Driven to Distraction

Well in checking over my resolutions from the beginning of this month I can see that I'm doing exceptionally well in some cases, satisfactory in others, and piss-poor in at least one.

The book reading is going beautifully and I've already read five books since the first of January, which is probably why my writing is suffering. I've been spending my free time with my nose in a book instead of actually working on one.

So my next priority will need to be learning to organize my time in a more productive fashion. I will readily admit that I get distracted too easily...especially if my laptop is getting wifi. In fact, the time between writing this sentence and the previous one was the length of four Lizzie Bennet Diary videos. Yes, I have a problem.

I wouldn't necessarily label it as procrastination...(dots signify time spent looking up procrastination definition on dictionary.com, which lead to looking up dawdle, which is a variant of daddle, which means to toddle, which reminds me that I'm watching my niece in the morning, which makes me think I need to call my sister to check on the times, which, oh my word what was I doing in the first place, oh yeah), since it's not as if I'm trying to put off writing my novel ~  not like I would a homework assignment or cleaning the bathroom ~ I just get distracted.

I needed some incentive, something to make me really focus, the way nano did all of November. So I went ahead and sent out the first eight chapters to my beta readers. Now I know that it's end their hands and soon they'll be wanting more, so I really have to get myself in gear.

Beta readers are wonderful things and we'll discuss them in a future post. For now though, I have to stop talking to you and get back to work.

...After two more Lizzie Bennet Diaries...

Happy Writing

Resolutions

Well, it's that time of year again. The exciting new beginnings time that bursts out of the gate on January first in all of it's good intentions and clean-slatey gloriousness.

I'm sure we all have simply lists of things that we hope to accomplish in the next 365 days. I, for one, have never been the type to make any New Year's resolutions ~ something I'm reversing starting today.

You see, I actually do have a list of things that I hope to accomplish this year. Two lists if I'm being really specific ~ one for my personal life (which I'll keep to myself), and one for my writing life, which I'll share with you now.

I've been mulling over this list for the past week, trying to decide what I need to get done this year in regards to my novel and what seems like a feasible schedule to work with. I've never really done this before so my plans may need to be pretty flexible, but I'm hoping to be able to stick with it as closely as possible. 

So, without further adieu....

Writing Resolutions 2013

• Finish first draft of Novel by January 31^st, 2013
• Give book to Beta Readers by February ^1st , 2013
• First edit/revisions by April 1^st, 2013
• Second edit/revisions by June 30^th, 2013
• Query letters to agents by August 1^st, 2013
• First draft of second novel complete by December 31, 2013

Other Resolutions 

• Blog several times a week
• Keep a journal
• Read 4 books a month
• Read at least 50 books this year 

I have to admit, I feel a lot better having written all this down. Having a plan is great motivation and, I think, helps to keep one from getting too distracted in the long run. Plus, it will be fun at the end of the year to see how far I've come and what all I've accomplished. (Unless I've accomplished nothing, in which case it will be very depressing.)

      So, Happy New Year to you all. I hope each of you is successful in your plans.

 

      What resolutions have you made for 2013? 

 

      Happy Writing.