My novel’s first draft was written in 2012 but I haven’t touched it since. I’m not making excuses for 2013 – I simply prioritized family, ministry and corporate career, despite the fact that the writing itch never went away.
2014 is here. And some things have changed for the better. Family life is becoming more flexible – the twins actually sleep throughout the night so my evenings are back. I’ve also made the difficult decision to decline volunteering in all ministries (except ELEO). With these adjustments, I’m determined to fully edit my novel by the end of November. December won’t be any different when it comes to editing but I’ll have a better sense whether or not I should pursue a literary agent.
2014 Game Plan Specifics
- Every week, revise a chapter. A revised chapter is complete when I can say, “This doesn’t suck anymore.” Do not work on another chapter until the next week. That way, I am fully focused on ONE chapter per week. Give it all I got with those seven days.
- Select 1-2 individuals to read each revised chapter. Commit to them that I will be delivering a new chapter each week. Also, ask for a commitment from them so they will read AND provide feedback by the next week. Initial feedback will be crucial for future edits and iterations.
- Connect with more writers. This is probably the most difficult task as I have very few writer friends. Online exchanges (Google Hangouts, emails, texts, tweets) should be a good start. But I’m hoping to physically attend and join a writers group by the end of this year.
Undoubtedly, 2014 will have events and conditions that will hinder progress. But for those times I do have freedom and control, I am determined. And hopeful.
Special thank you to Cynthia, for blogging about this Writer Recharge Challenge post. So happy I got to connect with you from NaNoWriMo 2012!