An Author’s Random Musing: Updates and Goals

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ve been taking the last few months off of writing. I think I drained my creativity and had found myself overwhelmed with so many unfinished things. Plus, I’d tried to see if setting specific time-based goals would help me be productive.

It didn’t. If anything, it sent me crashing into the wall faster. Well, not all writing advice works for everyone, right? Now I know.

Anyway, in the past few months, I’ve been reading and reading, and binge-watching some TV shows that I’ve been meaning to get to (Hello, Murdoch Mysteries, why have I not seen you before this?). I’ve also gone back to non-writing creative outlets (cross-stitching and trying to teach myself crocheting).

[image error]It’s always on, thanks to Hulu.

Now that I’ve had some rest, I’ve set up my goals for the year.

I will definitely finish edits on my next release (Regency Rumors, The Sinclair Society Series, Book One) by June. This means I’ll have to face the large edits that mean changes from start to finish, which is not going to be fun. I have an idea of what the cover will look like, and I’ve organized my launch plan details.

The next thing I am determined to do is to finish two of the unfinished manuscripts sitting on my desk. One is the sequel to 2017’s Not My Idea (currently still available in audio format), Best Laid Plans. It is definitely the one that has been sitting the longest, even though I know the plot inside and out. Tormenting Lucas once again should allow me to release some of my frustrations with life.

The other unfinished manuscript I intend to finish is Lady Evan Wins the Day, which is a sequel to my 2012 book Emily’s Choice. It is so close to being a complete draft that it weighs on my mind that I haven’t typed “The End” yet. I estimate it only needs about five thousand words to be done. I’ve just had to work out some plotting issues that had sent me into a corner.

However, in an effort to avoid burning myself out again, I’ve set small writing goals for myself. Each day, I want to write 250 words. More, if I’m feeling up to it, but 250 words a day is my goal. However, my weekly goal is for 1K words. It doesn’t sound like much, but I’ve been testing it out in the last few weeks and it definitely has taken the pressure off of me.

Those few words will add up over time, especially if I am inspired and write more.

So, yeah. That’s my plan for the year. I’ll have a few fanfiction stories in there since fanfiction is something I do for fun. And keeping writing fun is definitely important to me right now.

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Currently reading:

Fiction: Daisies and Devotion by Josi S. Kilpack

Non-Fiction: Into the Woods: A Five Act Journey Into Story by John Yorke