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

Tuesday 12 January 2016

2016: Beyond the comfort zone

Always feels good to get off the blocks at the start of a new year, the writing blocks that is. Last week I wrote a new short story (3,000 words), a contemporary ghost story. It was a theme chosen for the first workshop group meeting of 2016 and I had a lot of fun writing it. Took me out of my comfort zone as I rarely write ghost stories. This got me thinking about what I want to achieve in 2016 with writing goals and all that ... I need to move out of my comfort zone, which is writing short stories, and ... well you read the list further down this post.

Setting the goals has to be done as a joint effort with writer Wendy Clarke, we met at our favourite tearooms (spookily discovering that we'd met to set 2015 goals on exactly the same date a year
before) and got stuck into the task (and teacakes of course - they're obligatory). You can read Wendy's 2016 targets here.


Before defining new goals it's essential to assess how you did on the previous ones. These were my aims for 2015 ... with outcomes.
THE 2015 WRITING GOALS
1. Finish and submit dissertation for MA. YES! Submitted with a week to spare.
2. Identify a list of Literary Agents I would like to work with. YES. And still working on it...
3. Complete editing/polishing of novel and begin submission to identified agents. YES.
4. >50 short stories published (currently at 43). NOT QUITE - 48 end of 2015 (lesson learned, and I can hear Joanna Campbell nagging - don't set goals that you have no control over!)

And this is what I hope/want/ache to achieve in 2016 ...
2016 WRITING GOALS

1. Strive to do whatever I can to find an agent i.e. get the first novel out into submission land.
2. Complete first draft of second novel by end of the year.
3. Write at least one new radio drama.
4. Attend York Festival of Writing (September).

I have lots of other things I want to get underway in 2016, but these are the headlines as it were.
Goal 1. is in progress with Operation Agent and I bet Wendy that whoever finds an agent first buys the other a slap-up lunch. Okay, I know I'm fairly safe on that one - I've just read her novel and loved it.

Have you set any writing new goals for 2016? Please share ...
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18 comments:

  1. Paula RC12 January 2016 at 02:05

    Wishing you the very best of luck with all your writing projects in 2016

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 07:56

      Thank you, Paula, and same to you for 2016 :)

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  2. Jan Baynham12 January 2016 at 02:13

    Good luck with achieving your goals in 2016, Tracy

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 07:57

      Thank you, Jan. Wishing you a creative year too :)

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  3. Patsy12 January 2016 at 02:33

    I like the bet - sounds like you'll both be a winner with that one.

    Good luck with your goals.

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 07:57

      Not so sure myself, Patsy, but I'm hopeful Wendy will land one soon :)

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  4. Joanna12 January 2016 at 06:27

    I loved reading this, Tracy, and wish you great success with every single goal. And I love my nagging voice! As you might have predicted, I have set no goals at all yet. At the moment, I never quite know what I'm going to work on from one day to the next until I sit down and shut my eyes to see what comes along. (Of course this sometimes results in falling asleep.) It's a terrible way to work and I can't recommend it to anyone. I do have a few competitions in mind that I would love to enter, but all my stories are turning out to be the wrong length for the rules!
    However, I have absolute faith that you will achieve everything on your list and look forward to all the good news as it comes in. xxx

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 07:59

      Keep nagging, Joanna, and keep those dreadful puns coming too - they keep me sane. Er not sure I could cope with your writing method - I'm the complete opposite and need to have everything planned in my head before I even sit down!

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  5. Veronica Bright12 January 2016 at 07:31

    You've made me keen to set my own goals again. Interested to hear you're planning on going to the York Fest of Writing. Winchester runs a very similar one, too, which is nearer you, I think. Will now go and set goals. Good luck in all you do this year. (We all need luck as well as talent!)

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 08:01

      Will also look at Winchester, Veronica, but I've heard mix things about that one. But definitely closer to me than York! Best wishes for your writing year :)

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  6. Julia Thorley12 January 2016 at 08:01

    I haven't set any writing goals. Should I? Do I tell everyone or just keep it to myself? Maybe goal 1 should be to set some goals. When I get a minute. Maybe.

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 08:20

      Do what works for you, Julia. I have to have a list of things to tick off, but that doesn't work for everyone. Best wishes for a productive year whatever you decide :)

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  7. Wendy's Writing12 January 2016 at 08:13

    You missed out one... strive to eat more teacakes. Seriously though, it was a brilliant goal setting session and look forward to meeting up in Feb to see if we're on track.

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    1. TracyFells12 January 2016 at 08:21

      Ah, thought that was a given, Wendy. Hmm, I'm already thinking up my excuses ... blackbird ate my first draft perhaps?

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  8. Amanda Saint12 January 2016 at 14:40

    You can do it, Tracy! My writing goals are complete the first draft of my second novel by the summer; write and send out at least 4 new shorts by the end of the year; do a screenwriting course in the autumn; and enjoy it all! And see you in York if not before xx

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    1. TracyFells13 January 2016 at 05:36

      Thank you, Amanda. Good luck with your goals for 2016. Plenty to keep you busy. I would love to try a screenplay at some point in the future - look forward to hearing how you enjoy the screenwriting course. :)

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  9. Rosemary Gemmell13 January 2016 at 11:29

    I like the focused goals, Tracy, and I'm sure you'll get there by the end of the year! I still haven't really set any and the month is half over.

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    1. TracyFells14 January 2016 at 03:20

      Thanks, Rosemary. Good luck with setting yours :)

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