WriterAlina Business Plan 2013

This was a cartoon going around Facebook a couple of years ago. Every time I look at it I laugh and think to myself, “Yup, that’s exactly what I need.” I think this year, this mysterious stick man will be standing behind me as I write my story. 😉

When I wrote down my 2013 New Year’s Resolutions it took me a while to figure out how to create my writing resolution. I always have one and it usually says, “I will finish my manuscript by the end of the year.” or some other equally vague rendition. But this year is different. In fact my writing resolution is going to be the most challenging resolution for me of this year. “5. I will commit myself to creating, executing, and completing a Writing Business Plan.” I can’t even begin to express how much this scares me. But this year I’ve decided that I need to be much more aggressive if I’m actually going to follow through with my desire to complete a manuscript.

So, I’ve created, what seems to me to be, an aggressive business plan for 2013. This plan will be hung up so that both my husband and I can see it every day. I’m also encouraging him to create his own business plan for the creative endeavors that he wants to pursue. It’s good for both of us to know what I need to get done so that we can motivate each other.

So, here it is!

WriterAlina Business Plan 2013

Writing Goals

• WRITE EVERY DAY! Even if it’s only for 15 minutes. I must write every day. Each time I sit down to write will create more momentum, allowing me to complete my manuscript.
• Complete the first draft of “Identity”
• Edit and Revise “Identity” into a soliciting state
• Outline and plot Identity’s follow-up stories and plot sketch Jention Chronicles: What happens to Xanthe and Julian after Identity? What are Yuman, Raine, and Jade’s stories? What brings the four of them together in The Bryga Project? Why should they be brought together? How does The Bryga Project effect the overall scheme of Jention Chronicles?
• Perhaps I could work on some short stories that create/promote the  Jention Chronicle universe and give insight into its various characters.

Promotion Goals

• Maintain my blog better. Post at least once a week.
• Continue writing book reviews, but I need to expand to talking about my writing process, my story process, and my publishing process
• Continue to post interesting writing and science topics on my WriterAlina Facebook page

Publishing Goals

• Query Agents
• Decide if self-publishing or traditional publishing is the way to go for my stories

Now that I have my general goals I went through and prioritized and listed out by month what I’m going to do during 2013. I’m being a little aggressive compared to previous years, but I think if I solicit my husband’s help to keep me “on track” I’ll do just fine. Otherwise I’ll simply have to reevaluate after the first three months.

My January is kind of light because we are moving at the end of the month and it takes time to pack up a house and move. But my February, March, and April are going to be extremely heavy. I have at least half of the first draft chapters written, but many need to be rewritten – if people can complete a whole first draft novel in one month, I should be able to do it in three. I also realize that my estimated number of chapters is A LOT, but I’m planning to write as much of the outline as possible, ff that means that I’ve suddenly written 2 books or have to chop half my book out in revisions so be it. I want to make sure that Xanthe’s story is written.

Anyway… Back to the business plan…

These are my monthly goals for 2013:

January 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Complete the mainframe and the virtual net world building, Complete 2 Chapters of Identity

February 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Complete 1st Draft Chapters for Act 1 of Identity (~16 Scenes/Chapters)

March 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Complete 1st Draft Chapters for Act 2 of Identity (~28 Scenes/Chapters)

April 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Complete 1st Draft Chapters for Act 3 of Identity (~28 Scenes/Chapters)

May 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Edit Chapters for Act 1 of Identity

June 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Edit Chapters for Act 2 of Identity

July 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Edit Chapters for Act 3 of Identity

August 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Investigate Self-Publishing,  Solicit Agents, Outline Jention Chronicles Idea

September 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Decide who’s story will be next and plot out that story, Consider writing a Jention Chronicles short story and submit to Critique

October 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Perform necessary research for “next story,”  Create detailed outline for “next story”

November 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Participate in NaNoWriMo (Complete a 50k manuscript in 1 month)

December 2013: Write every day, Write at least 1 blog post every week, Review & Edit the NaNoWriMo project, Create Business Plan for 2014

Then I created charts for each month that roughly lay out my weekly goals and created an action item list that I want to have done by the end of the month. I also left some space on my action item list so that when I print it out and put it on my wall I can write in new tasks as the month(s) goes on.

January 2013
Week 1-5: (this is repeated for each week of the month)
Write every day
Mon / Tues / Wed / Thur / Fri / Sat / Sun
Write at least 1 blog post
In weeks 2 & 4 I added Write and send a “new” chapter to Bergen Wordsmiths Critique Group
Action Item List:

• Go to Bergen Wordsmiths Critique Meetings (x3)
• Go to Writer of the Weird Critique Meetings (x2)
• Write and Send 2 “new” chapters to Bergen Wordsmiths Critique Group
• Flesh out the aspects of Kinarran Life, both Mainlanders and Colonials
• Complete the world building for the mainframe and the virtual net

February 2013
Week 1-4: (this is repeated for each week of the month)
Write every day
Mon / Tues / Wed / Thur / Fri / Sat / Sun
Write at least 1 blog post
Action Item List:

• Go to Bergen Wordsmiths Critique Meetings (x2)
• Go to Writer of the Weird Critique Meetings (x1)
• Send 2 “new” chapters to Bergen Wordsmiths Critique Group
• Flesh out the aspects of Kinarran Life, both Mainlanders and Colonials
• Complete 1st Draft Chapters for Act 1 of Identity (~16 Chapters)

And so on…

I’ve filled out charts for each month of the year so far. It is my hope that this plan will help kick my butt into gear and help me get stuff done. I’ve also allowed for some flexibility in the plan so that I can improve it as the year goes on. I’ll keep you updated on how it works out for me.

That little stick man is going to be holding that gun to my head for the next few months. Wish me luck and thanks for reading 😉

P. S. Perhaps a detailed business plan is what you need for whatever project(s) you are working on this year. Think about it…

New Year’s Resolutions 2013

It’s interesting to look back on past new year’s resolutions and see one’s progress or lack there of. Looking back gives me a chance to see where I’m putting my priorities, realize how I’m growing, and enlightening me on what still needs work.

2012 is the first year in a very long time that I didn’t make a new year’s resolution and I think I suffered a little for that. I feel that my year’s goals were vague and lacked direction and… well resolve. If you don’t create goals for yourself it’s hard to get things done.

When I first started making new year’s resolutions when I was in high school, my lists were long and complicated. Filled with all the dreams of bettering my personality, my grades, and pursuing creative and non-creative goals. My lists would consist of pages of bullet points, most of which would go by the way side within the first month of the year. As the years have gone by, I’ve become smarter about how I create my new year’s resolutions so that I actually accomplish them. First off, my lists have become much smaller, only consisting of 5 or 6 major tasks. These tasks can then be worded in such a way that they encourage me to accomplish my goals. Some are more difficult to follow through with than others, but eventually I accomplish at least 90% of my goals.

So here are my resolutions for 2013:

1. Live Fearless! I will embrace the possibilities of growing my heart!
2. I will be a helpful, supportive wife to my husband and help him become aware of the matrix that surrounds us so that we can create positive opportunities that will grow our family, cultivate health, and encourage business prosperity.
3. I will face my demons and battle them to the death! I must be constantly diligent and be aware of when my demons threaten to take over my actions. I must remain determined, strong, and flexible – these qualities will help me to become a good mom. Remember: My body is not me but mine. My thoughts are not me but mine. I am the creator of my own reality.
4. I will respect my writer self! Demand the appropriate time to spend on my writing and writing goals not only from the people around me but from myself.
5. I will commit myself to creating, executing, and completing a “Writing Business Plan.”
6. I will commit myself to exercising a minimum of 4 times a week. I feel the best when I do this.

• I usually have at least one existential resolution, but this year it seems that I’ve created three. I’ll have my work cut out for me this year. 😉
• I got the idea of a “Writing Business Plan” from Marissa Meyer, a new author I follow quite extensively. She excited me about writing my own stories after reader her debut novel Cinder. Usually I just have the resolution “I will finish my first draft of XYZ,” but it never seems to work out the way I plan. I have the feeling that this new approach will be a much more effective resolution.
• I usually have one “exercise” resolution. I have to keep it simple otherwise I find that I don’t keep the resolution very well. The last two years I’ve been out of routine, but now that I’m a member of YogaGlo.com and plan to purchase a new bicycle soon (since NJ isn’t as conducive to hiking as CO) this will be a much easier resolution to keep.

I hope that your New Year is filled with joyful experiences that help you to create happy memories. Live life to it’s fullest! It’s different for everyone, life for YOU.

Note: got the above picture from luckywp.com