Monday, August 27, 2012

Musing About My Long Term Plans


My muse is probably going to be twiddling her thumbs in boredom this week as I embark on the revision process for some of my stories.  I still have a couple more stories for Prices Paid that are in the writing stage, but everything else is ready for revision.  Don't ask me why, but I'm itching to get started on the revisions for a couple of them.  It's probably best to go where the inspiration is. If I hit a dead end on the revisions, then I can return to writing drafts for the stories that still don't have a completed 1st draft.

Pleiades:  Who wants to do revisions?  You're crazy!  New ideas are the only exciting ones.  Revisions are something you have to do, not something you should want to do.

Me:  Normally the process of revising a story isn't something that I look forward to, but I have some ideas that have gotten me excited about it.  Just because I'm editing and expanding something that's already been written doesn't mean it can't involve fresh new ideas.  If all I was doing was correcting punctuation and grammar, I don't think I would be nearly as anxious to start.

Pleiades:  I just want something really new!  There are so many stories to write! I get impatient waiting around for you to rewrite a story for what seems like the 80th time!

Me:  You're exaggerating.

Pleiades:  I said it seems like that, not that you actually rewrite things that many times.  Geez, it seems like you never listen to me!

Me:  Hmmm.  (Words laced with sarcasm.)  I wonder why that is.

Anyway, Pleiades does have a point.  It seems like I have too many ideas in my head at any given time.  It can make it difficult to focus on my current projects, but I sat down and wrote out a timeline for what I want to write and when.  I also wrote out a road map of my current WIP and came up with a reasonable timeline.  I should be able to complete and finish most of the edits for Prices Paid in about six weeks.  Then I'll work on everything else I need to do to self-publish this book.  Given everything I have done and have yet to do, I feel confident I should be able to self-publish it sometime in November.  I'll let you all know when I have a specific date picked out.

The rest of my writing plan, which includes finishing and editing another book I have in progress and revising three others I have already written, covers the next 5 years.  I've heard goal oriented people say you need to have a 5 year plan.  Well, I have one.  I can't promise that I'll adhere to it to the letter, but writing it out on paper has given me direction and a renewed sense of optimism. Right now, I feel like I can do anything.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Pleiades:  Only if you listen to me!

These next few years are certainly going to be interesting.

5 comments:

  1. Go you!!! That is awesome!! I certainly wish I could be a bit more goal orientated. Right now, I sort of feel like I'm drifting aimlessly. Oh wait! That just reminded me of something!! Gotta go! Thanks!!

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  2. Do or do not. There is no try. :)

    Tell Pleiades that if she doesn't shut up about it you'll do nothing but edit for the next month!

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  3. Way to go! 5 year plan that's great. Hope all the editing goes well.

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  4. Damn, I have a hard enough time putting together a five-day plan...

    But great luck with all the revisions, and I wish you tremendous success in making your five-year plan!

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  5. You go, girl! And Pleiades can wait! Obviously if the inspiration is driving you toward revisions, then she may be unwilling to admit that's where she wants you to go, too! ;)

    I know what you mean, too, about having so many ideas it would likely take forever to get them out. I don't think I'll ever get all my artistic ideas on paper! I'd never have time for anything else!

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