Happy IWSG Day!- 2016 Writing Plans

Happy IWSG Day! It’s December 2, the first Wednesday of a new month. And the final month of 2015. With a new year of possibility, triumphs and of course doubts awaiting for us in the new year just 29 days away. And who can we thank for bringing us together, year after year, as each one of us partake on our writing journeys? Ninja extraordinaire Alex Cavanaugh, of course.

After all, E.L. Doctorow said it best,“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”  A trip made better with you along.

To find out more about the group and/or maybe even sign-up, click on the badge above. And don’t forget to check out the awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting: Sandra Hoover, Mark Koopmans, Doreen McGettigan, Megan Morgan, and Melodie Campbell!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

What are my worries for this month? Well I’m worried I might be a little too lofty with my 2016 writing plans. Again. For 2015, I’d aimed to write more interesting content for my blog. Make book blog posts of my fantasy work in progress novels. And complete two poetry manuscripts. As well as a nonfiction how-to guide. I’d planned for about 6 major writing related projects in 2015. Half of which I was able to do. I’d feel bad (sometimes I kind of do) but plans aren’t written in stone. And life happens and readjustments had to be made.

Besides, there were things that happened this year that went outside of my plans. I did a special 30 Days of Poetry Love project. And featured 30 poet interviews for National Poetry Month. I also participated in NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month). And made the switch from Weebly to WordPress.com. So that’s cause to celebrate, right?

Anyways, I’d think I’d learned my lesson but again for 2016 I made some lofty writing goals. Instead of the one major writing project I’ve planned to commit myself to, I have 3. Finishing the rewrite, revise/edit my Nadia the Fire Witch work in progress to query. Rewrite and revise/edit my NaNoWriMo novel Dreaming of You. Then enter it in the Wattpad-Harlequin So You Think You Can Write contest. Rewrite and revise/edit my second NaNoWriMo story The Soul Traveler. I know I’m bad at math but I can’t be that bad. No wait, I’m definitely bad at math. I have 4 writing projects not 3. Forgot to include finishing Triplicity, a full length poetry collection.

Then I was also thinking of participating in the A to Z challenge next year and tie it to National Poetry Month. Maybe do an A to Z poem, writing one line poems that build into one whole poem. Covering A to Z, another poetry month special & NaPoWriMo. Three birds, one stone.

Well it’s back to the planning board for me. And figuring out some micro-productive goals that’ll work for me. Probably focus on just two major priorities. Triplicity will come first, as soon as I’m done with The Soul Traveler rough draft. Because there is a poetry award I want to submit it to in April. Then Nadia the Fire Witch, which I’ll have the rest of the year to polish, polish and polish. And have the rest as place holders if I ever need a break from the story and work on them instead. Especially since The Soul Traveler would need my attention mid-year. I can let it stew, make notes and come back to it then. And come back to Dreaming of You in February and again during the latter half of the year for some major overhaul. Then light edits before I post it on Wattpad. When the So You Think You Can Write Wattpad-Harlequin contest starts in mid-summer and ends in early Fall.

Hmm, kinda sounds like a plan.

How was 2015 towards your writing/publishing aspirations? Any shout outs you want to give? Made any writing plans for 2016?

PS The last #PitMad of the year is two days from now, on December 4th. So if you have a completed manuscript, interested in participating, then mark your calendars. And schedule your Twitter pitches. There are even some new rules which you could read more about it here. For more information, check out my previous #PitMad posts:

Everything You Need to Know About Twitter Pitch

Are You Ready for #PitMad?

#PitMad Round III- The Do’s and Don’t’s of PitMad

***And for science fiction and fantasy authors, the 2nd and final #SFFpit is on December 10. You have 8 days to prepare and they have new rules as well. Check out Dan Koboldt’s site to find out more.  And check out my post “Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors Rejoice!- #SFFpit Is Coming!”

PSS I’ll be on a blogging break from now on but I do have scheduled cover reveal posts for you to enjoy. And of course I will post something special for Christmas and New Year’s. Until then, I’ll be working on The Soul Traveler rough draft as part two of my NaNoWriMo. And immersing myself into the world of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo novel. Happy Holidays!