Morgan’s 2021 Resolutions JANUARY 14, 2021 / MORGAN HAZELWOOD Now that we’re firmly into January, it’s time to determine what my goals for the year are. Last year was intended to be a year of querying/submitting, revision, and networking. Thusly, I listed my goals: Revising Querying and submitting Blogging/Vlogging Reading Writing Beta-reading Conventions As I shared last week, I did great on everything on that list — except my revisions and querying — you know, the parts of the list that actually get me closer to publication. Does anyone else see the problem here? This year? This year my focus is on writing, revisions, and querying/submitting. As always, I like to set SMART goals – Specific – you’ll see numbers and dates! Measurable – you’ll still see numbers and dates Achievable – I set goals for things I have influence over. I’m aiming for an agent, getting something published, but unless I self-pub, I have no control over that. Relevant – I’m keeping my exercise goals and healthy eating off this post. These are all about my writing, the relevance should be clear. Time-sensitive – Obviously, these are intended to be completed in 2021, but some items may have specific dates associated. So? Let’s take last year’s list and put it in a new priority order. Morgan, a long-haired brunette, is laying on a carpet, legs in slippers kicked up behind her, writing in a notebook. Behind her is a table and a bookshelf. 1. Writing Finish my NaNoWriMo space fantasy! Preferably by April. At least the rough draft. I’m not sure if I want to do OctPoWriMo again — writing a poem a day for all of October. I skipped it last year. But, I really like participating in NaNoWriMo — writing 50,000 words in November. If I’m really stumped in November, I’ll rebel and revise either 5 shorts or a full manuscript. But, knowing me, I’ll probably make new words. 2. Revising I managed last year’s goals to finish my revisions before Balticon! And then was query-shy in the wake of the 2020 querying climate. And I managed to at least edit my middle grade fantasy. Remembering, of course, that rewriting IS writing, this makes revision half of my writing goals. But? The final goal is publication and I’ve got 4 manuscripts, 21+ short stories, and 30+ poems just waiting for a home. So much to polish! This year’s goals? Revise three of the short stories I drafted during my NaNo-Of-Shorts back in 2019. 3. Querying & Submitting I’ve talked a lot about the differences between querying and submitting, but basically — one is to get an agent to sell your book, and one is to publishers to buy your stories. Typically, writers submit their own short stories, but publishers usually want agents to submit full length manuscripts. Querying is a intro-letter and first chapter or so that you send to a literary agent. Once you have an agent, they often make you do revisions, before submitting your work to a publishing house. Submitting a manuscript/short story/poem is what you can do to any editor/publisher who is open to it: publishers (who are open to unagented work), literary magazines, anthologies, etc. This year, for my short stories and poetry, I’m going to try to actively submit at least 6 short stories to at least 3 markets each markets. Plus? At least the first round of the submissions needs to be by March (for the stories that are already prepped). And query my YA fantasy 3 times a month, unless revising. 4. Blogging/Vlogging/Podcast You are my supporters, my community, my friends. You cheer me on and watch me learn and grow. As always, blogging helps keep me out there, keeps me accountable, and gives me a way to give back to the community. Plus? I haven’t missed a week on my blog since February of 2016 (although, I have done reruns) nor a vlog-post since I started vlogging on June 27, 2017. Since we all know how much I hate ending a streak, I’m going to keep at it. You’ll be seeing my a new blog/vlog every Thursday with writing tips or writerly musings. I’ve also started a podcast and weekly live-stream. I plan on taking a week or so off between seasons, and no more than one live-stream off a quarter (unless double-booked with a convention). Morgan taking a selfie while sitting near the front of a room full of chairs. (She's at a writing panel at a convention) 5. Conventions | Writer Groups My goals here are: to panel at 3+ conventions, attend 6+ open mic nights, 4+ monthly writer meetings, and 3 NaNoWriMo events (kickoff, 1 write in, and the all-nighter till 11pm). Plus? Staff Balticon and maybe another virtual con.. Ravencon pushed out my panelists dates from last year to this, I’m staff and panelist for Balticon again (May), and — if everything works out — WorldCon (August) in Washington DC. My panels were well received last year, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be accepted back. (All of my panels were topics from this blog that I feel I can talk competently on, where my unpublished perspective won’t be a detriment to my authority on the subject). Plus, I’m running social media for Balticon’s parent group. So… there’s another time suck! What does being on panels net me? Why do I want to do this? First, it’s a greater reach for my blog/vlog/podcast that’s supposed to lead to a larger audience when I do get published. It’s a great way to network and meet more writers and readers who like the same stuff I do. Plus, a chance to talk about all the stuff I obsess over on my blog and on my vlog in person with actual people. But how does attending conventions count as a writing goal? Isn’t it just fun? Or part of your social media addiction? Well, if you’ve been following my blog, you’ve probably noticed that over half the content is actually write ups from notes at convention panels! I attend the panels, for those who can’t (or don’t). Also? My sister teases me that I act like a teacher, trying to get her recertification credits, all in one weekend. And? Well, I talked about it in my post on attending conventions, but, of course, there’s the networking aspect. The science-fiction and fantasy conventions I prefer are full of readers, writers, and even some publishers and agents! Quote on a grey board on a brown shelf with books behind it. “And to think, some of life’s best stories haven’t even begun” 6. Reading Thanks to this year being what it was, I managed to read 46 books, with 35 of them being physical and nearly all of the physical books being from the pile that moved into the house with me. So? I’m upping my goal from last year of reading 26 books – to 36 books! Three a month is less than I’ve achieved the last couple years. Plus, half of them should be physical and already on my to-read bookcase. 7. Beta Readers This year, again, I’m going to try not to beta-read more than 3 full manuscripts for others. I will need the short stories I’m preparing for publication beta read. As always, I like to keep my beta reader pool to no more than 8 readers, typically from different backgrounds. I usually give them separate copies, so that their feedback won’t influence each other. I’m still a contributing editor to The Oddville Press, an online literary magazine of odd, but not really fantastical tales. In Summary This year, I’m starting off with my focus on drafting, not my usual revision, but plan to do a lot of querying and submitting. The middle of my year will be rather convention heavy, but by October/November, I should be back in the writer’s seat. Plus, I’ll be reading and blogging and vlogging and podcasting throughout the year. Except December. I’m not a writer in December — everyone needs a chance to breath. We’ll have to wait until next January to see if I had 2021 foresight. What does your plan look like for 2021 Did you build in flexibility? And, how SMART are your goals?