So – if anyone here follows me on Twitter, you’ll know I finally finished my first full pass of revision/edits on the first book in my trilogy.Yay – go me etc. But wait, there’s more.
I woke up this morning with an idea on how to achieve something I’ve been struggling with for the last couple of months. So technically, though the pass is finished, I’m going through the first five chapters to insert the idea I had before sending it to pre-beta people 😀
It’s very daunting to go through the revision process. In fact, this is the first time I’ve made it in a novel length piece. Sure, I’ve revised short stories into the ground, but novels? Those I usually leave on the ‘no way I can polish this’ shelf and move onto something else.
Right now I have a story nagging at the back of my mind with tantalizing tidbits of plot and intrigue that I’m just itching to write down. But I scribble notes here and there so I don’t lose the main points and leave it. If I stop my revision now, I’ll stop it indefinitely and give into the urge to write. Just like I always do.
This is where motivation comes in.
A while back one of my Twitter friends was very down about writing and couldn’t get motivated. So, I made the #writemotivation hashtag and bombarded her with it. You know, because friends do that. Since then, it’s been used by several people I know and it’s got me thinking.
January is just around the corner. That time when we all make those new years resolutions, and if you’re a writer, they generally involve writing. Most of the people who use the #writemotivation hashtag know me or talk to me on a regular basis.
I’d like to coax my friends into a #writemotivation month in January. To help us all get on that resolution train with both feet and head full steam to our destination. Bad analogy? Maybe, but I like steam trains.
Basically, I motivate myself and while doing so, I like to motivate others. Cheering people on and encouraging their progress is a great part of being in a writing community.
If you’d like to take part in the January 2012 #writemotivation month – please drop a comment below and let me know:
Your Name:
URL:
Twitter:
Goals for January 2012: (Be realistic. The aim is to motivate and complete the goals for a good start to 2012)
At the end of December I’ll make a post with a list of participants
What I’d like us to get out of it:
1. Make a list of goals you feel are achievable in January – and achieve them
2. By the end of the month a tentative list of 2012 goals you feel are achievable
3. Update your blog every Monday starting January 2nd 2012 with progress or tidbits that helped you stay motivated. It doesn’t have to be the sole reason for the post, just include it somewhere in there.
4. Visit other #writemotivation blogs to cheer people on
5. Tune in to #writemotivation on Twitter and cheer your friends on.
I’d like to start 2012 off on a positive note.
My goals for January:
- Finish the paper edits of books 2 & 3.
- Start 2nd pass of Book 1.
- Keep up with my Google Reader
- Make at least 2 blog posts per week
Name: Zeny Williams
URL: Jaggedwriter.wordpress.com
Twitter: @JaggedWriter
I just started a year long challenge to improve my writing and part of that challenge involves revising my latest novel. I’d love to be a part of this, and similar challenges throughout the year.
January Goals:
1.) Finish First Draft Read-Thru
2.) Revise at least 10 Chapters
3.) Keep up with my blog/podcasts
Fantastic 🙂 This will be fun and productive.
I’ll have the list posted by the 29th so we have time to get around and say hi and happy #writemotivation to everyone 😀
LOVE the idea. I’m definitely in..
Name: Cristina
URL: http://cristinadossantos.blogspot.com/
Twitter: dossantos_cris
I have only ONE goal for January: finish the 1st draft of my WIP (my goal was to finish it by x-mas, yeah that’s not happening)
and my ultimate goal for 2012 is to finish the novel completely! and start a new one. Not sure if I’ll query this one, it’s my first novel ever and I’m just too green.. unless I query just for the practice of it and get used to rejection, LOL
Fantastic! This’ll be so much fun 😀 I’m really looking forward to dragging more people into #writemotivation 😀
This is a lovely idea! I’m already participating in something similar (#lifelistclub)but I think I might stop by and hang out with you tweeters becasue it sounds fun!
We’d love to have you 😀 The more #writemotivation, the better 😀
I may not be a writer, but I’ll follow along 🙂
Your Name: Quinton
URL: QuintonRoberts.com – Note: I am not a writer!
Twitter: @qjroberts
Goals for January 2012:
I was actually working on a similar topic for my next blog post (if I get time to write it) with regards to goals! Hopefully I’ll have a few more goals before then. Now I’ll have to get it out quickly before everyone beats me to this…
YES – I have suckered you in!
And you keep a blog. Blogging is writing. Mwuah hah hah 😀
This is such a great idea. I am going through my first round of edits on the novel I just finished and I am starting to hit that non-motivated point. I am definitely in!
Your Name:Bonnie Rae
URL: http://bonnieborrow.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BRLouwerens
Goals for January 2012: Have the first book in my trilogy up and available for online purchase by early spring. Finish and edit the second book by fall and have it available by December for purchase. As well as blog at least 2-3 times a week.
Oh that’s perfect. I hope this will help you with motivation. I know it’s helped me to have people cheering me on in a particularly difficult part of the revision process.
I’ll have the list up by the 29th 😀 I’m really looking forward to this.
A’ight – I’m in. 🙂 I need a push.
Name: Becca C.
URL: beccaweston.wordpress.com
Twitter: @callmebecks
1) Finish revision draft of WIP.
2) Email revision draft to beta readers.
3) Begin outline of next WIP.
4) Update blog once a week.
YES! Awesome. This will be fun, and your list is awesome. By the end of January, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your 2012 resolutions 😀
I’m excited and will have more posts about motivation and the list up by the 29th of December 😀
Woot! I’m stoked. This is a good idea.
Name: Michael Haynes
URL: http://www.michaelhaynes.info/
Twitter: @mohio73
I just posted my 2012 goals on my blog TODAY, so this is great timing. (Well, except for now I’ve got to figure out which chunks of these are January goals. Pffft….)
January Goals:
1) Spend the first half of January analyzing my first draft from my NaNo project and time in the second half of January planning the second draft.
2) Write 25,000 words of new fiction.
3) Keep up with my blog and end January with at least one queued post for a day when I don’t have time to blog.
4) Keep my Seinfeld Chain (500+ words every day of fiction/blogging/critique) going.
Oh, and I just gave the #writemotivation tag a mention in the comments on my blog. Maybe another person or two will show up from there!
You sound like you have great goals! And it sounds very achievable (especially since we’ll cheer you on all the way – do you like pompoms?)
Thank you so much for taking part, Michael 😀 I’ll have the list up at the end of the month
Name: Heather Jacobs
URL: http://www.hmjacobs.com
Twitter: @stateofego
Goals for January 2012
(1) Finish this dang novel (only about 10-15K words left!)
(2) Update my blog at least once a week.
(3) Begin revisions on said novel
I didn’t quite finish Nano and thats the project I’m currently working on. I’m hoping to finish the writing and start revising in January. Realistic I think. 🙂
Great idea KT! <3 #writemotivation
I think you’re being very realistic. I’ll spam you with as much #writemotivation as you can handle, although, I think I kinda already do that lol
January will be a great start to 2012!
I’m in! You know it! 😀 Now, if only I can actually stick to “goals”! I hate writing goals! hehe
Your Name: Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
URL: http://writebackwards.blogspot.com
Twitter: I_Am_LadyJai
Goals for January 2012:
1) By Jan, 20th I need to complete and submit the 713 Challenge entry @ KazkaPress
2) work a bit more on my novel. No particular goal really as I just need to write some more, and work out more of the plot. (How’s that for ambiguous?)
3) By the end of January I’d like to have completed the beta read for a certain someone.
4) complete the blog posts for this challenge. I suck at blogging 🙂
So, how’s that for goals. Realistic? Let’s hope so! 🙂
Oh I love your first goal! And the rest of them 😀 I think that you sound realistic. I think realism is important – if you aim for goals you can 100% achieve, you start the year off better.
Also, blogging once a week is a good way to get into a routine. Though it’s not fiction, it’s still writing.
Here’s to #writemotivation 2012 😀
Aloha K.T.,
Sounds like a great idea, especially as I’m working to finish my first draft by April 2, 2012.
Here’s my info:
Your Name: Mark Koopmans
URL: http://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @markjkoopmans
Goals for January 2012: (write Chapters 10 & 11 (of 14) on the memoir I am co-writing.)
Do you need a slogan/motto: “Let’s bring it on, and we’ll get ‘er done!”
Hi Mark 😀 You can definitely finish your first draft by April 2, 2012!
Love the motto 😀 We could probably use a few in our #writemotivation hashtag! January 2012 will be productive!
Name: Jacob Adams
URL: http://jacobgadams88.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @bendermender88
What an awesome idea, K.T. With the holiday breaking coming up, and three weeks of being homework free, I plan to finish getting through my first past of my novel. That being said, here are some goals I think are reasonable for the month of January.
1. Complete second run through novel.
2. Finish at least one short story
3. Keep up with my weekly blog posts
This will be fun! I love getting and giving motivation. 😀
Oh fantastic! I was so hoping you’d join up. Motivation is best when shared. And you do such a great job of motivating others.
I think your list is definitely doable 😀 I’ll have the participants post up on Dec 29! Really looking forward to this.
Name: Steve Weagraff
URL: http://sweagraff.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @sweagraff
Goals for January
1) Have my new novel Night Glimmer live in the iBookstore and available in print form from Create Space. (it’s already live for the kindle and nook)
2) Finish Chapter 1 and 2 of the sequel.
Welcome Steve 😀 Great to have you on board. It sounds like you’ve got very realistic goals and I’m looking forward to cheering you on as you accomplish them!
Such a beautiful, inspiring idea. I’m all about it — I’ll do my best to be an active part and keep up to what I’m resolving to do! Here goes!
Your Name: Rance Denton
URL: http://www.rddenton.com
Twitter: @RanceDenton
Goals for January 2012:
1) Successfully start up the beta-read/critiquing group Katie and I have been hinting about!
2) DO SOME FUCKING READING. (I’m graduating from uni January 8th; I can’t tell you how much I miss doing reading for enjoyment.)
3) Jump back into planning out and outlining The Godkiller’s Eyes, my second Elias Faust novel.
4) Maybe even get a few more chapters on it written.
LET’S DO THIS! ^ ^ Can’t wait to see how everybody does!
I’m so glad you’re hopping on board 😀 Tell Katie to, too! I’ll spam her *grins evilly*
Love your goals, although I may be biased about number 1 :p I’m also hella nervous about number 1 lol.
Yes, you need to read and I’m looking forward to cheer you on while you do some writing!
Your Name: Rebekah Loper
URL: http://blackanddarknight.wordpress.com
Twitter: @RebekahLoper
Goals for January 2012:
1. Finish editing Weeping Willow short story for entry in a contest due Jan 31
2. Make sure entries for Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. contests (at least 4 of them) are written and polished, due Feb 1.
3. Get first draft for Writers of the Future entry at least 50% complete.
4. Get a backlog of blog posts.
1-3 are mandatory for me. #4 would be awesome, but I’m not going to fret if it doesn’t happen.
And this is an awesome idea, KT!
Awesome 😀 It’s great to see you on board, Rebekah 😀
I hope we can help you get at least 1-3 done! You have a very busy goals list, but I’m sure you can do it!
(On a side note, are you going to OWFI in May? A couple of people from my crit group and I hope to.)
I’m planning on being there, currently! I’ve got one friend that’s definitely going, and possibly two more. It’ll be my second writer’s conference (the first was the Ozark Creative Writers Conference back in October), but it’ll just depend on what the finances look like in the next couple of months, since we may be buying a house.
Ahhh – let me know. I’d love to say hi if you go 😀
How awesome! I’d love to be involved.
Name: Elisabeth Hirsch
Pen name: EC Stilson
URL: http://www.ecwrites.com
Twitter: ecwrites
Goal: To finish revising my YA Fantasy.
Oh that is awesome! Thank you for taking part. I adore your blog. I’m sometimes lazy about comments though.
I think that is a fantastic goal and I look forward to cheering you on to accomplish it. I’ll have the list up on the 29th 😀
You all pushed me into this, but after reading it, I definitely agree with it. To give some background, I’m in the process of starting a new job (that’s temporary right now, but now has the possibility of going permanent). On top of that, I start taking night classes at the end of January, as I’m beginning to work on getting my second bachelor’s.
So if my goals seem pathetic, there’s a reason behind it. 🙂
Your Name: Katie
URL: katelineberger.com
Twitter: kllwrites
Goals for January 2012: Write a blog post — writing related or not — at least twice a week. Finish the short story I started as a break from my novel writing.
Here’s hoping. 🙂
Woot! Finally got Katie to join 😀 I knew you would.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with your goals. It’s not about making some amazing goals… it’s about making goals you can realistically achieve and so make the start of 2012 awesome because you achieve them. I’m sure we’ve all done the: These are my 15 lofty goals for this year… and then we get overwhelmed and don’t do them.
So, let’s start 2012 out on a positive note – and I’m sure we can cheer you on to complete your January goals 😀 *hugs*
I love this idea and could use all the encouragement I can get.
Your Name: Alessa
URL: http://alessahinlo.wordpress.com
Twitter: alessahinlo
Goals for January 2012:
1. Write 500 words 5 days a week.
2. Post 3 times a week.
3. Comment on blogs more. My lurking tendencies will be overcome! LOL
Hi Alessa, you have great goals for January. I think you can definitely achieve them and we’ll help cheer you on and make it come true 😀
Thank you for joining – I’ll have the full list out on the 29th 😀
Glad it’s not too late to partake in the motivation
Name: Angela L Brown
URL: http://publishness.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Pearldragonfang
Goals for January 2012:
1: Complete first drafts of SEAMLESS and UNCOMMON
2: Post 3 blogs a week
3: Read 2 books
4: Comment to other blogs, at least 10 to 15 a week.
Ooo you have a great list there. Lots to do and therefore, lots to be motivated for! We’ll do our best to help you reach your goals 😀
I’m definitely in 🙂
1.Update my blog at least 1x a week.(I’m horrible at it)
2.finish the 1st draft of the last 5 chapters of this book.
3.read thru and start revisions on the first few chapters
I am SO happy you’re taking part! You’re the entire reason #writemotivation exists in the first place.
Welcome aboard.
What a great idea! That will be very useful to me, and it’ll be great to share whatever tips that are helping me with others. 🙂
Name: Ceridwen Taliesin
URL: http://ceridwenslair.tumblr.com/
Twitter: @CeridwenT
Goals for January 2012:
1. finish plotting my 1st novel
2. complete basic research for 1st novel
I’ve been plotting each scene of my 1st novel for a couple of weeks now, writing down the mood, the descriptions, the sequence of actions/dialogues, and I intend to start writing the scenes in February. You must have noticed that I’m taking the daunting process of writing a novel scene by scene. If I don’t do that, I’ll get paralyzed with fear! LOL
Thanks for it, K.T.! 🙂
PS: Congratulations for your blog. It’s my first time visiting, and I loved it. How did you get that First Draft Progress Widget on your homepage?
Hi Cerridwen 😀 Things have been crazy busy with Christmas, and spraining my ankle lol. Sorry for the late reply. Welcome aboard! Your goals sound fantastic!
Give me a little time to track down where I got the widget from again and I’ll give you a link 😀 It’s an easy WP widget designed by a friend. I just can’t seem to locate the exact page at this moment lol
Hi K.T.! I hope you’re better. Thanks for the support. I hope I’ll get that much! 😀
Take your time with the widget. Whenever you find it, it’s ok. 🙂
Happy holidays!
Here we go hon, this is the site I got them from. Takes a bit of fiddling, but I love them. And you can create custom colours
http://tech.windsofstorm.net/wordpress/morgans-progress-meters/
Thank you! 🙂
Your Name: Brenna
URL: http://iwriteandread.blogspot.com
Twitter: @brennabraaten
Goals for January 2012:
1. Finish my 2011 NaNoWriMo
2. Finish the first three chapters of current WIP
3. Blog three times a week
4. Do one video
Thanks, Brenna 😀 You’re added to the list over on the roll call now http://www.kthanna.com/2011/12/writemotivation-roll-call-d/
Here’s to a fantastic start to 2012!
Excellent idea!
Name: Jenn Johnson
URL: http://asinglebell.lorsini.com
Twitter: @ASingleBell
My resolutions are kind of weird, so I’ll make legit goals for January:
1. Write at least 250 words a day. (Classes are starting soon, so I’m aiming low!)
2. Blog at least once a week. (Kind of fell off the blogging wagon.)
3. Keep up with GoogleReader.
I added you to the list hon 😀 Sorry I neglected to comment!
Name: Jocelyn Rish
URL: http://www.jocelynrish.com/
Twitter: @JocelynRish
Goals:
1. Finally finish rewrite of my WIP for Amazon Breakthrough Novel competition (Jan. 23rd).
2. Write at least one blog post each week.
3. Write one tweet tale each day.
Welcome to the group! I’ve added you to the list 😀 It’s going to be so much fun!