The YA and Middle Grade Fiction Group discussion

Happy New year! I hope you all have a good 2016. Do any of you have some resolution for the coming year?

I don't make resolutions, though I do sometimes set goals for things I hope to achieve in my writing and reading (and sometimes also in life in general). They're things I hope to do before the end of each year, rather than things I'm resolving to change, or things I'm guaranteeing to do.

That is similar to how I make my own goals. I encourage myself to meet them, but not too vigorously :)

For me, I pick a focus. In 2015, I focused on picture books, and I have two super strong manuscripts as a result (plus some new drafts I'm excited about.)

This year, my focus will be revising and polishing. I'm going to continue to polish picture book manuscripts, but I'm also going to take out my MGs and see if I can't polish them up.

I have a good resolution for once...complete my first novella!

I'm the same way. I make goals. This year I am working on personal development/mindfulness. I'm also working on writing short stories or flash stories each week and working on a novella.
my goal is to read 60 books this year

Chris wrote: "I have a good resolution for once...complete my first novella!"

That is a good one... Good luck with it!

Good luck to everyone with their goals and resolutions for the year! :)

Since everyone seems to be bad at keeping their resolutions, might I suggest 3 Words. Originally started by Chris Brogan, you pick any three words that will guide you in the choices you intend to make for the year. The words make you challenge yourself, but are less stringent than an actual resolution.

You can check out mine for 2016. The previous year I did pretty well keeping them.

So far so good! I now have a polished PB that I'm really excited about, and the MG now has a very strong opening.