tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post3544660835757516690..comments2024-03-29T11:42:44.511-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: To Thine Own Self, Be KindJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-48357347810050252372014-01-12T20:45:07.733-05:002014-01-12T20:45:07.733-05:00Very well stated.Very well stated.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-54093478499039632552014-01-12T19:37:06.686-05:002014-01-12T19:37:06.686-05:00Thanks for reminding us how important it is to be ...Thanks for reminding us how important it is to be kind and flexible with ourselves. So often, we start with the best of intentions, and then things (life?) get in the way.<br /><br />The best laid plans of mince and men...<br /><br />But we need to pick ourselves up and move on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-25487287872026607502014-01-12T18:01:45.503-05:002014-01-12T18:01:45.503-05:00Peter,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I agre...Peter,<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I agree that it is good to have something big you are pointing for -- but if luck is needed it probably shouldn't be called a goal.<br /><br />And the problem with submissions are you are at the mercy of editors regarding how long they take before they give an accept or reject.<br /><br />One of my writing mentors (primarily Science Fiction short stories) sets writing a certain number of new stories as his goal.<br /><br />However, every Monday morning he submits to a new outlet any story for which he received a rejection the previous week. As a result he always has a huge number of stories in circulation.<br /><br />He also says when he thinks he has a good story that just hasn't sold, he'll change the title, character names and a minor detail or two and resubmit. Analog has taken more than one of those rehashed stories.<br /><br />Best of luck for 2014. Stop by and let us know when you've gotten your first "biggie" of the year.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-40074830355663691632014-01-12T17:31:53.259-05:002014-01-12T17:31:53.259-05:00Thanks for this post.
I read a great post on how ...Thanks for this post.<br /><br />I read a great post on how to set annual writing goals for short stories. I think Michael Bracken posted it: Set a goal for how many stories you’d like to get published, and back into the math for how many submissions you need to make, based on your typical acceptance rate.<br /><br />Of course, you only can take action on the submissions, and can’t control whether you get acceptances. Even so, I think this approach is different from just setting a submissions goal to begin with, because it makes submissions a “tactic” to achieve the real goal, publication.<br /><br />Based on this, my 2014 goal is 4 to 6 published stories, with 1 or 2 in MWA-approved pubs and the others in well-edited, popular “exposure” pubs.<br /><br />The only flaw in the plan (so far) is the math says I’ll need to submit 30 to 60 times to the MWA pubs. Ain’t gonna happen, so a shot of good luck will go a long way. But I’d rather fail at the MWA part of the goal than not try at all. (And hey, you never know!)<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />Peter DiChellisPeter DiChellishttp://murderandfries.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-20356299861510057442014-01-12T15:56:27.025-05:002014-01-12T15:56:27.025-05:00Jim, my goal is to somehow find a way to simplify ...Jim, my goal is to somehow find a way to simplify my life so I have more time to write; Let's see now, what can I cut out? Walking in the woods? Taking care of my critters? Reading? Reading? Friends? Church? Concerts? Book clubs? Mobile Meals? Cleaning? YES! That sounds like a winner, or at least it would if I did very much of that in the first place. Anyway, thank you for your advice.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-53082222181495041772014-01-12T15:09:41.941-05:002014-01-12T15:09:41.941-05:00Kara & EB, Hope you both have a great 2014 wit...Kara & EB, Hope you both have a great 2014 with your writing and life in general.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-14563051624828930342014-01-12T14:41:52.790-05:002014-01-12T14:41:52.790-05:00My goal is to revise and query Toasting Fear. I...My goal is to revise and query Toasting Fear. I've been working on this novel for years--I need to finish it and get on to other goals, but it comes first. I echo Kara's comments. Being kind to ourselves a good basis for setting goals and forgiving ourselves if we fail. Thanks, Jim. E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-35090963373849737842014-01-12T14:18:36.133-05:002014-01-12T14:18:36.133-05:00Thank you for reminding us to be kind to ourselves...Thank you for reminding us to be kind to ourselves, Jim. So far, I'm on track with my writing and personal goals. Since we’re only twelve days into the year, I anticipate that my momentum will eventually slow and I'll slip up now and then. That's when I will remember your wise counsel to "get back upon that horse-of-a-new-habit." Good luck with your 2014 goals.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-46076363224134054192014-01-12T12:46:56.551-05:002014-01-12T12:46:56.551-05:00Kathy,
I'm with you. When I do something beca...Kathy,<br /><br />I'm with you. When I do something because I like doing it, time flies and I have to tear myself away.<br /><br />Have a great, fun-filled 2014.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-58724709684229749282014-01-12T11:26:40.977-05:002014-01-12T11:26:40.977-05:00Great post. My only resolution for 2014 is to enjo...Great post. My only resolution for 2014 is to enjoy writing instead of treating it like work. I think I'll write a lot more if I'm having fun.Kathy Wallerhttp://kathywaller.comnoreply@blogger.com