Think about your future. Where do you want to be with your writing career six months from now? One year? How about two years?
Now is the time to think about or re-assess your writing goals to build the writing career you want for your future.
So what are you waiting for?
Get your writer’s notebook out and list your top 5 writing goals.
Now break those goals down. What steps must you take to achieve them?
Here’s a sneak peek at mine:
01. Submit 1 article per month for publication.
To do this I must first write down which magazines I plan on submitting to. I will limit myself to 4 so I don’t overwhelm myself. Then I will head to the library and check out about 6 back issues from each magazine to study. I will STUDY, not just read, those magazines from front to back.
Next, I will jot down any article/story ideas I have for each of them and begin sketching outlines.
02. Finish the first 4 chapters of the historical fiction book I am working on within the next 2 months.
I recently discovered how much fun writing historical fiction is. I’m obsessed with history and it’s great to be able to manipulate it to create a story for kids to not only enjoy, but learn from. I also recently discovered the enormous amount of research that is necessary to create realistic and accurate historical fiction.
So for this goal, I will continue researching everything from the type of dress people wore during that time period, games the children played, technology used (or not used) during that time, etc.
To achieve this goal I must have a plan: Research by day and write by night. If I can write a chapter a week for a month, I will have an entire month to polish them to perfection.
03. Submit those chapters to my top literary agency choices within the next 4 months.
I am now looking at about six different agencies that accept the type of book I am currently working on. My copy of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market has helped tremendously with this research.
Part of that research includes checking out the agents website and the authors they currently represent. I think it is extremely important to submit to agencies you feel “at home” with.
Check the AAR’s (The Association of Author’s Representatives) website to search their database of agents. The AAR requires its members to meet a professional list of standards and ethics.
AgentQuery is also a fantastic site loaded with great information and tips!
Be sure to read each agencies guidelines to determine which agencies prefer to read a portion of your manuscript and which ones prefer queries. (Not sure what a query is? Check back next week!)
Beware of scam agencies!! There are lots of legit sites out there that help new writers identify scam agents. Here are a few for you to browse through:
The best way to avoid being scammed is to find the agency listed in a reputable place such as the Writer’s Market books or the AAR website.
Hopefully you get the idea and already have your goals in mind. Now get them down on paper and posted where you can see them everyday! If you work hard I have no doubt you will see your name in print by this time next year!
Need help figuring out what to do next to achieve one of your goals? Leave a comment and I’ll do my best to find the answer for you!
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I’m very excited to learn how to write a query. I’ve written numerous pieces but never submitted anything because I always get stuck at the query part…
Thanks again! I loooove this new writing column!
Jill,
Great! I’m glad you’re interested in learning how to write a smashing query! If it’s any help, I was afraid of them until I wrote my first few as well.
I’m also glad you are enjoying the new Writing channel! Stay tuned for more great things to come!
I am new to this site and was inspired by your post. I am rather late in reading and commenting, but I am glad I found it. I intend to make 2010 the year I really focus on my writing. I am a lawyer and a mom of many so I put it on the backburner last year. My husband, also an attorney has agreed to take on the majority of the cases needed for our income and allow me to focus primarily on my writing. My yougest is 8 and has startd speending more time with friends and does not require constant supervision at home so I will hopefully have more free time. I like your idea of setting goals; it has forced me to really define the big and the smaller pictures.
As I am nearing the end of the second revision of my novel I realize that it is time to start learning more about agents and queary letters so your links were helpful. When I first began this book I always skipped over material on agents, publishers etc., becasue the completion of the book seemed to be only a distant dream. Thanks for the advice.
Melissa Sugar