While I have already gloriously inflected upon you my overachieving manageable goals for 2016 — today is all about my writing goals. Which are exciting and horrendous all at once. I mean, I could make calm manageable goals — but what’s sanity anyway? What’s relaxing? Ha.
“Isn’t it a bit late to be talking about yearly goals, Cait?” you say. To which I nod politely and then disregard, because when did I ever do things when I was supposed to??? NEVER.*
Time to spill about my upcoming writing projects. AVAST YE!**
* Actually there was this one time I was supposed to bake a cake and I did that without any complaints or procrastination and it was a downright delicious cake I might add. Orange cake? Made with the whole orange — skin and flesh and all? Ever heard of it? No? Then you’re not living.
** Also there is no reason to say “avast ye”. Really, what does it even mean? It’s just fun to say and FYI I wanted to be a pirate when I was a child. I’m very bad at giving up childhood aspirations.
I’m linking up with my own co-hosted link up: Beautiful People. I run this with Sky and you can get ALL THE QUESTIONS for this month here. You can also get all the details and rules here too. You can also go over here and do the polka and no one will judge.
It’s basically a list of questions to help writers talk about their characters or project and January’s theme is Writing Goals. It’s open all month! JOIN US!
1. WHAT WERE YOUR WRITING ACHIEVEMENTS LAST YEAR?
It’s very important to take note of one’s achievements when one is an artist. Because being an artist has drawbacks — you know, little things like crippling self-doubt and mutilating inner editors. Good times. SO! Always remember to list your achievements, folks.
- I ferociously edited one book and halfheartedly edited another — so combining these facts equals I AM A GOOD EDITOR! Hahaha ha ha…ha…ha. Ahem.
- I also wrote 3 books. All of which (miraculously) I love.
- I got hired for freelance blogging for an Australian book retailer. (!!)
- I did Mysterious Book Related Things with my agent, which I’ll call an achievement because I managed to write sensible emails and no one in the professional world yet knows I’m a complete pineapple.
- Go team!
2. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TOP PRIORITY WRITING PROJECT FOR THIS YEAR?
I CAN’T. Isn’t that horrible? I want to tell you all the things. But my toppest of top priority is a secret. (The fact that I still use words like “toppest” probably scares you about my future writing career. But don’t fear! Actually…fear. Be wise. Be safe. Fear.) But here are some projects I would LIKE to get to because I’m mildly in love with them.
- Jungle Book x The Secret Garden retelling: This book gives me life. It’s actually about death??? But let’s not dwell on that. The ENTIRE PLOT (!!) is all mildewing in my brain ready for typing. All that’s missing is character names because they are the bane of my fruity existence. Briefly it is about: the Evil Overlord has been defeated and his teenage son must destroy (or release) the legacy of dark magic locked in the garden. Except his childhood sweetheart has been trapped in the garden too. Go see my freaktastic pinterest storyboard. I tentatively plan to use Hindu/Indian x British culture.
- The Atlas Girl: Another contemporary?!? AGH, CAIT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Despite this book severely lacking dragons, it is about a girl who is obsessed with drawing maps and a boy who used to be a surfer but after an accident, he now has no legs. The will both be bitter little wasabi munchkins. Angry people are so much fun to write. Also it has a pinterest storyboard, because of course.
- Moriarty: Because I’ve always wanted to write a Sherlock Holmes retelling — AND NOW I HAVE ONE!! HOLD ME, BOB, IT’S GOING TO BE GRAND. My twist is that Moriarty/Watson are the same character. Best friend and nemesis. Also Sherlock is a girl. Also it’s set in Paris (!!) because I’m obsessed with Parisian cuisine (!!) not that I’ve had any (??) but that doesn’t stop me obsessing (!!). It is about “accident” assassins, who make murder look like accidents. Isn’t that sufficiently terrifying? I KNOW. Pinterest! Storyboard! Of course!
Humans, I already have three books to write and it’s only January. And when I say “to write” I literally mean I have the entire plots (beginning, middle, ending) and help me. WHAT IF I CREATE 3 WONDERFUL BOOK IDEAS EVERY MONTH???? HOW WILL I EVEN???
3. LIST 5 AREAS YOU’D LIKE TO WORK HARDEST TO IMPROVE THIS YEAR.
- Editing. Actually…you know? Doing it. Instead of complaining it needs to be done. (Apparently putting it off doesn’t lend it to do itself. Rude, right?)
- Write less and focusing on polishing and reworking the manuscripts I already have. (If you read the answer to question #2 wherein I listed the books I want to write…then you are laughing right now. Me too.)
- Stop being afraid of writing diversity! Research doesn’t always cut it when you’re trying to faceplant into another culture. Sometimes if you don’t live it, readers can tell? BUT ENOUGH FEAR! MORE TRYING!
- Write topics that are personal to me. This means more than cake and dragons. Although those are my favourite topics. But if you write deeply, it reads deeply. I AM MORE THAN CAKE CRUMBS, FOLKS.
- Give my dog typing lessons. His words-per-minute is atrocious.
4. ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN ANY WRITING CHALLENGES?
NaNoWriMo in November is a given. I’ve done it two years in a row and went from my record of 7 days to 4. Next year will be 2 days, obviously, and the year after I’ll blink at my computer and it’ll be done.
Other than that? I work alooooooooone.
ESSENTIALLY ME.
5. WHAT’S YOUR CRITIQUE PARTNER/BETA READER SITUATION LIKE AND DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THIS YEAR?
I have a fabulous critique partner called Emily, but my emails to her usually start off with “HELP HELP I’M DYING” and not her name. But I assure you her name is Emily. I manage to wrangle many betas out of you blogglings when I need them. (Of which I appreciate exactly a million percent!) I also intend to keep posting on Wattpad, so feedback from ANYONE can happen there.
6. DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO READ ANY WRITER-RELATED BOOKS THIS YEAR? OR ARE THERE SPECIFIC BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ FOR RESEARCH?
I actually never read writer-books. They terrify me. If I start to think about what I’m doing — I stop being able to do it. I KNOW IT’S ODD. (But I have done writing courses in my youth, so don’t think I’m purely winging this. Just, like, 50% winging it.)
As for research? I wish to devour:
- (Reread) Everything by Maggie Stiefvater so I can absorb her writing powers that way.
- Any YA book about Indian culture I can find.
- Also more YA books about deafness or Deaf Culture would be great.
- Read ALL the original Sherlock Holmes books. (I’ve only read A Study In Scarlet.)
- Reread The Secret Garden and the Jungle Book. Or who are we kidding? Watch the movies. Nap. Eat popcorn. Call it research.
7. PICK ONE CHARACTER YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW BETTER, AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ACHIEVE THIS?
I need to become better at writing characters in general. My #1 way I’m going to achieve this is…to do nothing and hope really really really hard.
HA! I JOKE! (I totally don’t.) I’m actually going to work on making their voices different and making them more dimensional. I tend to skimp on details (like who bites their thumbnails and who has green eyes) because I don’t remember stuff. It saves me fretting later. BUT. I now own Scrivener and can write myself copious notes and have no excuse whatsoever. I got this.
8. DO YOU PLAN TO EDIT OR QUERY, AND WHAT’S YOUR PLAN OF ATTACK?
I plan to edit WITH AN AXE and laugh maliciously at the rising moon while running around the yard screaming the theme song to Batman. This is a solid, workable plan. Do not doubt me.
9. TONI MORRISON ONCE SAID, “IF THERE’S A BOOK THAT YOU WANT TO READ, BUT IT HASN’T BEEN WRITTEN YET, THEN YOU MUST WRITE IT.” WHAT ARE THE BOOKS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF, AND WHAT “HOLES” DO YOU THINK NEED FILLING IN THE LITERARY WORLD?
This is such an excellent question that I’m 99% sure whoever thinks them up is a genius. (Oh wait, that would be me. Mwahhaha.) I could write an entire post on it…and maybe one day I will? But for now, I have (another) brief list. Don’t even act like your sick of my lists. MY LISTS ARE GRAND.
- More books about disabilities. There are many YA books about mental illness that I see coming out, but not so many about disabilities and this is sad. Particularly not books were the narrator has the disability.
- More YA books set in other countries. Like I understand why this is hard. It’s hard to write Mongolia if you’ve only lived in Australia. BUT. I really really long for it. For me, it’s a very fun and easy and insect-free way to travel the world.
- More dragon books. I have no idea why dragon books aren’t a big thing??? There are SO MANY OPTIONS! Shape-shifting dragons! Huge dragons! Pocket-sized dragons! Talking dragons! Evil dragons! Mythological dragons! I have written one dragon book, but it’s the first of (I foresee) many.
- More books with cake in them. Honestly, this breaks my heart but: there are books out there with no cake in them. I don’t really know how such books exist?? I’m sure it’s just an editing oversight. BUT. I want to see this fixed. Immediately. I’m doing my bit — ARE YOU???
10. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE ACHIEVED BY THE END OF 2016?
- EVERYTHING I WRITE BE PURE GENIUS (????) … tell me this is a good reasonable goal.
- A BOOK DEAL (!!!)
- Better slaves, because let’s face it — my clones are dilapidated mushrooms and haven’t been pulling their weight at all lately. My dragon secretaries are horrible at typing and prone to random BOUTS OF ALL CAPS. My dog doesn’t bring me sandwiches. It’s so hard to get good help.
- To have edited 2 books and written 2 books.
- To have a dragon in my pocket named Betram.
- To panic less over expectations (my own and others) and write from a good place. I was not in a Good Writing Place for over 6 months last year and it really pained my soul. But I am now! And I want to STAY HERE.
- To kill less characters.
- I mean, let’s not go overboard with that one. Still kill some. But the last book I wrote lost 70% of the cast…so #awkward Maybe consider a higher than 30% survival rate? Maybe?
- And to not have wimped out on editing. I really want to GO for this, attempt rewrites and edits and whimper less and just do it.
- I’m joking. I’ll whimper.
- I’ll probably howl.
- To ensure my entire army has pledged to buy my book the moment it’s announced, ergo I will be famous and bestselling within 24 hours.
- What could go wrong?
as always, my goals are low and achievable (chokes) so WHAT ARE YOUR WRITING GOALS OF 2016?!? give me a brief overview in the comments?! puh-lease. is anyone else focusing on editing this year? and are you (mentally) in a good writing place…or are you working on that?
*cough* Hey Cait, if you need any help with research or details for a book you’re writing about India I live in India and take an Indian history class and at the very least have some book reccommendations and you know where to find me *cough* I so with you on editing. I mean, intellectually, I know that it needs to be done but time ! and motivation! I also have many short story ideas creeping around my head and maybe a novel but I really really really don’t want to be over committed and stressed, because there are big school things like exams and monthlong projects and internships with bat researchers etc. etc. (okay I’m basically overcommitted already) (but I’m overcommitted with cool stuff) (and helping you with research for a novel involving India would be awesome) Have a fabulous year of delighted writing, Cait! *toasts*
AFJDKLASFD YESSS YES!! I WILL 100% TAKE YOU UP ON THE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE!! *puppy dog eyes* I will need to totally just read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on so I don’t mangle this too badly. 😂 And any other recommendations. ANYTHING = I WOULD LOVE ADVICE, SHANTI. 😀
Ooh, short stories?!? I admire anyone who writes short stories because I literally can’t comprehend how to do it. SO GO YOU. YOU WONDERFUL BEAN. But yes yes be wise and don’t stress yourself out too much. *nods sagely* YOU GOT THIS.
Sorry Cait, I took waaay too long getting back to you on this one. If you want to read some fiction with a lot of Indian mythology, and history, then The Immortals of Meluha might be good– very epic, and lots of gods and godesses. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7913305-the-immortals-of-meluha?ac=1&from_search=1 It isn’t that well written though. If you want to know some hardcore Indian History, I read this recently, but it is pretty scholarly and dry, plus really long, but you will get a good overview of Indian History. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174501.India?ac=1&from_search=1 . I’m basically terrible, and I haven’t read myth books for years, but Amar Chita Katha is awesome, but probably hard to get in australia. http://www.amarchitrakatha.com/in/amar-chitra-katha/epics-mythology They’re mythology well adapted to picture book form. As for location, I wonder if you’ve thought about setting your book in the NOrth East of India– it has lots of jungle, tribal history, bio diversity (good for gardens!) and is culturally quite separate from mainland India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_India . I hope this gives you some ideas, though I have no idea about how available the books will be outside India. Just let me know if you want to know more. Also, I think it’s really cool how you’re writing a secret garden retelling set in India, seeing as the secret Garden actually begins in India. There’s all sort of british raj things you can weave in there. 🙂
EEEP THANK YOU FOR THIS. <3 It is monstrously helpful. And omg that is exactly why I want to set it in India!! I want that British East India Trading company vibe too a bit? (Like Pirates of the Caribbean.) But like all set in India instead of the English Moors. AFJDSLAKFD I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS. And just hope I will do it justice. Anyway, I’ll look all these up and maybe I can persuade my library to buy some?!
Oh, and if you want your history more readable, then look for titles by Patrick French and William Darymple (I’ve seen both of them speak!), which are great travel writing+ history.
AHHHHH THAT SHERLOCK RETELLING SOUNDS SOOOO GOOOD. Moriarty/Watson is absolutely GENIUS, holy cow.
Yes! Dragons! I love dragons. I love making sassy dragons and cruel dragons and dragons that befriend humans and dragons that eat humans solely out of boredom and would in fact not be doing it if they had anything else to do. I like cute, fat, smol dragons and the serpent-like dragons of China. I like describing the way the sun glitters off their scales and their wings twitch when they are thinking hard. Dragons are the best.
I would like to get cracking on my fantasy series this year – in fact, I already am. I’ve been sorting out what characters to include and when (I have waaaaay too many to introduce them all at the beginning, or even in the first book) and how the plot lines will interweave and play out. Although he probably won’t appear for a while, there is a dragon named Martrim I want to use. He is a red-scaled dragon with an irritable wife and mischievous children and is quite hapless most of the time. He is also friendly to humans.
I would also like to get a good start on a contemporary novel that’s tentatively titled What We Learn From Strangers in Parisian Cafes. It basically includes steampunk and espionage and a whole lot of New Orleans, and I’m also hoping to include a scene set in City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. I went there last summer and it was absolutely beautiful.
– Ellie
http://ontheothersideofrealitynew.blogspot.com
WHY THANK YOU. *flips hair like a genius* I ACCEPT THAT. 😂 hehe.
Ohmigosh, dragons just need to be everywhere in all their scaly glory. There’s like SO MANY OPTIONS for them. I get befuddled every time I read an urban fantasy and it uses EVERY mythology except dragons. I mean…why!?!! Whyyyyyy. Hmph. Also I love the name Matrim for a dragon. You are clearly writing something of epically wonderful proportions here.
ALSO STEAMPUNK ESPIONAGE?!?! OMG, ELLIE. CAN I JUST…GAH. I AM JUST LOVING THE SOUND OF YOUR BOOKS.
I would like to finish off and do my first round of editing for the book I started during NaNoWriMo. I’d also like to write some short stories – I wrote one yesterday as a bit of a break from revision. I started with a prompt and it all just came out. I’m in two minds about whether or not to share it on my blog.
Side question – did you paint that ridiculous beautiful header image?
Those sound like excellent plans, Rosie. GO YOU!! Short stories sound exciting too…although hard?! Like I literally cannot fathom how to write a short story! SO I AM ADMIRING YOU HERE. hehe.
(Oh and I signed up to a newsletter which was giving out freebie graphics!!)
Accident assassins are BRILLIANT! And I feel like a very bad pretty pineapple minion because I haven’t been back to Paper Cut since I read two of the new chapters a while ago. I think maybe I will try to set Sunday afternoons aside to read other writers “stuff” after I finish my The Sunday Post rounds. I know you do not want to add to your TBR, but… there is YA fantasy book about a boy in a wheelchair. The author wrote it so his wheelchair bound son could read about a hero in a wheelchair. I loved it; it’s called Napoleon Xylophone. There is also a sequel, and I have it, but I haven’t read it yet, titled Xyz. Great writing goals, Cait! I cannot wait until the “super secret” isn’t secret anymore. I also agree about side-eyeing the writing books. I had three different writing professors at university and all three had different ideas about how to write. Hehe. 🙂
Omg that is so so okay, Linda!! DO NOT WORRY. 😂 I’ve started uploading twice on a weekend? But I’ve nearly caught up to where I’ve edited up to and I don’t have time to edit right now SO YEAH. It’ll probably slow down really soon.
And omg my TBR always welcomes new friends. I’m looking this one up for sure! THANKYOU.
Yay, good for you for keeping your pineapple identity from professional world, Cait 😀
And as an avid reader, I am telling you that synopsis for “Jungle Book x The Secret Garden retelling” and “The Atlas Girl” are awesome! I love their Pinterest boards as well 🙂
Also, I agree about need of more books were the narrator has the disability!
It is an amazing feat *collapses dramatically* I seriously need cake JUST for my efforts.
AFJDLASFD THANK YOU, LUCIA. <3 That totally makes my day. I'm ridiculously excited for them (HARD! TO! TELL! I! KNOW!! EEP!)😂
I’ve made a resolution to not care what anyone else thinks about my writing anymore (well, not completely, but I’m writing what I want) which means I’m back on my rewrite – the one I said would never work. It’s hyperbolic and fluffy and has too much sarcasm (is that a thing?) and a ridiculously happy ending. Oh! And the protagonist has red hair and green eyes. But I like it and…it might work? Maybe? Never know until I try, right?
Obviously, my first drafting is on hold right now…
I’m like pretty extra sure “too much sarcasm” is a phrase that doesn’t exist. *nods sagely* But omg, writing for yourself is a GRAND goal. I LOVE IT. I’m not as 100% free to do that, atm? But I really want to stay true to what I love in books, always. *nods* And I need to stop self-doubting myself. 😂 I have to basically say “Cait, your ideas are good. DO IT.” or else I get into a flap. haha. AHEMMMMM. ANYWAY I LOVE THE IDEA OF HYPERBOLIC + FLUFFY + SARCASM. PLEASE WRITE THIS AND GIVE IT TO ME.
Brilliant post! I’ve been slowly writing a book for years that I thought up in primary school (12 year old me even made a note book full of adorable sketches). I find it so much fun to write a book and unleash your imagination because it’s like reading a book and having no idea how it’ll end because the ending doesn’t exist! I’m a very organised writer like that by not having thought of a solid ending.
If you’re looking for more books set in India then I actually have a YA Fantasy series to suggest to you (providing you haven’t already read it). It’s the Tiger’s Curse series by Colleen Houck (I absolutely adore this series) and there’s lots of interesting tid bits about Indian culture, language, religion, and scary mythological beasts (there is also a large portion of the third book dedicated to various types of dragons JUST SAYING). I think Colleen actually has the books she used for research listed on her Goodreads page . . . I think.
I would also love to see more books focused on deaf culture and disabilities, my mum is a teacher of the deaf so I think it’d be awesome to do. Tricky topic to tackle though.
My dream is to read a fiction book set in Burma, because does that even exist? Who knows. Or, or, or even better, the apocalypse happens and only MADAGASCAR survives, OOOR, after an evil giant sloth destroys the world the remaining survivors have to live in Borneo and use dragons to survive. Or something. I shall tame my imagination now before someone gets hurt.
I just found 12-year-old me’s writing (in little notebooks 😂) this morning while house cleaning. SO ADORABLE AND EMBARRASSING. heeh. And omg so so true!! Writing is like doing anything and everything and I can’t get enough of it. *happy sigh* I usually know my endings thougH?! I’m a bit of a writer control freak.
I have read Tiger’s Curse! I wasn’t the biggest fan of the storyline but looooved the Indian Culture. I should maybe read the rest of them. *nods* I DIDN’T GET TO THE DRAGONS SO THERE IS MY DOWNFALL. I shall check out her Goodreads for those recs, too, omg thank you for this tip!!
OH OH I do agree deafness is a tricky topic. *nods* I’ve been researching it for a year and have a deaf character? But I’m like 99% sure I’M DOING IT ALL WRONG. And I’m terrified about it, tbh. STILL. I’ll find good betas one day and get it sorted!!
OMG I DON’T KNOW BUT I LOVE THE SOUND OF THAT. BURMA. I think the world needs that, seriously. KIRSTIE. WRITE.
Every time I read your posts (or tweets) about reading, I always get so inspired to just write a book. And this year I’m going to do it. It doesn’t have to be good or polished or even finished, I just want one simple idea that I work on and write at least a few chapters on. I want to work on it RIGHT NOW, but I have an exam tomorrow, and I should maybe probably do some studying instead…
OMG YAYYY!! That is like the best thing I’ve ever heard. OMG GOOD LUCK!! 😂 And of course! Of course! Your first book just needs to be written, I believe. Editing and polishing comes later!! OMG GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR EXAM?! (I assume you’ve done it by now.) CAKE TO CELEBRATE.
I LOVE THESE IDEAS if you need another critique partner GIVE ME THE BOOKS ALREADY. Oh my god, I am so stoked about all of your ideas. Give me the part of your brain that comes up with them.
OMG I’LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT I PROMISE. *commences happy dances* But I shall keep my brain, because I’m horribly selfish and I don’t share. I just don’t. I mean, if I don’t share my cake, how do you expect me to share my brain? Hmm? *stuffs face with cake*
Your emails make my day. Truly.
Also Betram is an excellent name for a dragon.
Also can you please write all of those books so I can read them right now please and thank you (I’ll sit here patiently waiting) (maybe not so patiently)
FINGERS CROSSED FOR YOUR BOOK DEAL AND WORLD DOMINATION PLANS.
WELL I AM SO GLAD. AND VICE VERSA. Because Wanderland, obviously. <3 And I know right?!? Bertram is basically inspired. My firstborn (dragon?) will be named Bertram now. *nods*
I’M WORKING ON IT. But rewriting, remember?! *collapses in a puddle of tears* WHYYYYYY DON’T I HAVE MORE HOURS IN MY DAY.
I WILL BUY YOUR BOOK THE MOMENT IT COMES OUT. I WILL PROBABLY PREORDER AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF COPIES SO I CAN HOARD IT AND MAYBE GIVE A FEW COPIES TO FRIENDS OR SOMETHING.
Shapeshifting dragons for the win. I’ve been working on a trilogy with shape shifting dragons for like, five years.
I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE IN A GOOD WRITING PLACE. I actually haven’t been in a hugely spectacular editing place for the last eight months or so, and I’m really trying to break myself out of that rut. I think it’s because my brain is a little discouraged. Agents have my full manuscript and they’ve held onto it forever and *sad face* THEY PROBABLY HATE IT, CAIT, THAT’S PROBABLY WHY.
I would advise you to edit and ignore your shiny new ideas, but who am I kidding? They’re brilliant ideas and now I’m dying to read all the things. *sobs*
I WILL BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THAT WILL MAKE MY LIFE. NO JOKE. IT WILL. *NODS* I will probably force everyone in my family to do the same…and then I’ll forbid them from reading it because omg, how does one handle their family reading their writing? *squawks and runs in scared circles*
Omg. YOU HAVE?!? Clearly that is 5 years spent worthily.
Good writing places are GOOD THINGS. *nods* I really want to stay here so I’m trying to be calm about writing instead of um…running in those panicked circles. 😂 AGH. I think the looking-for-agents part is actually one of the most hardest/depressing parts. Because, it’s not necessarily true, but when I was querying, it HONESTLY felt like my worth was tied up in the rejections. And every time I got one it was like “YOU’RE A FAKE WRITER”. *CRIES* SO ignore all those doubts, Liz. IGNORE THEM. THEY ARE NOT TRUE. YOU GOT THIS.
BTW, I’m trying to ignore the shinies…*claws for air as ideas strangle me*
My main goal for 2016 is getting myself an agent! ^_^ If I achieve that, I will give everybody cake. Also, I need to read all the things you write.
I will personally give you cake! And by “personally”, I mean I’ll send a dragon. BUT STILL THE THOUGHT IS THERE. I’M ROOTING FOR YOU, BEE. If you need any help with query letters or whatnot?!? Let me know!
AWESOME! So when a dragon comes by to deliver cake, I know it’s from you. :3
Also, thanks! I will most certainly do that!
You TOTALLY rocked last year, and I know you’ll rock this one too. 🙂 In other news, I really need to read your book. Pronto! 😉
I really need to write them too. 😂 AWW BUT YOU’RE SO NICE LISA. <3
I respect you so much for talking about your writing in such a public manner. I’m not quite there yet but then I haven’t even finished my poor book’s first draft yet, so there’s that.
I wanted to recommend a book (a series, actually) to you: it’s about dragons and it’s really good (adult) urban fantasy: Nice Dragons finish Last by Rachel Aaron – I’m currently reading book 2 and I like it A LOT + the third book is supposed to come out in 2016.
It’s taken me a while!! I used to be SO SO NERVOUS. hehe
Ooh, I shall look that up then!! My only trouble with adult books, usually, is that I have to pay to library reserve them. But I’ll see if my library has them because I NEED DRAGONS IN MY LIFE. *nods*
You have some awesome goals, Cait! I am particularly excited for your Sherlock retelling. Also, I’m glad you plan to read more of the Sherlock Holmes’ stories; The Hound of the Baskervilles is my favorite.
My writing goals include finishing my current WIP by the end of June (it doesn’t contain any cake or dragons yet, but it does have curse makers and curse breakers) and starting a new writing project in July for Camp NaNo.
Eeeep! YAY FOR US. I’m trying to find them on audio, because I find I concentrate better. Have you ever listened to the free audios on libravox.com? I LURVE IT.
Omg, I have to admit though: DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF CAKE AND DRAGONS. *sighs heavily with a broken heart* But I’ll forgive you because I’m nice. Ooh, July Camp! I keep forgetting about the camps because they mildly terrify me with the whole cabin thingies?! BUT MAYBE I SHOULD JOIN TO. And Moriarty my way through. 😂
I commend you for coming up with an actual plan of action for your writing. When I was your age (back in the day), I had grand plans of being an author and even went to college and got myself a fancy writing degree (and over $50,000 in student loan debt for said fancy writing degree sigh…), and then I never did a darn thing with any of it. I fully blame my husband, and for him wooing me into domestic bliss, which has distracted me for the last 14 years. But maybe some day I’ll dust everything off and actually do something with writing 🙂 I’ve never done NaNoWriMo, that would probably be a good place to start!
Bahahah, “wooing you into domestic bliss” 😂 AS LONG AS YOU’RE HAPPY RIGHT?!? I kind of always died writing under pressure for assignments and things, so I skipped the further education with it. I know. I’m such a wimp. hehe. But maybe you will get back into writing, right?! NANO IS GREAT!! There’s so much community and encouragement. 😀
Darn it. Now I’m debating whether or not I should try to make a personal challenge of including cake in every book I write or edit this year, just because. (I have pie in one book . . . does that count for anything? It’s very yummy pie.)
Your Moriarty story sounds awesome. Very awesome. *nods*
I think there are a lot of dragon books out there already? And maybe you just haven’t found them all yet? But yes, the world can always use another one or two or hundred. 😀 And more books set in other countries would be awesome . . . except in my case it’s more along the lines of “more non-European settings in fantasy books”. ‘Cause, y’know, I don’t read a lot of contemporary/historical.
You should. Honestly, Sarah, there is NO DOUBT in my mind about this. I have so far put cake into EVERY one of my books…except I think it was banana bread in one? And I’m not 100% happy with that because while it’s cake-y it’s still “technically” bread. So I’ll fix it. Ahem. PIE COUNTS THO BECAUSE PIE IS CAKE’S NICE COUSIN.
aHem.
Aw, thank you! XD The Moriarty book should be quite dark and I’M EXCITED FOR IT.
Alas, I too am focusing on editing (aaaand writing). OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?!?!
CRY WITH ME??? I THINK THAT’S THE BEST PLAN WE CAN AIM FOR RIGHT NOW????
For planning characters, have you ever had any luck with profile/bio sheets? NaNo sent one out in an email last year, and I’m using it to plan the characters for my upcoming NaNo project. Even though I can’t answer all the questions for every character, it’s got me thinking about stuff I otherwise might not have (like their family life and what their rooms look like).
P.S. Your Scrivener post reminded me to redeem my NaNo code for the full version, so I have it now! *SQUEEEE*
I actually don’t do very well at planning characters. BUT THIS YEAR I MEAN TO START. So sometimes I do answer a few questions for them? But only ever basic stuff. As soon as I start like getting really deep and finding all their quirks and preferences — I just forget it all. *Cries* even when I write it down. Any tips for that would be helpful. (Okay, okay, I KNOW. Stop writing so much and focus on one project at a time. *dies* 😂)
AFJDLKAFSD YAY FOR SCRIVENER!! Tell me how you get on with it?!??
I don’t write a lot because I don’t get a lot of ideas… I sort of write occasionally. However, I do have two story ideas that have been in my head for years. And a third one that is relatively new but still cool. So my goal is to actually come up with plots for those ideas because anything I write usually ends up being ALL characters backstory and worldbuilding and no actual plot.
Also those story ideas you listed are FAB. I’d happily read any of those! So cool.
Ooh, that sounds like a FABULOUS goal, and achievable right?!? I hope you think of amazing plots! I’M THE OPPOSITE AND OMG IT DRIVES ME CRAZY. I have a zillion plots and no characters.😂
Well. I don’t have many BIG goals, rather small ones. Such as write an X number of short stories, or submit X number of pieces to literary magazines. It started off okay, now it kind of feels like I’m wavering. I think this is because whenever I take a day off, it gets the best of me—usually also when I get involved with a TV show (looking at you Once Upon A Time)—and I struggle to get back into routine. However I’m a lot more confident with my writing; I’ve also started to try freelancing in proofreading/editing, which although it is not my #1 strength, it’s a way to earn a tiny bit of money and hopefully help build on experience, etc. I never would have done that in the past. ALSO, I’m desperate to start writing one of my anthology series. There’s three that I’m trying to choose out of: two women that grew up as assassins and basically stories of their lives; a crime series that follows single investigations (got this idea after becoming obsessed with Sherlock. Seriously, that show is great.); or a woman time-traveller who uses her ability against crime (so that’s basically Doctor Who/Sherlock, AGAIN.)
But, yeah.
That’s the gist.
I rambled a bit then.
P.S. Great post—always a joy to read them.
That is so so awesome you’re more confident with your writing!! I reckon the more we do, the more we know what we want to achieve with our writing, right?!? EITHER WAY THIS IS AWESOME. And the freelance editing sounds AMAZING. I’ve tossed up maybe trying that? But omg, I am so horrible at editing. I read everything backwards as is. *facepalm*
Sherlock is a mountain of inspiration. 😀
THIS COMMENT WAS AMAZING. I LOVED IT.
Remember what I said about volunteering to read all of your books for the rest of time? Yeah, well, THAT OFFER STILL STANDS BECAUSE THEY ALL SOUND AWESOME.
You know about TM&TH already, which is still slowly chugging along, but I want to get first draft finished by April. And there’s also been an idea wiggling in my mind about an AU where pheonixes are real and used for medical research and kept in this really horrible, sterile labs but everyone turns a blind eye because everyone knows someone who has been saved by pheonix tears or blood. I started a Pinterest board for it awhile ago.
OKAY I’LL TAKE YOU UP ON IT, AINE, I SWEAR. BECAUSE I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET MOSTLY. 😂 But afjdsklafd thank you because this comment is like the most ENCOURAGING OF EVER. *hyperventilates quietly in the background*
Ahem.
Also, if you start a pinterest board for a book, it becomes REAL. *nods* And I think your phoenix book sounds SO MEAN and by that I mean awesome and I want it.
I wish I could write faster because I have like three book ideas I want to work on. I still need to do research and figure out the overall arc of the stories though. I really want to get better at keeping up with my personal writing – I just find LIFE and WHATNOT often get in the way. It’s very sad.
Best of luck with your editing though. That’s often the worse part. I do have a beta-reader/writing buddy. Her name is Linda and she’s fantastic and WAY better at writing than me. hah
-Lauren
AGH I HEAR YA! Life has a nasty habit of being all consuming doesn’t it? *heavy sigh* But it’s really hard juggling so many ideas and not being able to write them yet! OH THE SUFFERING OF WE WRITERS.
OMG ORANGE CAKE SOUNDS AMAZING. Also the cover of this post IFNSKDLNFL I WUVV. IT’S LIKE A PURTY WATERCOLOR DEER WITH FLOWERS AND JUST GAH. It’s perfect. ^.^ Okay so I’ve always seen the linkup thing here and I never understood it (because I didn’t take the time to actually read about it haha) but I JUST DID. HEH. And it looks amazingly awesome and as I was reading the questions I was like, “Man I’d like to know Cait’s answers for these…” AND LO AND BEHOLD HERE THEY ARE. Wow I’m feeling very slow this morning hang in there…
DUDE ALL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Not to mention that you continued to rock the blog world just y’know…on the side. pssh. *crowns and cake* HAHAHA SO that Secret Garden x Jungle Book story sounds amazing and it’s funny because when you first tweeted about it I was like, “OOH THIS.” and went to your Pinterest to find the board for it (BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SO WELL SEE) and I couldn’t figure out which one it was! xD BUT I was predicting that it would be the “Untitled Dark Novel” so I’m kind of a good detective. #itworks
EEEEEEEEEE AND THE ONE ABOUT SURFING. (Like, with surfing notes. AKA ABOUT SURFING.) Hhaha don’t get me started on that dude. When it’s published, I’m like going to be the first one waiting in like at THREE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING. (Do they still do that though? Or do they just pre-order? hm.)
“I’ll blink at my computer and it’ll be done. < OKAY CAN THAT WORK? LIKE FOR REAL? CAN YOU SOMEHOW MAKE THAT POSSIBLE? FOR ME AS WELL? thanks. “Or who are we kidding? Watch the movies. Nap. Eat popcorn. Call it research.” < HAHA YES. #win
Hmmmm so I'd totally do this linkup but I don't think I can face these questions without being paralyzed by the awesomeness of the answers you gave here. SORRY. TRUE. And because my comment is already a total MONSTER, I'll spill here but keep it brief. xD Writing goals: I want to finish one of my most favorite unfinished novels. (It’s my baby. It can’t be neglected. It will die. Even though I’ve already neglected it for a year.) I want to edit it to perfection. I want to start a trilogy (!!!) that involves TRUCKLOADS OF RESEARCH about WWII and prisoners and death and science. #prayforme …and then maybe I’ll edit that to perfection. Oh and I also have two other book bunnies that are threatening to wilt if I don’t finish them (BUT they are also collabs with my sister so you know what that means… >:D)
Fab post. 😉
love,
Abbie
Sometimes I do actually forget to do my own linkup?!? 😂 I MEAN HOW SAD IS THAT? I am a forgetful pineapple to the extreme. BUT ANYWAY. OMG I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR ANSWERS. *puppy dog eyes*
AHHH, you ARE A good detective. 😂 I seriously need to name that book. I swear it is being the STUBBORNEST for names. Even the characters don’t have names…except the butler. I like the butler. Seriously there is a 90% chance I love the book because I finally get to write a dryly sarcastic butler. AHEM. Anyway. Awwww. <3 You say such nice things to me. I CANNOT EVEN. Just don't go to pinterest right now because my brain just exploded and there are TWO NEW BOOKS THERE AND I CAN'T EVEN. SAVE ME FROM MYSELF ABBIE.
BUT MAYBE I CAN PICK YOUR BRAIN ABOUT SURFING SOMETIME????? Because I know nothing. I mean, I've lived by the peach like 70% of my life and never surfed?!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.
I'm a full supporting of "napping is working when one is a writer". I need that on a tee-shirt.
OMGGG A WWII TRILOGY?!?!? That sounds amazing. And tbh I think the universe needs more historical fiction. I shall be here with cake and comfort. Or, well, maybe not cake??? Because I’ll probably eat it all???? I AM JUST SAYIN’. ahem.
All your book ideas sound amazing! I would read the heck out of all of them.
I THANK YOU, SKYE. I GIVE YOU CAKE.
I would probably read all three of those book ideas but I LOVE your Moriarty idea. I also appreciate the push for more diversity in books, especially YA. It feels like everyone that ever existed is a Caucasian, sometimes. That being said, I would be terrified to write more diversity in my own stories because what if I horrendously offend a whole group of people?? Maybe it should be a focus on getting more diverse authors who can write authentically about what they know and I’ll leave the brave ones to write about cultures I’ve never experienced.
Omg, I HEAR YOU. I do. I’m like 90% terrified every time I want to write someone who isn’t part of my culture. Because culture is SUCH a detailed thing, and if you get it wrong, all the people of that culture KNOW AND THEY ARE NOT HAPPY. *hides in the corner* I think it’d be nice to have diverse authors too, of course, but I also think if WE have ideas, we might as well go for it. xD I hopefully will get knowledgeable beta readers to help me get on the right track. 😛
I love the list, my favorite is #8. HAH! I think my writing goal is to start writing more. I have so many beautiful books waiting to be read that I get sidetracked easily.UGH. I wish I had a longer attention span. Plus if you want to read some books about Indian culture you should check out Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck. I love that series! Also A Step Towards Falling by Cammie McGovern is also a nice book about disabilities.
I have read the Tiger’s Curse one!! I DID SO LIKE THE INDIAN PART, although I wasn’t such a fan of the story? hehe. Although maybe I should read more of the series…(and the covers = <3) AHEM. I haven't read A Step Towards Falling yet, but I read Cammie McGovern's Say What You Will! WHICH WAS GOOD. YAY DISABILITY REPRESENTATION!!
I’ve never written any stories myself but am always SO AMAZED when I hear and read about others that do this! I would want it too! It’s just that my brain always turns to mush whenever I TRY to be creative … I don’t know, haha. But YOU. *bows down* Can you please make these happen?!? Your ideas are GENIUS. I sat here, reading through them and was like: “OH MY GOOOOD WHY DID NO ONE EVER WRITE THESE?!? THIS IS LIFE. I NEED IT NOW!” *ahem* So as you can tell, I’m already incredibly excited … I’ll wait patiently. Scratch the “patiently”. I’ll just wait here … impatiently.
Now excuse me, I have to read something very important on Wattpad! Good luck with all your goals! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! 😀
OMG WELL THANK YOU, YOU KIND BEAN. 😂 I think it does take practise? I’ve been writing for like 7 years so it’s basically second nature to me now. hehehhhh. BUT YES MY IDEAS ARE GENIUS I AM THE QUEEN OF IDEAS TBH. *flips hair majestically* I just need a time machine so I can write faster.
AHHHHHH MORIARTY AND WATSON ARE THE SAME PERSON YESSSSSS PRECIOUSSSS> Ahem. I want to write novels during both CampNano sessions and start writing some poetry too! Oh, and you’ve got to read the Sherlock short stories (like the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes). Personally I think the short stories are better than the novels. OOh Valley of fear is uber freaky though.
OMG I FORGOT ABOUT CAMPS!! Maybe I should finally join in one of those two?!?! I always get nervous because I don’t know how cabins work. I will most likely be in a cabin alone. 😂 Ahem. BUT SQUEE I’m glad you like my Sherlock retelling notions. :’) I’m mildly fond of it. You know…jUST A LITTLE BIT . And I will definitely read the Adventures one too! I’ve been told it’s the best, and I really enjoyed a Study in Scarlet, so I have a good feeling about this… ;D
I laughed, I cried and I was inspired!! Haha thanks for a fabulous post!
Blessings –
~ Aspen
Well, THAT IS NICE TO HEAR. 😀
Good luck on all your goals! You have so many amazing ideas – The Secret Garden/Jungle Book one sounds very interesting – which to me is crazy-I have like one idea that I stick with until another one decides to appear months later! But this year I want to plan and plot a five-book series that has been brewing for a few weeks now, and maybe start writing the first one…#maybenottooachievable (‘: And I think I should edit a story, but I hate editing so much!
Ooh, 5-book series?! THAT SOUNDS INTENSE AND AMAZING, LIBBY!! YOU GO!! I wrote a 6-book series when I first started writing and…gah, it was INSANE. 😂 I had a lot of different narrators but by the end I couldn’t even remember how I’d described them to start with so it was a MESS. I hope you have good luck with yours. I BELIEVE IN YOU!! *stockpiles chocolate for your efforts*
I’m hoping that planning will stop that, but I’ll probably end up forgetting the main character’s name halfway through tbh(‘: Thanks for the belief!(and chocolate…chocolate is a necessity to writing)(;
A JUNGLE BOOK RETELLING, hell yes.
You can never have too many dragon books. And what about The Netherlands as a setting? 😉
You know, I have NEVER read a book set in The Netherlands and THAT REALLY OUGHT TO CHANGE BECAUSE OMG. HOLES IN LITERATURE. And dragons = need to be in all books. I’m like 99% sure of this fact.
I haven’t written for fun/myself in sooo long. Ghostwriting can be fun, but it’s a little too much about pleasing the client… Maybe I should try to write more for fun this year.
Ooh, yes, I think I heard you mention you were a ghost writer before. GHOSTY WRITER. *coughs* Ahem. But that is still really cool!! Is it your career?
Not really! I want to be a doctor, in the end. But I have to go back to university for that, so I’m working on catching up ready for that, and in the meantime ghostwriting is something which works well for me and doesn’t take too much time.
I don’t really write a lot, so I have no answers to your ‘let’s chat’ questions. I just wanted to say that I will happily go buy any of your books the day they’re released, ESPECIALLY if they include pocket-sized dragons. All of your ideas sound so amazing!
Omg. I shall just SMILE AND SPIN IN HAPPY CIRCLES THEN, CLARA. <3 Thank you. :') And I seriously think if I ever become a published author I shall included pocket-sized dragons in all my books. Like "buy a book, get a dragon" sort of deal. I'm guaranteed to be famous.
YES I MUST READ THIS MORIARTY BOOK. It sounds SO SO SO AMAZING AND I WANT TO READ IT RIGHT NOW. PLEEEEEEEEASE??????? 😀 I early-volunteer to betaread. 😉
AND YES. IF you’re writing a Sherlock Holmes-based book, you MUST read the rest of the stories. I’ve read all of them twice through (and several of them more than that) and they’re amazing. I love it when Sherlock-Holmes-based books have references to some of the more obscure stories, because that’s just awesome. Sooooo dooooo it. 😀
AWWW I’M FLAILING. I’M SO HONOURED. GAHHH!!! I want to write it, like, IMMEDIATELY. But alas edits first *collapses* I really hope it turns out as good as it sounds in my head though. hehhh. And yes! I want to definitely read the rest of the stories before doing my retelling. I liked them on audio, too, because I felt I concentrated better?!
I wanted to be a mermaid when I was a child. We could have had really fun playdates since “mermaids and pirates” would make a really fun game lol.
You’re right though that there are books about mental but very few about physical disabilities. I don’t think I read any last year. I did read one this year in which a side character had an amputated leg, but, you know, she was a side character. And I do love reading books set in other countries. I know I’ve read books within the past year or so set in England, France, Australia, Hungary, Ireland, Peru, Canada (ok so Canada isn’t that different from America, but whatever lol)… but most of them weren’t YA and some were historical fantasy which means things were altered. So they do exist, but I support your desire for there to be more! (Especially if there’s not a lot in YA, since all age genres should get to have books about other countries!)
Omg, YES. My sister used to pretend she was a mermaid? Why was I always the violent child…gee. We also played Roman Colosseum. YuP. Gladiators and murder. I was a pleasant small child, I assure you.
AHEM.
WHAT WERE WE SAYING? OH YES.
I kind of hope I’m just not finding the books with physical disabilities? But I can honestly like count on one hand the ones I’ve read. :O And I mean, I only mostly library books I’m unsure of, and my library is exhaustible. SO YEAH. But I wish there were NEW books coming out about disabilities!!
AND YES the country-diversity definitely exists, but it’s still a bit rare? I mean, obviously I don’t want ALL the books to take place in another country. 😂 I just want it to be a little more regular than it is now. BUT OMG I just finished The Girl From Everywhere which was set in Hawaii and I know that’s part of America, but it’s still Islander?!? SO STILL COOL.
I FREAKIN LOVE YOUR JUNGLE BOOK + SECRET GARDEN IDEA. I mean, I love them all. BUT ESPECIALLY THAT ONE. I’m all for the Indian culture! (I’m half-Indian)
The agony of too many book ideas 🙁 I feel like I have thousands ideas but no time to write ANY.
ERMAGERD THANK YOU. I’M MILDLY IN LOVE WITH IT TOO. AND BY “MILDLY” I MEAN I’M FREAKING OUT. 😂😂 Ahem.
Agh, this agony of too-many-ideas-not-enough time is KILLER. We need time machines, ASAP.
eeek I wanna join this challenge! I NEED motivation. I am just a flailing fish… actually no, I don’t enjoy fish… I am a flailing… lama. I DUNNO WHAT TO DO!! All my free time is spent reading, or blogging. There is no room for writing… aaaaaa. I need to make some room, but ughhhhh I just wanna take a nap. I need to get my head in the game, maybe this challenge will help mee!! also GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING. I hope you complete EVERYTHING! Plus I totally get it. My assistants….they are….lets just say they need some training. anyhow DRAGON BOOKS ARE A NECESSITY!!!!!!!!
Flailing llama works. *nods* We ALL like flailing llamas. BUT ZOMG I GET IT WITH THE LACK OF FREE TIME. I could seriously spend all my free time blogging/reading and it be full. So squeezing in writing?? GAH. Who needs sleep? *nervous laughter*
Taking naps though. Omg, they are so nice.
I love your goals! And how excited you are about them. The story of Jungle Book x Secret Garden sounds great. Plus, I agree there aren’t enough YA books set in other countries or about people with dissabilities, or for that matter, people with disabilities living in other countries.
My goals are mostly: write a book a month. HAHA I’m insane. But insanity is a good thing. Also, I want to write a Sherlock retelling you. I won’t steal your idea about Moriarty being Watson. I swear. Although it’s GENIUS.
I’m also focusing on editing. Going to try and edit one book a month from next month onwards (since, you know, this month I’m writing the book I’m editing next month). I never edit. I have so many unifinished manuscripts that are first drafts and need editing and never get it 🙁 I also have tons of books I need to rewrite. Yikes.
SQUEE I’M GLAD YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF IT. I’m rather ridiculously in love with that tale, omg, it’s all I can do not to throw my edits and WRITE IT. But, restraint Cait. Restrain. *tries to be calm* And it’d be endlessly nice to have more kinds of diversity in books. WE NEED THIS.
OMGGGG I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE REALLY WRITING A BOOK A MONTH. I hope you don’t burn out. 😛 And, omg, I hope your retelling goes well too!! 😂 The Moriarty/Watson does please me greatly. *happy sigh* I really hope I can pull it off as good as it sounds in my head. < -- THAT'S THE HARD PART ABOUT WRITING. I seriously need to do so much editing this year too. ENOUGH PROCRASTINATION! HUZZAH! I totally admire your goals though, Majanka. YOU GOT THIS. I AM IN AWE! TEACH ME YOUR WAYS.
Wow! I have attempted many times to write a book or short story but always give up on the end so I’m very impressed!
It does take practise. 😛 I’ve been writing for…omg, nearly 7 years now? 😂 BUT YEAH.
I really want to just write this year. That’s it. Nothing too FANCY, but I really want to start writing much more and I want to complete NaNoWriMo. Your goals are EXTREMELY LARGE, but thus, I believe in your magical powers, so HUZZAH to you! (Also, I decided to join the Beautiful People link up because, you know, I’m actually attempting to write now…)
That is a really excellent plan though. REALLY EXCELLENT. I would love to just say “This year is for editing!” but omg, I’m so bad and I have all these ideas. 😂 But yuuus. Magical powers. *nods sagely* OMG YAY YOU’RE DOING BP!! This is glorious news. You get like TWO pieces of cake now.
TWO??? Oh man. I don’t know what I will be able to do with myself now. Thanks 🙂
YOU’RE GOING TO WORK ON MORIARTY THIS YEAR! YEEEES!
So I might be a liiiiitle excited about Moriarty? I was actually kind of thinking about it this morning. . .
I *hope* to edit Oddball the First this year. But I have to finish Oddball the sequel before that happens, and I’ve run into some recent. . . trouble. I’m dealing with the trouble by ignoring its existence and writing other things. Yeah. . . Next month I tend to give it a good talking to. *cough*
I want to read all the Sherlock originals this year too. Because for some reason I got it into my head that I want to know ALL the Sherlock things and be a living breathing Sherlockpedia (that is a thing, right?). I don’t even know why. It’s a quirky life goal. My less obsessive goal is to have huge blog party one day that is Sherlock themed, and I’ve put myself under the impression that I have to read all the originals before doing so. Like a good book nerd would.
*raises cake* Good luck with the editing.
I WANT TO. I WANT TO SO BAD I MIGHT SCREAM.
Also ignoring troublesome books is totally a good method of dealing. I do that all the time. I figure if we leave them to fester long enough…they might even EDIT THEMSELVES?!?!?!? #wishfulthinking
And being a Sherlockpedia sounds like a GRAND idea. Omg, you do that and then I can come pick your brains. *nods* It’s perfect. AND I WOULD COME TO THAT BLOG PARTY IN A FLASH. I WOULD BRING SHERLOCK CUPCAKES.
I want to actually FINISH my books this year, as I am notorious for writing about a fourth of a book before I want to stop and make it all perfect. I also want to write some first drafts of the six million book ideas I have. I wish you all the luck with your writing goals this year.
Oh oh I do get that! *nods* I get really nervous with my book until I’m about halfway? Then it all seems to flow. 😂 I hope you get a chance to draft some too!! THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN OUR DAY, RIGHt?!?
JUNGLE BOOK YASSSS. You best believe I shrieked IRL, also. I am all kinds of excited. I love Indian culture, also. I’ve been crazy obsessed with The Star-Touched Queen (AND THE COVER BECAUSE ALL THE SPARKLES AND PRETTY). And YES. Books with cake with them need to exist and I’m horrified because this is an actual epidemic. Make this a thing pls. Thanks. 😉 *toasts you with cake and pink champagne and all the great YAs*
I AM REALLY OBSESSED WITH NEEDING THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN. It literally CANNOT come out fast enough. *flails* Also pretty cover. Pretty covers are my life and weakness, tbh. <3 AHEM. OH OH I agree it's an epidemic. I want to see more cake in books and DIVERSE CAKE TOO. Like everyone eats chocolate, sure. But what about orange cakes? And marble cake? And black forest cake?? LIKE SERIOUSLY THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
WOW YOU HAVE WRITTEN 3 BOOKS ALREADY?! That is freaking amazing Cait! I love the sound of how different they all are, but it really sounds like lessening the blogging has helped you boost your writing productivity! These are all fantastic goals, you can only set them and try, I guess! Good luck with your writing 😀
NO NO!! OMG NOT YET, JEANN. 😂 These are just ideas I have. (And I added 2 more on this weekend so…I think I just need to remove my brain for a while because it needs to settle. 😂) And YES. Slowing down on blogging is giving me a bit more time to get more writing/editing done. EEEP.
First of all: if you’re looking for betas and people like that I volunteer as tribute! Seriously, I love cheerleading and in-depth checking and general reactions and all that kind of stuff.
I do admire your prolific-ness! I’m still working on the manuscript I started in April of last year and I may have just decided to restart it… oops. But It feels much better now and I’ll use/edit 90% of what I wrote, just changing the focus so it’s actually interesting rather than just a bit meh… haha. I hope.
AWWW, KAREN. YOU LOVELY BEAN. 😀 I’m looking for people to steal time for me so I HAVE TIME TO DO ALL THIS STUFF THO, OMG. I need a time turner. If you have one, I want to borrow.😂
Ahhh, changing focus can be stressful AND fun, right?! I hope this draft works for you. Sometimes books are tricky beasts, right?!
Oh my god do I love your enthusiasm! The three book ideas you mention sound REALLY COOL and you need to finish them immediately so that I may read them, especially the surfer/map obsessed chick one. I’m writing a magical realism thing where one of the main characters is obsessed with maps, too, but he also can’t touch people without hearing their thoughts. So there’s that.
And let’s get real… anything Moriarty related is going in my TBR list promptly. Love, love.
Also, sorry for spamming all your posts with comments, haha 🙂
EEEEEP. Enthusasim when it comes to books/writing = I HAVE IN MUCHLY AMOUNTS. (Enthusiasm to say, clean my room = nada. *sighs* Life is hard.)
Omg you are doing maps too?!? YAY THIS IS THE BEST NEWS OF EVER. I think there are not enough mappish books in the world. I also love that magical twist on yours though. Omg, that is exactly the kind of book I would devour. YOU MUST WRITE FASTER TOO.
(Pffffft, never be sorry! I’m LOVING your comments!)
Oh no, yeah.. same. Cleaning is my least favorite thing to do. 🙁 but it’s never-ending unfortunately. *sigh*
Yay! I’ve had a few people say they like the idea.. maybe I should pull it back onto the front burners. I mean.. all I’m really working on right now are short stories and edits.. hm..
🙂 🙂
AGH AGREED. And I feel like when I get done cleaning it just wants more cleaning so I DON’T EVEN KNOW. I GIVE UP. *COLLAPSES* xD
You might enjoy a book called The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair. It’s technically adult, but it’s no more adulty than some YA, and the narrator is a child during most of the action. It’s sort of a family history story that’s set in India, but with shades of The Secret Garden and “Rapunzel”. You might get some inspiration for your Indian-set story.
I highly recommend reading some writery books, too. It can only help (so don’t be afraid!). Some good ones you might like to check out are Stephen King’s On Writing and Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. That second one especially is a little more inspirational than nitty-gritty (i.e., not a lot of “rules” or technical stuff). But I would recommend some of that type of book, too. Oh, and if you’re having trouble with naming your characters, I would suggest going to baby name sites, or even getting a good baby name book. (I have one sitting on my bookshelf to this day. Back when I started getting into writing, the Internet was mostly porn and a bunch of sites with flashing GIF backgrounds and MIDI music. You risked your sanity looking for lists of baby names! So a book was the way to go.)
I love that Toni Morrison quote!
Oooh, thank you for that book rec!! I AM EXCITED. And your pitch for it = me needing it in my life asap. THANK YOU. Hopefully my library has it…*dashes off to check*
hehe, I HAVE read writerly books in the past, I just end up getting thrown by them. 😂 But it wouldn’t hurt to try some more. I’ve kind of always wanted to read Bird By Bird? And all the Stephan King writing quotes I’ve seen are AMAZING.
Baby name sites are life. AGREED. I should get a library book though so I can just flip through and see what catches my eye. *nods* GOOD IDEAS. YOU LIFE SAVER.
FABULOUS GOALS, CAIT. I’m so jealous.
I’ve also looked at all your pinterest boards for your baby ideas and EEEEH SO EXCITING. Some preeeetty boys in Moriarty, for sure.
I recently re-read the Secret Garden (fave movie of all time!) because I’ve had a few ideas rolling around in my head for a re-relling, too!
So glad you have some nice goals to accomplish this year and I wish you all the best. I’m struggling to finish my ONE novel, let alone multiple…
DEFINITELY pretty Moriarty boys. <3 hehe, pinterest is like my LIFE when it comes to plotting books. I so need it for all the visuals. And OMG YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY RETELL SECRET GARDEN TOO!! I don't understand why we have 94829 Alice in Wonderlands and Peter Pans (I love them, tho) and none of the other classics!??!
*whispers* I'm telling myself to edit NOT write new books so...we'll see how that goes. 😂
WOW! All 3 of those story ideas sound amazing! I would read all of those in a heartbeat! I love anything Sherlock, so you’ve totally won me over with that one!
~Sara
OMGGG THANK YOU, SARA. <3 I'm mildly enthusiastic about them all right now. 😂
My writing goals are to procrastinate less, finish my term papers, finish my bachelor thesis and just fucking sit down and do the thing instead of avoiding it for months and then panicking. And I also want to do Camp NaNo and NaNoWriMo and actually finish my book and maybe start the other one I’m thinking about, or at least outline it properly. I… will get back to the term paper I was writing before I read this post instead now. Good luck with your goals!!!
These are EXCELLENT GOALS, VLORA. EXCELLENT. TRULY. Although the procrastination thing…omg let me know when you find the secret to kicking that. 😂 Ahem. I mean, noooo, I never procrastinate. I am a model upstanding writer. *nods* GOOD LUCK ON YOUR THESIS THO.
btw, if you need any help with writing India *waves* (while I won’t claim to be an expert and I’m a confuse pineapple when you ask me where I’m from, I have lived there for over 9 years. And I did spend one year learning about world religions INCLUDING Hinduism. And I (kind of?) know the culture). *looks at comment section and finds sister in ENTIRELY different city currently wrote exact same thing* Anyway. Editing. Editing is hard. Also YOU DESERVE A BOOK DEAL so good luck finding intelligent publishers who are aware of this fact. I like to think I have a connection to mongolia ’cause my name’s mongolian but NOT REALLY. I do want to go there some day. Anyway. Good luck with your writing goals. I believe in you!
YES YESSS. I BEG ON MY KNEES FOR HELP. So if I basically pluck all the things from both you and Shanti..I should write the best book of ever? #logicalplan Do you have any like YA book recommendations you could toss at me?!? The only Indian culture one I’ve read is Tiger’s Curse and I’ve seen Life of Pi. So clearly I need more. WAY MORE.
I really like Mongolian Lamb, it’s such a delicious dish, omg. So clearly I have my priorities in order on this account. Ahem.
AW THANK YOU. <3
I was talking with one of the other people that did Beautiful People for this month, and we thought it’d be a good idea to make a Beautiful People support group! Then we could all get together and inspire each other to not procrastinate and meet our writerly goals and yell at each other for slacking off, as well as provide beta readers in a friendly environment where we all have stuff in common! What do you think?
Oohhh, so like a writer group? Of course, go for it! I’m not 100% sure about calling it after Beautiful People though? I don’t exclusively own the linkup…but I’m sure you could come up with another name and still do it??! 😀 Finding beta readers and encouragement sounds like a GREAT goal though. 😀
Great! But.. I have no idea how to do this thing! I guess… we could all… skype?
Your writing projects sound absolutely fascinating Cait, wishing you all the best in editing them! 😀 My writing goals this year aren’t nearly as thought-out, but I’m hoping to thoroughly and properly edit this story draft that I’ve been sitting on for the past year or two. Why can’t our stories just flow out of our brains and onto the computer screens all awesome and perfect and with no need to edit them? lol
Aww, thank you, Lianne! *happy dance* And seriously, agh, why CAN’T there be a device that just downloads our stories as we think them?!?!? It’s really hard to get a book from being “a movie in my head” onto the page sometimes. 😂
Great goals, Cait! I’m especially interested in the Jungle Book/Secret Garden book. Are you looking forward to the new Jungle Book movie? I am. ^ ^ My goal is to work on four books this year. Currently I’m editing which is going slowly. XD And I’m hoping my post series will promote more international characters! 😀 It goes up in less than a month. ^ ^
I AM DEFINITELY!! I’ve watched countless adaptions though, so I’m not actually sure it’s going to bring anything new??!? BUT I’M STILL WATCHING IT. Also Tarzan is coming out again soon too!!
Good luck with your edits. XD We clearly are going to deserve so. much. chocolate this year.
Haha. Chocolate all around. ^ ^
Cait, seeing that you love dragons so much, you should read the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister. I read it last year and loved it.
Ooh, I’ll check it out!! THANK YOU FOR THAT REC! 😀
Do you REALLY think those are LOW AND ACHEIVABLE!!!?? Because soon, those will be my reality!! Mwa-ha-ha!!! I… uh… hope… Yeah… I’m not sure when soon really is, but… you know, it’s soon. #Akwardsilentmoment
-Dani
I GOT THIS.😂 Okay, I probably don’t. But I like to aim high…;)
Pfft!! Ha-ha-ha!!