2008

Last year I was filled with lots of literary ambition come January 1st and plastered my walls with posters containing scribbled notes of all the novels I was going to write in the year. Unfortunately I don't think I completed one of those tasks and looking back on those notes is a humbling experience. As regards my pledges - well, I didn't get near reading 150 books. I started 93 and finished 85, but it was a 33 increase on my book tally from the year before, so I am happy. This year I am aiming for a more doable 2 books a week. Submissions - well, I did submit The Moonwolf Chronicles (if, unlike VT, you count query letters and competitions) but no where near 30 times. I'm not going to make pledges about submissions this year. I want to keep things simple - in the hope that I might actually achieve something! So all I want to do is make one simple promise - I will spend 4 hours writing every day. I might do more, maybe I will only do that, but I want to devote that amount of time to actually writing. Will I manage to keep this promise? I don't know, but I only have myself to blame if I don't.

Plans for February

My plans for February are as follows: -

1. Write 50K words of Til the Moon Fails
2. Complete and submit assignments 4 and 5 for the Writers Bureau
3. Read 12 books
4. Start rewriting The Mark of the Wolf
5. Edit and submit zombie flash fiction Deadly


Book Pledge: 9/150
Submission Pledge: 0/30

Review of January

My goals for January were as follows: -

1. Write 50K words on Til the Moon Fails.
Something about the Til the Moon Fails has been bugging me since I started it, and this month I realised what that was. So, I have gone back to the start to rectify the problem. This means I didn't get as much done on furthering the book as I had wished, however I hope that it will continue to flow quicker and stronger from now on.

2. Start to edit The Mark of the Wolf.
I read The Mark of the Wolf and took copious notes and I realised that editing was really a euphemism for rewriting it. The writing is good and there is a story there, but everything is layered with mounds of historical/big house drama that are unnecessary and slow the writing down. I gave myself two months for this job, which I now realise is foolishly optimistic, but I'm looking forward to starting working on the next draft come Feb.

3. Send Assignments 2 and 3 to the Writers Bureau.
Yup. Assignment 2 submitted and completed and, as of today, assignment 3 submitted.

4. Two meetings with Valpot about our joint books.
Yup again. Had two very productive meetings about Ely, its origins, its people and its mores.

Book Pledge: 9/150
Submission Pledge: 0/30

HAPPY NEW YEAR

My New Year writing resolutions for 2007 are as follows:-

1. Finish Til the Moon Fails
2. Edit the Moonwolf Chronicles and submit
3. Write another Zombie Horror
4. Do two assignments for the Writer's Bureau each month
5. Write a couple of short stories and send them out to publications
6. Write Twenty-Four Hours with Valerie (and maybe another joint venture)
7. Edit 7 Days in Hell and submit

I have also taken a pledge to read 150 books this year and a pledge to submit the Moonwolf Chronicles up to 30 times (please God I won't have to do it that many times!)

Book Pledge: 1/150