January 2023 - Here we go!

Happy 2023!

What are your writing goals for this year? As usual, I have lots of ambition but am finding it hard to find that much-needed forward momentum. Following the 2022 Florida Writers Association conference, I was super motivated and formulated a plan for 2023.

Manuscript 1: do a final polish and send it out for query. I’m 90% done with this story, and need to get it across the finish line. Get it out there by end of first quarter.

Manuscript 2: create a solid outline and get it done. I’m maybe 30% done with this story. Stop pantsing and get plotting!

Social media: I’ve moved to Mastodon, Hive, and the new Writers Atelier online community (check it out here https://writersatelier.com/ ) . Look for @theHauntedCelt on pretty much any social. I will plan out weekly social media posts and monthly blog posts because it’s 2023 and that’s what we do.

You don’t have to have thousands of followers to break into writing, but you do need some kind of online presence, even if it’s a minimal website like this one. Planning social media posts a week or a month at a time doesn’t take very long. Map out topics you want to cover, weekly themes, or even a calendar of recurring topics like “Free-Write Friday” or "book review Mondays". Talk about what you’re reading as well as what you’re writing. Boost your fellow authors by promoting their books!

Back to MS 1. If querying was a bust after 6 months, self-publish. Get it out there and move on to the next project. I have let myself be tied to these two manuscripts for far too long without writing anything new. Time for new things.

Schedule some down time. Don’t cram so much into your schedule that writing becomes a chore or something you dread. Put some Me Time on your calendar, be it an afternoon in the park, a cup of coffee with a friend, or taking an afternoon nap. Rest, refocus, and get back on that writing horse. Whatever your goals for 2023 are, make your plan then work the plan.

Cheers!