Taking a page from JFM's book

[ostarella]

Well, I printed out a calendar for the rest of the year and tonight I'm working on my goals - writing, yard work, house, personal, etc. I looked at Covenant from the first posting over on the list through today - 166,062 words in 195 days, or 852 words per day (3075 words/chapter average). So I'm setting my goal for the rest of the year to write 852 words per day until it's finished, and then revise that for Tess (based on what kind of headache it is to keep up that pace). So who knows - I may actually have it completed by the time Billy gets back from her holiday. Yeah, right...

But I also have a ton of QPs to write, and finish up my holidays section, so I may set a goal of doing at least one of each per week until I'm caught up. Not too worried about the QPs, but the holidays tend to be longer. And of course once I get through with C, it'll be easier. I don't think Tess will be quite as difficult to get through; it's a much, much lighter story.

And then, after Tess, I'm planning on going back to the Randy series - officially called "Juggernaut" now ;-)  The next story is called "Specter", and the obligatory quote is "I've seen a lot of people die, Smith. No one's come back for me yet." - Gerald R. Lindstedt . Wonder if anyone will remember who he is... :D  But that's going to be another tough one - I'm a glutton for punishment.

So - all set. At least for a beginning of goal setting. Now if I could just plan out the chapters for each of these stories so I'd know when they *should* be completed.

Oh! And have to seriously think about the Nano thingy. That might be kinda fun, actually...

Comments

[beckyblack]

Excellent plan. It's key as well to keep on reviewing the goals regularly, to stop things slipping. I have a monthly review but keep an eye on the list the rest of the time too. It just keeps me focused and thinking "what can I be doing right now that contributes to one of those goals."

Good plan to break the short ones down to one a week. When there's load of them to do it can feel too hard to even start. But if all you have to do is this next one, and there's no obligation to think about the rest yet, that's much easier.

And then, after Tess, I'm planning on going back to the Randy series - officially called "Juggernaut" now ;-) The next story is called "Specter", and the obligatory quote is "I've seen a lot of people die, Smith. No one's come back for me yet." - Gerald R. Lindstedt . Wonder if anyone will remember who he is... :D But that's going to be another tough one - I'm a glutton for punishment.

I can't wait, I like the title, I like the quote, I'm excited already. :D

Oh! And have to seriously think about the Nano thingy. That might be kinda fun, actually...

It is, it's loads of fun. And if nothng else it teached you about prioritising the writing above anything else. :D

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

I may have to stretch out the schedule for the QPs and holidays a bit - to finish by the end of the year, I'd have to do like three per week - don't think I want to push myself to that ;-) Only if I'm feeling really *really* productive, I might do extra but otherwise...no. :D

I'm really looking forward to Specter, too. Those stories let me delve into the netherworld of mercenaries, mind-control - all those really dark, never-acknowledge-their-existence worlds of Bourne and the Manchurian Candidate. You can do damn near anything in there, and yet have to keep it within the realm of "Yeah, you know - it could happen!" LOL

[beckyblack]

Heh, sounds fun delving into that dark stuff. As long as it's kept within the realms of the possible, even if it's far fetched, then you can get people to buy it at least for the duration of the story. I'll be doing some of that kind of stuff with Ship of Fools, though the whole Zephyr series is more light hearted than Juggernaut. Except you know when peple are being shot in the heart or stabbed to death.

Mind you, when you read about some of the projects that really have been run by the military and the intelligence communities, well you get to the "you can't make it up!" stage. Trying to stop the hearts of goats by staring at them, and other psychic warfare stuff for instance.

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

As long as it's kept within the realms of the possible

Yeah, that's the hard part - but like you say - goats... ;-)

I think the key us realizing - and getting the reader to understand - that these people don't play by the rules. Like TAT - they don't care if they blow up a few cars, buildings - or people ;-) Unlike TAT - they take it that one step further across the line.

[beckyblack]

Yeah, sometimes when I'm trying to figure out what the team will do I have to try and break out of the natural tendancy to consider the consequences of some wacky Hannibal-esque idea and just go with it. As long as nobody is getting killed and the team can get away afterwards, Hannibal will do it! :D

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

Oh! And have to seriously think about the Nano thingy. That might be kinda fun, actually...

It is, it's loads of fun. And if nothng else it teached you about prioritising the writing above anything else. :D

Be careful Star, she's pulling you in! All though I do agree, it does make you put writing ahead of anything else, because you want to hit that target by end of November!

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I'm pretty well "pulled in" already - really want to see if I can get some writing done that could actually earn me a couple bucks, and that seems like the best way to get away from fanfic and into original stuff again.

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

It's a good experience, it doesn't harm to try the NaNo thing at least once. I doubt I'll be joining you guys in November though. For one, I don't think I have a bunny big enough and two) I really don't have the time like I had in 2006 (I was pregnant and had the excuse that I should put my feet up in the afternoon - instead, I tucked my feet under my desk and wrote/typed :D)