Time to Check in on My Goals

Back on January 17^th, I listed some goals I wanted to achieve in 2021.  It’s about the end of the first quarter of the year, so let’s see how I’m doing:

2021 Goals

1. Finish my second steampunk screenplay. This includes making changes based on the feedback from my critique group.  This will still be a vomit draft in the range of 200 pages.  I won’t make any big rewrites until after I finish the first draft.  Haven’t had time, still working on my novel.
2. Edit my first steampunk novel. Again, I’m making some changes as my critique group reads through it, but the really big changes won’t come until they finish it and can give me feedback on it as a whole.  I’m in the process of editing my first novel.  My goal is a chapter a week.  So far, I have done five chapters in two weeks.  To be honest, the early chapters are shorter.  Chapter six is going to take some rewrites because I want to soften one of my antagonistic characters, round her out.  And I expect a full rewrite on chapter twelve.  Too much going on with a lot of characters.
3. Get a ProCritique on both in February. This will lead to even more rewrites on both.  This will probably overlap with #1 and #2.  I have gotten one of my ProCritiques, and because of her advice, chapter one is now my prologue.  The critique was on the first 2,000 words of my novel, but I’m trying to follow her advice through the rest of my story.
4. Once I’ve done everything I can with my novel, it’s time to hire a professional editor. I’m hoping sometime between March and June.  I also have to save up the money for this.
5. Pitch my first novel to agents at the August Writer’s Conference. I hope to be ready by then.  If I do get an agent, then everything could change depending on how much he needs me to work with him, work on my novel from his suggestions, and how much I have to do to promote my novel before publication.  The work doesn’t stop once you get an agent.  Still to come.  We’ll have to see if my novel is ready by then.
6. Write my second steampunk novel. I’m shooting for approximately 100,000 words.  At 3,000 words a week, that should take me about 34 weeks.  So if I start in May, I should finish by the end of the year.  I’m thinking it will be more like August.  I still have to finish the second steampunk screenplay.
7. I should add keeping up with my two critique groups, which means reading and critiquing everyone else’s work. I’ve fallen a bit behind because of the writer’s conference.  I still owe two critiques to people, And I have another critique group meeting coming up next week.
8. Read a book a month. I’m really behind in my reading.  And one of the best ways to become a good writer is to read good books.  Also, there are books you read for education, in my case, learning about Victorian England.  Okay, fail.  I haven’t finished a book since I made this list.
9. I also want to keep up on my comic books. I don’t even collect that many.  I’m all caught up – but it’s time to go back to Collector’s Paradise.
10. And finally, on a personal note, I’d like to try at least one new recipe a month. Cooking is a hobby of mine, and I’ve been doing pretty good so far since the lockdown.  I did try four new recipes last month.

Rustic bread    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BDFqnbZ2Bk

Chicken Rice Soup   https://www.thereciperebel.com/chicken-rice-soup/?fbclid=IwAR2MtOqltQW0W0SYc_epYpWQvAsCUawSd9A6tWYaI697vk4CCIEoWplgtJY#wprm-recipe-container-12106

Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks   https://www.eatingonadime.com/garlic-bread-cheese-sticks-recipe/?fbclid=IwAR31Jae-4UTUCgSeH-zA6X94w2C9GRqFkAjByKSxypPgDl9P2zWHdJflyRs#wprm-recipe-container-17016

Granny’s Classic Meatloaf    https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/grannys-classic-meatloaf-recipe/?fbclid=IwAR167j1rXWIQtdtsp2qivu-mOefVd5qUxYmOdwkBlwWGNl0cr2k6LyxroRE

11. On April 17^th I have an appointment to give blood at the American Red Cross. This will be pint 3 of 8 toward my 13^th gallon.

Dennis Amador Cherry

54th blog completed.

First Steampunk novel:  72,328 words, First Draft DONE – Rewriting Chapter 6 this week,

First Steampunk screenplay:  Updated with notes from the novelization.

Second Steampunk screenplay:  114 pages

Second Steampunk novel: 0 words.

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages

I’m thinking once a quarter will be a good time to check on goals.  I use to have a job where end-of-quarter was a big deal.  It’s how I would remember when to get a haircut.