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Post by ScintillaMyntan on Dec 31, 2022 23:37:00 GMT -6
How did your writing go in 2022? What are your goals for 2023?
This was a good year for me for writing. Thanks to our contests, I learned a lot, I think, in an informal, subconscious way about what makes a good story. I also used to have a lot of trouble going from an idea to a plot. I would have premises and subjects ready but not know what kind of motion they'd be set in. Now I usually feel my ideas naturally connect to plots, and I'm not sure what changed. I must've been thinking in the wrong ways before, but I don't remember exactly how.
On a personal note, when we had the Noir contest in February, I told my psychotherapist that this was the best week I had since my mental health problem began. It really was. That story was so fun I managed to put aside my problems and just concentrate. If I started to feel bad, I would think, "No, I mustn't go down that way because this story is more important."
When I think back about that, it's clear how much progress I've made mentally. A week when I care more about my writing than my problems wouldn't even be remarkable anymore!
In the coming year, I want to develop to the point I consistently find writing fun. I keep forgetting how much I can enjoy writing, so I put it off and don't turn to it as a leisure activity until I have to do it for a contest or to meet a personal goal. Then when I finally start, late in the day, I suddenly remember how much I like it. Specifically I want to write good stuff for the contests and try to get some of my previous contest work published. Starting a novel's always an option too, but I'm not feeling the fire. Maybe I could attempt NaNo or something. I do have ideas.
I also started my poems in 2022 and even joined a poetry critique group associated with my alma mater over video chat. I rarely wrote poetry before since it's quite difficult to get right, and my taste is weird and specific. Admittedly I can't get into most poetry I come across in contemporary publications, and it rather discourages me from writing it. But I suppose I've had some experiences that are ripe for poems, and in 2023 I want to try to work on them more diligently.
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Post by Alatariel on Jan 1, 2023 13:55:06 GMT -6
That's great, Scintilla! A goal to make writing more fun is a fantastic goal. Once that seems really healthy and doable. Not to mention that achieving the goal is fun, too!
My goal is a bit more cliched and overdone but...I want to finish my novel(s). I'm dumb and have 3 separate novels partially written. So now the question is, which one do I give my primary focus?
- Do I finish the one closest to being done but probably has zero future in the publishing world?
- Do I focus on the one that's unique and different and has a better prospective future for publishing?
- Do I work on the newest one that only has 6 chapters but has the best prospect for publishing because it's very marketable?
I'm leaning toward the last one even though it's my newest project. It's the romance novel. Extremely bright future, especially since I have a whole series planned out around it. A series that could be very successful if I pursue self-publishing (a scary but new frontier for me).
So instead of waffling or telling myself I should be focusing on Project A or B, I should just pick one and dive in! And I keep leaning toward finishing the romance novel.
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Post by RAVENEYE on Jan 12, 2023 10:43:40 GMT -6
Wow, I'm excited for you both! Such positive developments in your writing journeys.
Hmm, how did my writing go in 2022 ...?
Glacially. But forward is forward, and I made serious progress on my WIP at last. Plus, shopped out some contest entries, competed in my first non-LF contest, and tried to get involved with Nebula attendees (socializing is so haaaaaard).
What are my goals for 2023?
1. First and foremost. Finish this draft of my WIP!!! I'm so close now. Surely by summer's arrival, I'll be able to say Voila! And then get to examining it and see what I actually have in my hands. A mess, no doubt. But I love the editing stage, so I have that to look forward to.
2. Tell people no. Schedule my writing extra-curricular activities as important. Learn to say, "I'm booked that Sunday," and actually attend the Nebula get-togethers so that I become a "regular" among these writers. Network. Get help and advice where I need it.
3. Submit more stories for publication. Find a couple of contests to write for in addition to LF's contests.
Great questions. It's good to reflect on this, take stock, hindsight is 20/20, right? And I can see I let a LOT of distractions help me with my procrastination.
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Post by havekrillwhaletravel on Jan 19, 2023 2:53:43 GMT -6
Alatariel RAVENEYE Rooting for the both of you! Hope a fruitful and productive writing year is ahead of you. I also started my poems in 2022 and even joined a poetry critique group associated with my alma mater over video chat. I rarely wrote poetry before since it's quite difficult to get right, and my taste is weird and specific. Admittedly I can't get into most poetry I come across in contemporary publications, and it rather discourages me from writing it. But I suppose I've had some experiences that are ripe for poems, and in 2023 I want to try to work on them more diligently. I adore your poetry! Your poems are so beautiful and thought-provoking, I honestly thought you'd been writing poetry for years. In terms of my personal life, 2022 was a car crash of a year. So I was surprised that it was the most productive and fruitful year for my writing so far. I was writing more often and more consistently. I want to write even more often in 2023 ... which I've already failed at  It's a pretty hectic time at work, I spent a week stuck at home from Covid and I have a few personal stuff to settle, so I've been playing catch-up and being too exhausted to do anything other than binge watch Gilmore Girls. I find myself often returning to the same settings in my writing, so I also want to try branching out of my comfort zone a bit more this year.
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Post by Mazulla on Jan 19, 2023 22:38:02 GMT -6
How did it go for 2022?
Slow, but still progress! When I submitted a story to LF's Halloween contest in 2021, that was the first time I've ever completed (much less submitted) a short story. The next time I finished a short story was August 2022 (The Winter Garden), then one for the recent Casual Contest. That's still one more than the previous year, or none prior to that. I can't help feeling that I should be finishing projects and writing way more than that, but I'll certainly take the small victories.
Goals for 2023
My main goal is to finish more short stories that I've started and never finished, as well as challenge myself to more LF contests. There were a few times last year that I wanted to participate in contests, but stress or lack of inspiration got in the way. I'm hoping that will turn around here in 2023, especially as I'll be starting a new job next week that will hopefully relieve the stress I've been experiencing the past few years.
Also, as much as I enjoy them, I participated in the 100-word stories far less last year and I'd like to change that this year.
Besides short stories, I do have novel ideas floating about, too. But, I'm not sure I'll take a shot at them in 2023. My thoughts are: Get proficient enough and hone your writing skills at short stories first, then tackle larger projects later.
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It's a pretty hectic time at work, I spent a week stuck at home from Covid and I have a few personal stuff to settle, so I've been playing catch-up and being too exhausted to do anything other than binge watch Gilmore Girls.
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
