I drafted this blog post on New Year's Eve, but I didn' really flesh it out until today.
So, belated and on a Friday, here's a look at my Writing Resolutions for 2012.
Write more...and more often. I have the capability to write prolifically. I know this. Last year, I probably wrote between 250,000 and 350,000 words (that includes short stories, novels, and blog posts...and that estimate may be underselling it). I'm capable of writing more. Revisions on I, Crimsonstreak cut into "new" writing content. While working on a sequel, I averaged about 2,000 words a day for three months. In 2012, I resolve to bring that kind of consistency to the table.
Blog more. I run hot and cold in terms of blog content. It's tough. I, like many writers, have a full-time job. And, like many writers, I also try to tweet, Facebook, and blog on top of the actual writing. Hours in a day are numbered, and that means finding time can be a challenge. In 2012, I resolve to blog more often. I want to do more reviews (books, movies, etc.). I want to do more video blogs (I did ONE last month as an experiment). I want to do a "How to" series (I did a soft launch of this last year). I have a major opportunity this year. My very first book will be released. It's not going to make me a multi-millionaire. It may not even make me a multi-hundred-aire. However, people who read it may be interested in learning more about my writing. I want to make sure I have plenty of solid blog content for them.
Read more. I've been better about this. I've read three books in the George R.R. Martin "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. That's the same as reading, like, 20 books. I've also read The Accidental Billionaires, Empire State, Raise the Titanic, Ready Player One, and a few others. Ever since I bought a Kindle over the summer, I've found myself reading more often. Part of it's the gadget "cool" factor; part of it's the convenience factor. What's really helped, however, is the Kindle library lending feature. I can check out books from the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library without leaving home. It fits my schedule and it fits my budget. In 2012, I want to continue that momentum.
Publish a short story in a major market. I'd like to join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. In order to do that, you have to publish a book in certain markets or sell three stories to certain markets. I've had modest (and I do mean modest in its purest sense) success with some short stories. Now, I want to sell a few to some of the bigger markets. This will get exposure and help me become eligible for the SFWA. In order to do that, of course, I have to actually submit some stories. I've been so focused on I, Crimsonstreak in the last few months that I haven't concentrated as much on my short fiction. In 2012, I resolve to balance novels and short stories.
Get a few bites on my next project. I've written a sequel to I, Crimsonstreak and it needs a lot of work. I know this. However, that's not the "next" project I'm referring to. I have another manuscript that also needs some more polish. I believe it's a more marketable/mainstream work than Crimsonstreak. In 2012, I resolve to give this to my beta readers and send it along the query route to see if I can get someone to bite.
