Temporal Note: I’m posting this a little more than a week into August, when the conference I talk about is in the past because that’s when most of it was written. I will write about the conference at some point, but this goals update is written as if it has not already happened.
This is my 2017 Things post for August, where I review what I did last month and set goals for the next.
Three Things for July
July was a month for getting back to my writing. It went OK.
- revise Song – the goal was to prepare a solid third draft.
- review beta feedback – reviewed feedback received. It was very helpful, pointing out several things that if corrected would improve the story and its telling.
- third pass revision plan – prepared a revision plan based on feedback and my own notes. The plan has two parts: a hierarchical todo list and a matrix of touchstones by chapter.
- third pass revision – worked through the plan. Trying to get this whole plan finished in one month was too ambitious, but the book is better and it will get better still.
- short fiction – I was going to finish the story I began on holiday, but I didn’t touch it. I think I need to make more of an effort.
- pitching – done. I attended a pitching workshop and met some very interesting writers as well as receiving some good pitch advice. The end result was that I had a well-worked pitch for Song and a back-up pitch for Livia. The Livia pitch was more to demonstrate that I can finish more than one book than out of any expectation that anyone would really be interested in it.
1.5 out of three, I would say, but the main win is that I stayed on top of the writing.
Three Things for 2017
The year is seven twelfths done. Where stand my goals?
- finish A Turquoise Song – third draft is underway. The the second draft was readable, but the third draft needs to be awesome and it’s not yet. So, more work to do.
- talk to some agents, aiming to obtain representation – got the pitches done.
- investigate publishing A New Dawn – no work. I’m abandoning this goal.
Progress where it was needed. I will take it.
Three Things for August
- Willamette Writers conference – my first writing conference! I’ve been to a couple of conventions before, both professional and fan-based, but this is the first going to a writing conference. Goals:
- pitching – mostly Song, of course
- critique group – I met some really interesting writers at the pitch workshop, so need to reestablish contact and make sure we stay in touch for critiques and work-sharing in the future.
- learning – looking at some technical sessions, some things I am just interested in.
- revise Song – finalise the third draft.
- short fiction – work on at least one story
August looks a lot like July, but with even narrower focus.
Let’s get on with it.