Last December, I did a Toastmasters speech about setting goals, and I thought, as the year winds down to a conclusion--and won't we be glad to see the back of it?--that I would reprise this entry from last year and expand upon it a little.
To recap that post, a goal has three parts, and those parts can be equated to the making a sandwich.
First, you set a goal. This is equivalent to deciding you are hungry and NEED a sandwich.
Now, you may not NEED to set a goal, but if you WANT to focus your efforts, it is where you start. You can see from that earlier post that my goal in 2015 was to submit something everyday for the year. In 2016, it was to make $5000.
Your goal can be simpler: write 100 words a day; submit to 5 new markets; find a writing group.
Or, it can be even more ambitious: get a New York publishing contract; land an agent; write 5000 words a day.
The important thing is to set a goal in the first place.
Secondly, you work to make that goal happen. Make the sandwich.
It was hard work to make that submission a day goal a reality--but I did it. In fact, I actually made over 400 submissions that year. Some days, it was a tiny submission--like a haiku sent to Haikuniverse. Some days it was a novel. The important thing was to submit something.
Getting to $5000 this year...didn't happen. But I got to over $2700...which was over a thousand more than my best year since I started keeping track.
Pushing for a goal helps you focus. It can increase your output. It gives you an amazing sense of accomplishment as you hit milestones. And, even if you don't reach the goal--working toward it makes you feel in control of your work.
The third section of the process is to reward success--eat the sandwich.
This is not a step you can skip. If you don't reward a successful goal's completion, you have given yourself no incentive to set another goal. However, make sure that your reward doesn't sabotage your NEXT goal.
For example, when I completed the submission a day goal, my reward was a few days off...and that really destroyed the goal to submit one thing a week that I made this year.
And, don't beat yourself up if you don't complete a goal. No, I didn't make my goals this year. However, I worked probably harder than ever to sell more books at conventions, to find new shows to sell at, to submit to higher paying markets. And next year, I will try again.
If you don't make your goals, adjust the next year. Build on what works. Re-evaluate what doesn't. Next year, I will be trying to write a piece a day--this is building on the submission a day goal of 2015. I will be shooting for $3500 in revenue. Still more than I made this year, but a more realistic advance on 2016's figures.
What are your goals? How will you accomplish them? I'd love to hear from you. :)
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Monday, October 5, 2015
The Truth About Being a Writer
All my life, I wanted to be a writer. I'm not sure why the child me decided that was what I was going to do when I grew up, but it did. Almost from the moment I knew what books were, I wanted to write them.
The magic of words! Putting them together to create stories that other people would find interesting. It would be awesome!
But the reality of the profession is not all glamour and accolades. It's not easy, and writing the book is the least of it. After the book is done, there is finding a publisher. After you find a publisher, or decide to publish it yourself, there is marketing/promotion. There is always something else to do. But don't let that fact scare you away.
If you really want to be a writer, you will do it, no matter what the deterrents--but you need to go into the profession with open eyes.
Where do you start?
Sitting at your notebook, or computer, or typewriter and beginning to put letters together into words. Yes, it is that simple.
But that doesn't mean that the words you come up with will be a masterpiece out of the gate. When you finish your first draft, the party has only just begun. Then you need some real, critical beta readers to give it a look. You need an editor who will tell you what works and what doesn't.
Then, once your work is as polished as it can be (in your opinion), there are query letters or submission guidelines to check out. Submission packets go out. The WAITING begins.
When you are finally accepted, then there is the editorial period with the publisher. After the story is finally COMPLETE, and published, then you will be pushing that book from now on.
But don't despair. There are places to go for help.
Writing: Writer's Village University -- online classes
Writer's Cafe -- challenges and feedback
NaNoWriMo -- 50k words in 30 days -- good way to push yourself forward
Submitting: Writer's Market -- online version of the best list of mainstream markets
Ralan.com -- best list of speculative markets
several Open Call groups on Facebook (just ask to join.)
Promotion: Great challenge for building platform going on this month at Writer's Digest (still time to catch up)
CafePress -- marketing promotions
VistaPrint -- business cards and promotional items
4Imprint -- marketing promotions
Of course, that is only the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of websites that can help a beginning author get started. Just go into the profession with your eyes wide open. :)
The magic of words! Putting them together to create stories that other people would find interesting. It would be awesome!
But the reality of the profession is not all glamour and accolades. It's not easy, and writing the book is the least of it. After the book is done, there is finding a publisher. After you find a publisher, or decide to publish it yourself, there is marketing/promotion. There is always something else to do. But don't let that fact scare you away.
If you really want to be a writer, you will do it, no matter what the deterrents--but you need to go into the profession with open eyes.
Where do you start?
Sitting at your notebook, or computer, or typewriter and beginning to put letters together into words. Yes, it is that simple.
But that doesn't mean that the words you come up with will be a masterpiece out of the gate. When you finish your first draft, the party has only just begun. Then you need some real, critical beta readers to give it a look. You need an editor who will tell you what works and what doesn't.
Then, once your work is as polished as it can be (in your opinion), there are query letters or submission guidelines to check out. Submission packets go out. The WAITING begins.
When you are finally accepted, then there is the editorial period with the publisher. After the story is finally COMPLETE, and published, then you will be pushing that book from now on.
But don't despair. There are places to go for help.
Writing: Writer's Village University -- online classes
Writer's Cafe -- challenges and feedback
NaNoWriMo -- 50k words in 30 days -- good way to push yourself forward
Submitting: Writer's Market -- online version of the best list of mainstream markets
Ralan.com -- best list of speculative markets
several Open Call groups on Facebook (just ask to join.)
Promotion: Great challenge for building platform going on this month at Writer's Digest (still time to catch up)
CafePress -- marketing promotions
VistaPrint -- business cards and promotional items
4Imprint -- marketing promotions
Of course, that is only the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of websites that can help a beginning author get started. Just go into the profession with your eyes wide open. :)
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