Recently, I read a blog post by fellow blogger, AliB where she made the analogy of being a writer to the Roman god, Janus, who faces both ways. With one eye looking outward, and the other inward facing. And I began thinking about how much of a writer’s time is focused on the actual writing. It makes no difference whether you’ve taken yourself on the journey to self-publication or through a traditional publishing house. It’s a requisite that, as a writer, you will engage in self-promotion.
We’ve all got to start somewhere to forge that balance between writing with the public persona, and the introverted writer - stereotypical as we are! Normally, I’d be busy, tip-tip-tapping at the keyboard, but I’ve realised it’s not possible to get where I’m going if I keep facing in one direction, and here’s the second face. The one with an outward glance.
My writing goals, very much listed in order of importance:
- Finish re-writing my historical novel. Through several levels of re-constructing, rewriting and editing.
- Query aforementioned historical novel, before I…
- Begin [to finish] my series of steampunk short stories, then…
- Finish rewriting my science fiction novel.
Of course, there's much more to the public element than just looking toward the end goal, but it's a start, and besides, that's a whole 'nother series of blog posts!
31 comments:
sounds very similar to my to do writing list =)
not to be confused with my chore list, which i cant seem to find!
What a great analogy! Good luck with that list :)
@Tara. Oh, the chore list is as long as ... umm.. a bottomless pit, actually. Fortunately, I can't find mine either! ;)
@Raelyn Yes. AliB definitely has a little nugget within that analogy. :)
I like the Janus reference. Sounds like you're trucking successfully along on all of your writer's goals:)
Thanks for commenting, Mark. It's definitely a long journey to make.
Wow, you're busy!! I wish you all the luck with your re-write =)
Thank you Natalie. I'm enjoying the construction of the novel, rather than all the writing of it I was doing before. Different process altogether! :)
For me, the best stuff comes when I drown myself in one persona. Thats why I love to write at night when all the energies around me (other than my own and those of my characters') are asleep. And then the satisfaction of being there is so great, I just naturally move into sharing. If I force it, the magic of both stages feels somehow stunted or forced, not natural at all. So I guess I only wear one face at a time? Interesting idea.
Eager to hear more about your historical novel! Where is it set and when? Happy editing:) And happy to meet you!
Hi Brynne.
I also love being able to write in there is stillness to envelop the self, it's when I concentrate most. But for me, I prefer early morning.
The novel is set in Poland during the second world war.
Great to meet you, and I look forward to connecting some more in the days, weeks and months to come.
I have a handful of writing projects all going on at once, too.
Nice to meet you, fellow campaigner!
Allie,
You have quite a lot on your plate, but I'm sure you'll find the inspiration to get it all done! Just bite off one piece at a time and trudge through. :) You have so many varying tastes in your writing, and it's clear you're a diverse and versatile author!
Thank you so much for commenting on my blog! I'm going to do my best to keep up with my bloggery writing friends through the Campaign!
(As a side note, I love your name. In my fantasy novel, one of my protagonists is named Alli (without an e :(), as it's one of my absolute favorite names! So kudos to you for having a badass name!)
Keep blogging and writing!
Hi Allie ~ Stopping by via the Campaign! This is my first time with the Campaign, so I'm looking forward to meeting up with fellow writers. Your goals are great. I just finished edits on my first novel and will publish within the next week or so... very exciting! Although, the editing process was daunting. I am fortunate to have fantastic betas/copy editors. Best of luck in charging forward. I'm sure to see you around ! ~ Nadja
Love it! Great goal list. Welcome to the campaign, too!
@Tara. It most definitely keeps us busy, that's for sure!
@Rance. That's the first time anyone has made a nice comment about the name. Yes, it rocks. :)
@Nadja That must be very exciting to have finished the entire editing process. Mine is very much in reconstruction stage. But I'm loving it.
@Elisabeth. Thank you for stopping by to comment. I look forward to getting to know you as the campaign progresses.
Hi Allie,
Thanks for coming by my blog, and hello from the Campaign trail.
Finishing anything is a talent in and of itself. Lots of people never can. It's great that you have so many ideas and stories in the works, though. There are a lot of very prolific creators on this Campaign!
N
Some authors swear by project hopping while others think it is bad. I guess whatever works for you is best :O)
@Neil. I wholeheartedly agree that most of the talent comes from finishing work in the pipeline.
@Madeleine. I've met both types of writer too. But for me, I need to focus on one task at a time. All other endeavours become a distraction.
Thanks for the mention, Allie.
The good thing about having more than one project is that you can never not be writing!
Ali B
Great goals, Allie.
I know I find it hard to focus/balance sometimes - blogging and social networking are important factors but the writing is THE most important part.
(Hi from your Contemp/Mainstream Group!)
Whoo, Girl! You've got a few different genres to wrangle, don't you? But who am I to talk with contemp, SF, poetry, and devotional? ; )
I'm in your contemp/mainstream group at the campaign. See you around.
@Ali B. It was your analogy that got me thinking, and judging by the comments, other people too, so thank you for that! :)
@Madeline Hello to you! You're right. The writing is the product, and it has to be worthy of selling in the first place. Thanks for commenting.
@Zan. An eclectic mix, for sure, yes. And so do you by the sounds of it! :)
It's the list that never ends! but that's a good thing, right? Because I'd hate to run out of inspiration!
Holly, you're right. It would be really awful if we couldn't find anything to write about. And I have more that are still in various forms of draft, I've just listed the ones I want to do first! :)
Found your blog through the campaign! Having writing goals is great and what's better, is having little goals driving the big one forward. For example your #1 goal: Week 1: revise chapter 1 to 3. Submit to critique group and review one last time. So one and so forth.
I find that big goals tend to discourage me. I need the little ones to build up my map to completion. Does it make sense?
Hi Carole. That makes a lot of sense. Seeing the overall end game is great to aim for, but it's the steps in between that ultimately make or break the project. Perhaps that could be something else for me to think about!
I ppreciate your comment. :)
Yes - we need to finish one piece of work, really finish it and send it off - but in those weeks where it is simmering in a bottom drawer, or you are waiting for the contract to plop through the front door (we all have those dreams), I try to immerse myself in something else. Partly because I need to write like I need to breathe, and partly to fill my head with something other than the piece that is simmering.
What a great way to look at writing (at least if you want to do it professionally). Your list looks perfectly manageable and really tidy. You've inspired me to do the same...hopefully it will lead us both to productivity! Sarah xx
What a great way to look at writing (at least if you want to do it professionally). Your list looks perfectly manageable and really tidy. You've inspired me to do the same...hopefully it will lead us both to productivity! Sarah xx
@Jo For me, the writing process is the most difficult part. I love the editing process, the filling out scenes, deleting and reworking. It's where I'm at just now.
@Sarah. I hope we do both get our productivity levels up. I find tea and chocolate also help. :)
Allie ~
It sure is nice when the editing is finished. I went through the novel so many times...
But it's so worth it when you read it afterward! It's your story, only sharper, better...(although I've heard that on each subsequent book, you look back at your earlier writing with less than glamorous feelings...Don't know about that, this is my first...lol)
I'm actually offering a free coupon for my first novel over this weekend! Stop by to pick up the code and then click over to Smashwords if you get a chance.
How's the goal reaching going? You had a nice list up the other day, thought I'd check in on that front. ~ Nadja
@Nadja The goals are long-term, and it's already been suggested by Carole that making shorter term goals could also be more productive, which is something I should probably try. :)
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