Unlocking Books discussion

What are your goals in 2011? Writing goals? Personal goals? Reading goals?

Me--I have a novel to finish and two more to edit, and I'm posting my novel Resurrection to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest.

Last year, I read about 60 books. For me, that's probably way to much. It takes away time from other things. So I think I will cut that back to 48 books. That's 4 books a month.

So tell me about what you want to accomplish in 2011.

I want my The Great Man series to be finished and polished. That's my only real goal for 2011. I have (apparently) three more books to write in the series, making it now 7 books.

I want to read more. I don't have a goal as to the number of books, but there are several series that I must finish, and one to reread as soon as I can!

I'm sticking with the same goals I had last year, since last year's resolutions worked a treat: Complete a new book, and edit the old one. I never have a set number of books to read, just a general rule of thumb to keep trying new authors, new genres, and read as much as I can without interfering with the production schedule of Resolutions 1 and 2.

My goal last year was to at least have one finished, polished manuscript. When I managed that I bumped the goal to an agent and contract for publication. Didn't reach that goal, so it's the same this year. I have three polished manuscripts I'm sending around, my goal is just ONE contract. Is that asking so much?

My other goals? I don't have reading goals. I just read what I can when I can. At least one book each month.

Writing? I want to have the three manuscripts waiting for edits to be done. Finished. Ready to go. I also want to finish Rayne, Blind, and A Family of None. Rough draft, I'm not a masochist.

Personal goals? Hmm. To be more organized this year. This flying by the seat of my pants scares the crap out of me sometimes.

For the longest time (about 3 1/2 years,) my primary goal has been to complete my novel. But the roughdraft isn't even completely written yet! Now, I just don't see happening! God, why did I start something that I no longer have the drive to finish!?! I must have been pretty smucking naive to actually think I could produce a good product!!!

Maybe you've just been working on it too long. I have several (no I will not reveal the number) manuscripts I've been working on forever that aren't even half finished. The problem is likely the story. If it's not coming relatively easy, perhaps you're telling it from the wrong POV, the wrong character or maybe there's something you could change in the plot that would fire it up again.

OR

Maybe you should outline something new. Set that one aside for a bit. You'd be surprised how fast you regain interest in a stalled story when you get into a new one.

I read a little over 100 books in 2010 so I have the same goal for 2011, although maybe I should cut back to focus on writing, who knows.

As for writing, I just want to finish A rough draft. That's all. Just ONE. Hopefully, I'll be able to...my work ethic is atrocious so we'll see :P

Dustin, Renee's right. My first novel, I didn't know what I was doing either. Naive? Yes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. If I knew what I was getting into, I never would have started.

After a year and a half on one project, I started studying writing books and practicing the craft using short stories and flash fiction while working on yet another novel. Over three years later, I look back and think how far I've come. Then I look at how far I need to go and know I can get there simply because of the road I've already traveled.

Don't give up on writing just because you're having problems with one manuscript. All of Renee's advice are possibile solutions. Just keep going.

You too, Kyle.

Dustin,

If you don't have the drive to finish your first novel, it might be that you have outgrown that story and that you are ready to write a story that is richer, deeper, and more meaningful to you now.

They're right. Sometimes if I get stuck on a story, I walk away from it a bit.

Writing takes discipline, but it also requires that you give yourself a break every so often.

Good luck!

I think writing depletes your soul because in a lot of ways you are pouring yourself out. All artists have to replenish in order to continue the process.

I'm hoping to get some editing done on two books and submit them. And I have a PILE 'O BOOKS that desperately need read!!! We'll pray it doesn't take me until December to get to everything!!!

I can't just set the project aside....it means too much to me to go unfinished..

Then dust yourself off, look at what you've done so far. Have you written an outline? If not, do it now. Seriously. You might discover the problem right away, you might not. It will get you back on track. Examine your characters, make sure the right one is telling the story. Sometimes inspiration peters out because we aren't relating to the character. If the writer can't relate, neither can the reader.

If you've done all of that, just read through it. That works for me. I usually make it a few chapters before the inspiration ignites.

I don't really believe in outlines...

Hmmm...and I don't believe in lost inspiration or writer's block. I've never experienced the latter and push forward to overcome the former. :P

So why don't you believe in outlines? I mean, you're allowed not to; I'm just curious.

Funny, Dustin and I are about the same when it comes to outlines. I've talked ad nauseoum (sp?) about it, and I'd be interested in why Dustin doesn't believe in them.

I think it puts a limit on the story...


I haven't felt particularly enthusiastic about reading, either....

You don't like outlines either, Sonia? Why? Have you tried one? I resisted with quite a vengeance but once I tried it, I went from a single manuscript to seven. In under two years. Three are completely finished, edited, ready to go.

The thing with outlines is they don't have to be a huge, detailed document that takes weeks to compile. A synopsis, plot elements listed in point form. A paragraph, whatever summarized the gist of your story. It makes you look at it differently and see the direction you're going compared to the direction you want to take.

But as Rita said, if you don't like them, that's fine. Not every method is going to work for everyone. But if you're stalled and nothing else is working, worrying about it but doing nothing won't help.

Dustin,

It's good to hear that your novel project still means a lot to you. Yet, you don t feel the drive to finish it. Are you stuck in a plot problem? Sometimes more needs to happen or you need to raise the stakes.

Or is it the lack of energy so many people feel this time of year, sometimes called the post-holiday blues or the dark days of winter?

My goal for 2011 is to finish my unfinished writing projects.

Renee wrote: "You don't like outlines either, Sonia? Why? Have you tried one? I resisted with quite a vengeance but once I tried it, I went from a single manuscript to seven. In under two years. Three are comple..."

Not particularly. I had an outline for The Great Man when I first started writing, but the story had ideas of its own. It got to a point where the story and the outline were too disparate. I tried really hard to bring the story back on board. It was a six month stalemate - me vs. story and it was so frustrating.

Then I finally gave up and just let the story do what it wanted. Three months later I had 4 books. For me, at least, all I need to write is the protagonist and the ending. The story takes care of itself, really. I write the ending, then let the characters get there on their own.

This method drives a friend of mine absolutely insane - a frothing rage - in which he tells me that I'm doing it all wrong. An outline must be written for a story to be any good.

I still write books without an outline (just the protagonist/s and the ending). So far I have seven manuscripts (well, six novels each over 100,000 words and a short story anthology) all in various stages of editing, with two more on the way.

Long story short, my experience with outlines left me very, very frustrated, and I've found it much easier to write by letting the characters speak to me, rather than dictating to my characters.

The outline is only supposed to be there if you get stuck. I write the outline and rarely look at it again. It helps me to get the story straight in my head. There are many points left undecided in most cases. I just use the outline to 'see' how I'll plot the story and after that, I look if I start to wander or lose interest.

You outline protagonist and ending? Do I understand that the way you intended? If so, that my dear, is an outline. It's your outline. You have a unique way of doing it, but it works for you and that's all that matters in the end.

The reason I suggested an outline for Dustin is because he's saying he's stalled and doesn't want to abandon the story. When what you're doing isn't working, it's time to open your mind to another method. If you can't do that, then odds are you'll remain stagnant.

Oh, I'm not disagreeing with you about trying an outline if you find yourself stuck.

I suppose my way is a very, very, very sparse outline, but the truth is, I don't 'outline' per se. I write (in the manuscript) the introduction to the protagonist, and then, usually, the ending of their tale. Both sort of just 'pop' into my head fully formed. The rest is gravy, and the book sort of fills itself out.

I guess rather than say outline, perhaps plotting or planning is more appropriate. When I outline, it's basically vomit. The story pours out and I just write it as fast as it comes. Details, dialogue, etc. are in there randomly, and sometimes I'll even write a full scene. So essentially, it's a rough draft. I fill in the juicy bits when I 'write'.

Ironically, I almost never have an ending and if I do, it's rarely the same as what I originally write in the outline.

Oh, and my frothing friend insists on plotting out most of the details.

Haha. I never insist that any writer do anything. That's a very arrogant attitude. If not outlining works for you, that's great. But I do have an issue with people who refuse to try something and say that it doesn't work for them. If you haven't tried it, you can't know.

I've tried 'pantsing', and it doesn't work well for me. I'd never say it won't work for someone else. I do it for short stories, and sometimes for a couple of chapters of a novel, but before I finish the full manuscript, I outline it at some point. For me it's the difference between 6 rounds of editing and 10.

Yes. He did irritate me.

I agree, one must experiment to know which works for them. People are different, and the stories they write are different. Why shouldn't their processes be different?

I've been doing some co-authoring, and that requires a lot of pre-work. Forced to outline, I found how much I loved it. My first 2 books were pantsed. My 3rd was plotted but not so carefully. Now I'm working on my 4th (other than the joing project), and the process has been much easier over all with a few notes about each scene.

I have another idea for a book but its a thriller and I'd have to do some research on serial killers (who are interesting in a way so that probably wouldn't be TOO bad) and I wouldn't be doing fantasy on some level for the first time ever. So...I'm really hesitant on starting or trying to write it.

As for my (extremely) incomplete story, I KNOW it will sell. I'm not saying that because I write amazingly (I don't...oh my goodness my grammar is like Satan incarnate) or anything but it fits into what is "hot" and "trending" right now. It's also kind of a new type of thing, so I'm confident it would sell if I ever actually finished it and got it edited and what not. The only thing is I think by looking at it from "I need this story written because it will sell and its marketable..." I lost the muse. If that makes any sense.

Oh and I didn't outline but I'm getting some help on that ;)

My goals centre on the trilogies I already have in-work, a couple of new projects (like Silver Flight) and of course the contracted work I'm obligated to deliver.

In addition, I'll be spending a fair amount of time on set and location shoots.

S.M. wrote: "Renee wrote: "You don't like outlines either, Sonia? Why? Have you tried one? I resisted with quite a vengeance but once I tried it, I went from a single manuscript to seven. In under two years. Th..."

Hi, S.M! I really appreciate what you said about "letting the characters speak to you, and not dictating to them."

Dustin wrote: "S.M. wrote: "Renee wrote: "You don't like outlines either, Sonia? Why? Have you tried one? I resisted with quite a vengeance but once I tried it, I went from a single manuscript to seven. In under ..."

That's really the way I see it, to be honest. I have a story (which I've done to death) about a six month argument with a character I was particularly fond of.

He had his mind set on what was most certainly a suicide mission. I didn't want him to die, so I spent six months of frustration trying to figure a way around the death (it was, incidentally, the same frustrating deviation from the outline) without killing him off.

The story wouldn't move until the character got his way.

I cried for three full weeks after he died.

My poor mother was absolutely bamboozled!

I guess I'm too logical. I believe we feel the characters and 'become' the characters as we write, but I don't believe that they control anything or can 'tell us' what to do. They aren't real. I know they seem so in our minds, but the fact is they're in our minds. I am the writer, and I am making the decisions. Whatever happens within the story, good or bad, is based on my choices, not the characters. YOu'll never hear me saying that the characters aren't cooperating with me or that they decided the story needed to go in a different direction OR that so and so just took over the whole thing.

I take the credit for making such decisions, or I take the blame; whichever is appropriate.

Renee wrote: "I guess I'm too logical. I believe we feel the characters and 'become' the characters as we write, but I don't believe that they control anything or can 'tell us' what to do. They aren't real. I kn..."

My mother is the exact same way. When I called her in tears about my character, she laughed at me and said, 'Well change it! You're the author!'

'I caaaaan't!" I wailed down the phone.

My mum found it very amusing indeed.

Logically speaking, it's a matter of the subconscious vs. the conscious. When the characters take over, it is likely when your subconscious mind becomes the writer.

But I've had characters who have done what you've said. I had one that I planned to be an honor-bound, go-get-em kind of guy. Instead he got really wishy-washy and I couldn't stand him. No matter how I edited him, I coudn't get rid of his whiny voice.

I agree with that assessment, Rita. I have had weird trance-like experiences where I spend all night writing (literally until dawn) with no recollection of what I've written. I've had to go back later to read it over and find out what was happening with the story.

I must say I've never been foolish enough to believe my characters are real, but it certainly feels that way sometimes. I always say (particularly of The Great Man series) that it's not my story, it's my characters'.

A really great piece of advice I remember James Marsden (author of Tomorrow When the War Began) told my class when he came to speak at my school: "If ever you find yourself stuck, walk away from your story for a few days. When you come back, you'll find your characters have found their way through."

I have found that it's almost invariably true (for me).

One of my goals is to watch more of JAMES MARSDEN in movies! Ha!

Seriously, I have already started on one: the dreaded Twitter. Yes, I'm making myself do it every day. Lots of agents on there.

Learn to incorporate tension scenes into my WIP. A huge tendency to race through to get the story down is not good.

Rita wrote: "What are your goals in 2011? Writing goals? Personal goals? Reading goals?

Me--I have a novel to finish and two more to edit, and I'm posting my novel Resurrection to the Amazon Breakthrough Nov..."

You're doing the Amazon contest? Goodluck! I was planning to do it too but I won't have time to properly finish a good enough novel before then.

But I plan to finish at least one of the novels I've been working on this year

A really great piece of advice I remember James Marsden (author of Tomorrow When the War Began) told my class when he came to speak at my school: "If ever you find yourself stuck, walk away from your story for a few days. When you come back, you'll find your characters have found their way through."


WOW, what an amazing quote, S.M.! And it is SO TRUE!

It has always worked for me. Rita is probably right, it's some subconscious working of the author's mind, but it's a trick the works ... for me at least. I've learnt to trust my characters.

Oh, definitely, S.M.! One must trust their characters, IMO!!

I want to read at least 30 books this year. The fact that I was only shy two last year irked me a little. I do have a goal to read at least one book a month this year though. I finished two last month; so far so good. On the subject of school, I'd like to have finished three more classes and start a fourth by the end of the year (hopefully getting A's in all of them).

As for writing goals, I want to have this last year's NaNo novel, Overrun, edited at least once. And I'm hoping to have 2009's NaNo novel edited for a fourth time this year. Of course, this time is going to be a little different than the last few times. I want to write at least one short story a month this year, even during NaNoWriMo season. Speaking of which, I'm hoping to complete my first trilogy this November! I'm hoping to start looking for agents this year but we'll see what happens.

Ace, that's amazing! Are we allowed to know with whom you signed the contract. A HUGE congrats are in order!

Congrats, Ace! That's awesom0e about your novel!!

Congratulations on the book signing!

That's twelve shades of awesome! Congrats!

Congrats, Ace!! :)

Congrats, Ace! That's awesome! :)