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Welcome to The Literary Pig's blog - a safe haven for all those afflicted with
the unbearable urge to write.

Thursday 8 January 2015

2015: THE GOALS!

I've posted before on the importance of WRITING down your goals/objectives so I won't bore you with all that again, but I do want to share mine here and, just as importantly, review what happened in 2014. I'm incredibly lucky to have Wendy as my writing chum - we meet at the beginning of every month to talk over our progress (the ups and downs of a writer's life) and to look ahead. Yesterday, we met for a mammoth session (the tearoom staff were very understanding despite us taking root for almost 3 hours!) and now have our Writing Goals all set down for 2015.

But first let's look back over 2014 ...
THE STATS:
30 positive successes, which I count as competition wins/placements/shortlisting & long listings, stories sold, stories published online or in anthologies/magazines etc

Out of these successes 20 stories were published, but only 10 resulted in income.
The really bad news for 2014 was my overall income from writing was significantly down (I won't depress you with the figures). My writing business is basically running at a loss. The shareholders would be pulling the plug by now me thinks ...
Some part of this is due to focusing (quite rightly) on my MA in Creative Writing (University of Chichester) and completing the novel. Meaning I had less time to write new short stories or articles.

At the beginning of 2014 I posted my goals for the year here and am pleased to announce the top 3 were all achieved. I am putting together a collection of short stories, but I hope to attract a publisher for these rather than self-publish (aim high I say).

THE ACHIEVEMENTS:
These are the ones I'm most proud of ...

  • First draft of novel completed (>100,000 words)
  • Shortlisted for the COMMONWEALTH WRITERS SHORT STORY PRIZE (read more here)
  • Judge on Hysteria 2014 Writing Competition (short story, flash fiction & poetry categories)
  • Runner-up HE BATES Short Story Prize (more here)
  • Finalist WRITE IDEA Short Story Prize (more here)
  • Short stories published in new anthologies: Fugue (Siren Press), Light in the Dark (Bridge House)

And I was asked to submit my work-in-progress novel to several Literary Agents (unsolicited by me) ...

So what came out of the teacake chat with Wendy?
THE 2015 WRITING GOALS:
1. Finish and submit dissertation for MA.
2. Identify a list of Literary Agents I would like to work with.
3. Complete editing/polishing of novel and begin submission to identified agents.
4. >50 short stories published (currently at 43).

These hopefully are within my control. Note, I didn't list: get an agent, sign a book deal etc because those are not strictly within my control. I can do the utmost to ensure my work is of the highest standard, but the rest is in the lap of the Writing Gods - and we know how fickle they can be ...

What are your writing goals for 2015? 
We'd love to hear them.




18 comments:

  1. You'll have to wait until my blog post next week to hear mine... oh no, of course you already know them! Your achievements last year were great, especially the Commonwealth win, and I know next year will be even better (I'll be right behind you with a stick!)

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    1. Look forward to reading yours, Wendy - so I can check them of course!

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  2. Fantastic achievements for 2014, Tracy. Looking forward to reading your novel in the not too distant future!

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    1. Thank you, Tracey - let's hope you want have to wait too long :)

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  3. That was a really good year for you, Tracy, not least in completing your novel! Hope you achieve all your goals in 2015.

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    1. Thanks, Rosemary. Yes, the novel was something I really wanted to get done by end 2014 - so pleased with that!

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  4. Congratulations! Your determination and success is inspirational. Last year, I had my first short story published. My main writing goals for this year are to get more short stories published (which involves submitting a lot more...) and to finish a novel to a standard good enough to submit to agents.

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    1. Thanks, Hayley. Congrats on the short story - the first publication is one to cherish! Excellent goals for this year - Good Luck with all of these and keep us posted!

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  5. I find setting goals for the entire year ahead simply too daunting. I set an intention for the day/week and then review. Little steps. Congratulations on all you have achieved - and don't worry too much about the bottom line. It's only money!

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    1. That's a good idea, Julia. I'm a little bit of an obsessive (understatement) and have daily/weekly goals as well. Think I just like to tick things off basically!!

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  6. Congratulations on your 2014 achievements, Tracy! Good luck with your writing this year.

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  7. The shareholders might well approve of your decision to invest in the future and ensure your writing business has a firm foundation.

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    1. What a good point, Patsy. Besides, what new company expects to make a decent profit in the first few years of operation ...

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  8. Your arrangement with Wendy seems to be working wonders for both of you - aside that is from the added benefit of tea and cakes. Wishing you every success for your 2015 goals.

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    1. Thanks, Natalie. Having someone you can meet and talk with regularly who totally understands all the ups and downs of a writing life makes it all bearable! Don't know what I'd do without her :)

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  9. Wow! You had a good year, and should be really proud of your achievements.
    I set goals on a week to week basis, I find it works better for me to break a big goal down into smaller chunks, and doesn't seem as daunting either.
    Good luck with your 2015 projects.

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    1. Thanks, Maria. Yes, it definitely helps to break goals down into small achievable chunks and give you lots to tick off - always a bonus :)

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