge of:
- write 1 short story KYD exercise per month (working on honing purposeful writing)
- write 1 fresh short story per month
- submit 1 story to a semi-pro market
- submit to the Writers of the Future contest once per quarter
This challenge has been difficult, and some months I almost missed completing everything. Other months I did it all and even managed time for extra credit.
I haven’t published anything yet, but my writing is stronger than it used to be, and I’ve gotten several personal rejections that bring hope.
I just need to write happier, more hopeful stories, as writing to market is a good skill to have. But the darkness always creeps in, and I do love exploring stories with horror elements, dark magic, and some form of doom.
Non-Writing Goals
Outside of writing, I’ve been trying to socialize more in the writing groups I participate in. I’m in a lot, so it can be overwhelming. And when on days I struggle with health problems, I fall behind entirely then get overwhelmed at the idea of catching up.
Honestly, I haven’t done great at this goal so far this year. Some months I’m great, and others I don’t do more than just read notifications and never reply. It’s something I need to figure out how to do better consistently.
Here’s to writing and hanging with other authors more for July! (It’s Camp NaNoWriMo and I’m determined to write several short stories this month!) Grab a cold drink, your favorite writing melodies, and write with me.
