The Writers Aspirant Accountability Thread

Posted by: @ease

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I'm sorry to hear that life got in the way. We're all very familiar with how it has a tendency to do that. I would really love to see you have fun writing this month, though. Have you considered writing something outside of your wheelhouse, or really short? Or really specific, like for a niche anthology?

Thank you for your thoughts.  I would love to have fun again too. My mind just isn't into it. 

In regards to trying something different. Most my stories are different than each other in POV, character types/voice, etc. I am trying something new now, but I'm torn between several endings. It's 65% complete now with notes on what's missing.

I've also got my fingers crossed on last quarter's submission. My wife says it's the best I've written. She's said that before so I guess I'm getting better at this writing thing.  haha  We'll see what the judges thing. 

Whew May went fast... too fast for me to finish my goals that's for sure. Well done everyone for meeting yours!

@ease thanks for the tips, very very helpful indeed.

May goals:

1. Q3, check for plot holes and major edits, consolidate scenes, KYD, check pacing. Ensure first 450 words contains all the essential elements. SUCCESS

2. Once revision of Q3 is complete, put it aside for at least 3 weeks and resist reading it. Then read through with fresh eyes for next revision. SUCCESS

3. 20,000 words towards first draft of novel. Nope. Didn't even finish 5000... Argh. Big month, much sickness in the house with kiddos and bleugh, didn't get there. However, I have fleshed out a load of scenes in my head, and I think I've found the tone for the book so that's something. 

4. Edit an existing short story and submit to a magazine. SUCCESS 

Right, Bring on June!

1. Send first 450 words of Q3 for reading if @ease and @tj_knight are still up for it? (I only just caught up with messages and saw the offers! Thank youuuu)

2. Q3 Final Edit and Submit.

3. 20,000 words towards first draft (Third time lucky haha)

4. Edit two short stories and submit to magazines

Have a great month everyone, and good luck with finishing and submitting your Q3s!

Posted by: @ease

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Also, some tips on making it through the WotF slush-pile, that I extorted from Kary and Jody and Martin over the week in Hollywood:

I 100% printed this off so I can keep it close by while I write. Thanks!

This time I WON'T BE LATE 🤣 

May goals:

• Edit 2 short stories and submit: I have actually submitted 10 times this month. Gosh, I had no idea. But mostly stories that have been in sub for a while. Only one new story in sub, so objective half cooked. For sake of completeness, I received 8 rejections. I currently have 8 subs ongoing. Longest: 219 days.
• Do what I can in terms of drafting new ones, no pressure: no pressure, no results lol. I scribbled, but nothing close to a finished draft zero.
• Do more writing exercises: nope, failed.
• Read a lot: I did. Read two books and finishing another one. Slush has been going well, with more than 70 flash pieces a week to read during the first half of May. It's more relaxed now.

June goals:

• Participate in the flash fiction 6-week event with Clarion West. I registered. I hope it will break this writer block/anxiety and give me the opportunity to discuss/critique with other writers.
• Keep on editing/submitting. I'd like to have two new stories in subs, but even one would be great.
• Check which story could be submitted for Q3. Maybe seek help here to see if the story (first page or so) seems to fit. I'm still such a rookie.
• Read a lot.

Posted by: @hannya

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June goals:

• Participate in the flash fiction 6-week event with Clarion West. I registered. I hope it will break this writer block/anxiety and give me the opportunity to discuss/critique with other writers.
•  

yay, for doing the CW flash fiction event. Have you done it before? I did it last year but won't be this year as by week 3 it starts to get 'a lot' critiquiinng 6 stories, meetuing up for a zoom to discuss and writing a fresh 1500 word story yourself, and while it was great productivity, my writing goals are different this year. I did consider doing it this year as it was good but may get back to it next year instead, depending how my other writing goals are doing

anyway, I just posted to say - if you havent done it before, make sure your July goals are low as thats when the work really kick in. And good luck 👍 

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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Have you done it before?

No, it's the first time! I thought I really needed that kick in the bum. Setting objectives for myself is not enough at the moment, I just can't write. But if a group needs me to get involved, I know I will have to stop panicking and step up. At least I hope!

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. Indeed, I think it will be my only objective in July. But what a nice objective 😍 

how is it June already!?!?!?!? I'm still trying to come up with goals for this month that would be meaningful but account for the time I have available....

May goals:

Write 20k - Wrote 15k. Though, I also wrote the words: The End so I'm not going to complain about missing a few!

Didn't read any openings. I realize I should rephrase.

Critiqued one story.

Didn't read much of the how to.

June goals:

Write 15k.
Lowering the target because I've got to read up to where I am in the WiP, then get the gears moving into new words.

Critique five 450s (If I receive that many, of course).

Critique one full story.

Read/listen to three full novels.

June goals are to finish off the short story that is turning into a novella, edit a short that is still sitting about waiting for me to finish it off and then get back into novel mode.

Oops I did it again: I started a new story for this quarter, as I disliked all the characters and the setting and the plot of the one I was writing. Haha. This new one is going okay, I am having more fun, but I have a ton of work to do to get it done.

In short, still struggling to find what I actually want to write, but I keep at it. I am a slow writer (and reader) too which doesn't help, but gotta go at my own pace. Still, any tips would be much appreciated! I think the absolute freedom to write whatever my heart desires is the main hinderance, as I find too much choice overwhelming. 

June goal is to submit to this quarter.

little bit of a cheat as Ive already started on these but hey, June's already started too so these are still genuine June goals 😉

1. Get some crits/eyes on my Q3

2. Go through and incorporate appropriate recommendations from the crits

3. Submit Q3

4. Finalize novel outline

5. Start making random paragraphs/dialogues for novel as I think about outline to give first draft some 'meat' to hang off

6. Keep reading other people's work/fiction.

Forgive my tardiness. My goals for June:

1. Finish writing my Q3 story (hopefully today!)

2. If I’m feeling ambitious, write 3-4 more stories 😬 (for a writing contest and another market)

Posted by: @tiinag

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Oops I did it again: I started a new story for this quarter, as I disliked all the characters and the setting and the plot of the one I was writing. Haha.

Funny. Good for you on submitting a new story each quarter.  I've given up on sending previously submitted stories even if they have been updated.

When I get stuck or struggle with fixing a story, I start thinking of other stories. I have to force myself to push on with the 'rough' story. Although, I've learned when the story is too 'rough' to set it down (or in the digital world, save it into a folder) and move on.  

So much of June is gone!

Goals: 

Finish Q3 entry

Write a short story for Grist Climate Future Fiction

Enter Intergalactic Rejects

Finish an old painting that’s just right for and Submit my art for ProgCore

Record my Tribetalks Finalist audition for Superstars

Keep up with my Publishing Masters program

Write some unknown amount of my novel in progress

2-5 pages of pencil work for my graphic novel.

This sounds insane. I’m gonna check back in as I finish this madness. And we have multiple birthday this month 😳

This is it! T-16 hours! 

@ajschultz6, @clfors, @writhmic, @pdblake, @annax, @kz_richards, @toddjones, @joel-c-scoberg, @storysinger, @physa, @pegeen, @kent, @sconn, @gideonpsmith, @ericstallsworth, @hannya, @tiinag, @olivia-ava, @abeona, @bon, get those submissions in! 

Worried there's a typo on page 16? Forget about! Make sure your first page is immaculate (and even then, they'll overlook a grammatical mistake or a typo), and the second page should get almost as much attention, but don't fret the small stuff for the rest of the manuscript at this point. 

Check your 450 - make sure that speculative element is clear and obvious! Make sure the character's drive (what they really want, what their soul NEEDS - overcoming this new conflict is NOT it) is almost as obvious, and get those sensory details in.

And best of luck to all of you. You're all freaking fantastic, and I think you're awesome regardless of any results that come back in ~3 months.

@ease thanks @ease ! 

Already in this quarter. Normally edit till the very last day, reading, re-reading, polishing, (ruining, introducing errors, typos) changing the title etc but this quarter with the system glitch the other day I got nervous and submitted Friday instead.

Now I'm looking at your list of last minute things and thinking "Oh shhh.......ugar"

Good luck everyone! Get those stories in  

I'm in this quarter too. Managed to finish a short story just in time. I also finished and submitted a flash piece and got 12.5k words down on a novella that looks like it's going to be a novel. 

July's goals are to finish part one of that novella (it needs another POV weaving later on) and then get back with the novel. At least one chapter this month, then maybe do a bit more on the novella/novel. 

Oh, and I blogged. I put my writing stats for the month on the blog too. 

Submitted yesterday and am overall happy with the story

I am starting to figure out my biggest pitfalls after all the super helpful feedback I've gotten, and am excited to get better. Every story teaches something I think.

I am dedicating July for tinkering and playing around with ideas. I have a small inkling on the concept for my next story, will see where it takes me!

Happy writing all, stay hydrated!

@ease I’m in for Q3! I want to have high hopes for this story, but whatever the outcome, I’ll know I gave it my best shot. I also managed to crank out 2.5 more stories this month, and I might have an idea for Q4, so hopefully I won’t get too down when Q2 results come out…

My goal for July is to write 4 short stories. 

Thanks @ease for the last minute tips!

Well done and good luck to everyone that submitted this quarter 😁

June goals

1. Send first 450 words of Q3 for reading ✅ 

2. Q3 Final Edit and Submit. ✅ 

3. 20,000 words towards first draft (Third time lucky haha) ✅ 

4. Edit two short stories and submit to magazines nah, only managed one.

Happy with my submitted story in that I gave it my all, to the best of my current abilities so that’s all I can hope for really.

On to July!

1. 10,000 words towards novel (starting another semester at uni so pulling the word count back).

2. Explore Q4 story idea, world build, develop a and b story. Bullet point story ready to expand.

3. Edit one short story and submit to a magazine.

Just entered with a fresh story for this quarter! And a whole 45 minutes to spare? Whatever will I do with all this time?

I took a break on goal completing for May and June due to exams, but I hope to get back in the swing of things in July.

1. Write a new short story

2. Submit it somewhere

3. Begin planning Q4

4. Launch a project of mine that's in the works

Finally in! Revision of a previous one, but hopefully the changes are positive.

Thanks @ease

I'm in for this quarter, with two days to spare.

It is my longest story for WotF. I remember Dave had said in an AQA that 5-7k was ideal territory, so I always tried to hit that mark. But, after seeing your breakdown of recent winners in Vol 40 and 39 (or was it 39 and 38?), there were quite a lot over 12k. So, I thought I'd just write the story and then see where it went. Wait to see what happens come September / October time.

In terms of goals for last month, I (think) these were mine:

1. Submit a new story to WotF
2. Submit to another market

I may just be remembering the goals I achieved  

Next month:

1. Submit a story to another market
2. Actually start writing a planned novel. And I literally mean start writing it not just say I'm going to and then not. This time, I mean it. Seriously. Stay tuned for the end of month failure report  

I'm in for Q3! I nearly forgot, but I had a 7k fantasy story lying around and I thought, why not. It received a few personal rejections during its lifetime.

So what happened in June? Not much lol.

June goals:

• Participate in the flash fiction 6-week event with Clarion West. (ongoing but so far so good)
• Keep on editing/submitting. (I did submit 6 times, and 1 more story has joined the pool)
• Check which story could be submitted for Q3. (submitted on the last day, as usual)
• Read a lot. (finished a monster of a book, started another, did 2 beta reading, kept on reading slush)

July goals:

• Keep on going with the flash fiction workshop. It's intense but a great experience. There's as much drafting as there are critiques to write. My group is amazing!
• Read a lot.
• Probably no time for much else. If ever, some editing on the side would be great, but I don't hold my breath.

Posted by: @toddjones

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June 2024 Goals:

• Finish draft story with ideas from April revisit of story - COMPLETED
• Submit Q3 WotF (forgot to put that on the list originally) - COMPLETED
• Have fun and write (Kick this mind fog and write) - QUASI-SUCCESS 

 

July 2024 Goals:

• Start a new story for Q4 WotF
• Revisit Semi-Finalist WotF story and notes for part 2 to complete story
• Jot notes down for a future new story
• Become a Q2 winner! (Think big or go home ... wait, I'm at home . Augh)

June:

1. Get some crits/eyes on my Q3

Sent to multiple people. Not all could review but I did my part! 🤣 

2. Go through and incorporate appropriate recommendations from the crits

Adjusted manuscript in light of above

3. Submit Q3

I did this 2 days before deadline due to system glitch making me nervous to wait till actual day like I normally do as I like to polish till the end

4. Finalize novel outline

ummmmm....shut up. No, You shut up. NO, YOU shut up! Ok...I'll shut up. I didn't do this 🙁

5. Start making random paragraphs/dialogues for novel as I think about outline to give first draft some 'meat' to hang off

See #4 above 👎 👎 😨 

6. Keep reading other people's work/fiction.

Yay, done in quantity.

July:

I feel like as I didn't make 4 or 5 last month I should add them to July but.... I don't feel like it. So, all new goals

1. Submit something to a magazine

2. Write a new flash fiction piece

3. Go on vacation

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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July:

 

I feel like as I didn't make 4 or 5 last month I should add them to July but.... I don't feel like it. So, all new goals

 

1. Submit something to a magazine

2. Write a new flash fiction piece

3. Go on vacation

 

 

Came on here to set my July goals, then found a post from me where I had already done them 😳 

oops, senioritis!  

@gideonpsmith Better get to that vacation part quick. Looks like you could use it!

I'm more content with this than the previous HM (and one before, think this is five on the bounce?) because my story was a bit more...unconventional for WotF, in that in 6k words I have around 8 POVs. It was a long shot and a last minute submission, so I'm happy.

I am holding my breath* that a forumite, and in particular one of you guys, gets that phone call to say they have received a "F"

*not literally due to the time zone difference  

Congrats on the @joel-c-scoberg! 8 POVs in 6k does sound unconventional, impressively so!

Great work, Joel, @hannya, @toddjones, @writhmic, @tiinag, @bon, and @gideonpsmith on checking in already. I can't believe we're already ten days into July... I guess that's what happens when you wish away the first few days looking forward to a holiday and then spend a few days catching up afterwards.

@ajschultz6, @clfors, @annax, @storysinger, @physa, @pegeen, @kent, @jeschleicher, @sconn,  @ericstallsworth,  @olivia-ava, @abeona, @tj_knight, how did your June's go? What have you got planned for July?

Ease's June Goals:

• Write half or more of the mid-level plot. One bullet point per scene. 

FAIL - I did not do this... completely forgot I even intended to. But I did write ~8000 words of prose.

• Revise alien hermit crab story for an anthology, and submit it.

FAIL - The submission window doesn't open until August, if at all... but the story is revised and ready!

• Submit a story to Intergalactic Rejects anthology call (this one's easy because the story has to be already written).

SUCCESS - This one was easy. I even through in some extra revision.

July Goals:

• Upload three episodes to Vella... ASAP!
• ... that's it, because that's essentially three whole short-stories with the added burden of being interlinked.