WIP Wednesday: Going into Attack Mode!
Posted by annastan on May 19th, 2010. Filed under: WIP, Writing Rants.Now that the semester is over, I’ve run out of excuses for why I’m not getting much writing done. I keep telling myself I’m just taking a teeny-tiny break. Well, break time is over my friends. It’s time to go into attack mode!
There are two projects I’ll be tackling:
1. A revision of the fairy tale retelling I’ve been working on since November.
My goal: Come June 15th, the revision WILL be done!
2. An outline of the brand new version of my oldest WIP. (By the way, outlining is something I hardly ever do, so this is a pretty big step for me.)
My goal: By the beginning of next week, I WILL have the outline all worked out and polished.
That’s my plan for the next few weeks. Can you hear my battle cry? So who’s with me? Will you cast aside your excuses and go into attack mode? What are your WIP goals for this week, month, etc?
May 19th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Good luck, Anna. I’m giving myself a time goal too. I’ve never done it before, but I think it might help.
May 19th, 2010 at 8:21 am
I’m with you! Charge! Oh, no, it’s the killer bunny!
May 19th, 2010 at 8:26 am
A set goal is an accomplished goal…okay, I just made that up LOL but I know that when I make a list of things I need to do I end up getting to all of them.
May 19th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Good for you, Anna! My goal is to finish the first draft of my WIP by the end of June. It definitely helps to motivate me to have a goal.
May 19th, 2010 at 9:13 am
If anything can scare me into getting back to work…it’s that bunny!! My goal is to write 20 pages a week and have a solid first draft done by the end of July. Here’s hoping!!
May 19th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Cute picture.
My goal is to finish editing my wip so I can send it to my beta readers.
May 19th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Yay for setting goals!
I think this post may be the kick in the pants I need to finally finish my WIP!
Love that bunny.
)
May 19th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
WRITERS MAKE such great plans. It’s keeping to them that we struggle with. I can see you’re successful at it, Anna, so consider yourself my inspiration.
Not my muse, however, remember what I said I might do to my MC one the first page?
May 19th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I have commitment issues, and I think setting goals would help me. I know I need to revise my WIP. I’ve gotten great feedback and I know what I need to do. But then a cute little new story idea struts by and I get distracted.
I know I have to finish the things I start. How do you stay focused? Are you a disciplined person by nature? Oh, and congrats on being done with school!
May 19th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I’m throwing back my head and howling at the moon!
I’m more than halfway through my wip and would like to finish it up before the school year ends – or soon after!
May 19th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Good luck to you too, Nan! After doing NaNoWriMo a couple years ago, I realized that time goals can be really motivating. Good luck!
Haha, don’t worry Clara. I don’t think he bites (too much).
Andrea, I like that saying! It sounds very proactive.
Hi Laurie! I’m thinking I should print out the bunny and put him next to my monitor – that will keep me motivated! Good luck with your draft!
May 19th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Stina, isn’t he great? Good luck with your editing. You can do it!
Caroline, I definitely needed a kick in the pants – glad I’m not the only one! Go, go, go!!
Jon, I’m so flattered to be your inspiration. I’m definitely not your muse, though. I sometimes think of killing characters off at the end, but at the beginning? Not so much.
Sheila, it can be so hard to stay on target! Sometimes the last thing I want to do is revise, but setting goals really helps. Even better is getting other people involved with those goals. For example, I tell my agent or a beta reader that I’m going to send them a revision by a certain date and then I give them permission to harass me if they don’t receive it on time. Sometimes you just have to be tough on yourself and make yourself reach those goals. Good luck – you can do it!
Laura, I’m howling with you! You show that WIP who’s boss!
May 19th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Oh, that bunny is a motivator, for sure!
I’m determined to finish the revisions of one novel and turn back then to another. Lots to do.
May 19th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Anna – it was so nice to meet you at NESCBWI — good luck w/ revisions!
May 19th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Attack mode! Battle cry! Huzzah!! WIP, you may now fear me!
Excellent motivation, I’m with ya.
May 19th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Attack rabbits are awesomely scary.
My goal is to finish a revised synopsis for my critique group by this weekend. Back to work!
May 19th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
THE PERFECT tests are the ones that fail.
Anna, you unknowingly played host to a folly in our WIBIJ game when I left the wrong clue at your blog. So, you will now have even more traffic from WIBIJ!
May 19th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
**In a malevolent scheme to confuse WIBIJ?! players, this was posted. If you have found yourself utterly confused, good.
This is not the clue.**
May 19th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Sounds like good goals. Good luck in all your endevors. Now get to work:)
May 19th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Tricia, isn’t he great? Good luck with your revisions! By the way, I just got the books you sent – I’m so excited to read them!
Kris, it was so great to meet you! Happy writing!
Yay Crystal, I’m glad you’re on board! Our WIPs are cowering in fear!
Sarah, synopses are no fun, but you can do it! Good luck!
Jon, I’m happy to get as many comments as you want to leave, even if they don’t contain the correct clues.
Thanks, Kate! Back I go!
May 19th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Good luck with your goals. *insert battle cry* I’m with you! I will write a lot this week. How’s that for specific? Ha!
May 19th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
no more excuses!
i’ll start my next manuscript
and eat more salad
May 19th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Good for you for getting your goals out there! I should do this too…
May 19th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Thanks, Elana! I’m glad you’ve joined the fight, even if it’s in a slightly non-specific way.
That’s right, Serenissima! If we’re being strict with ourselves, we might as well go all out!
You can do it, Lydia. Even if they’re small goals, you’ll feel awesome when you achieve them!
May 19th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Yes Yes! I need the powers of the bunny!!!!! I have taken a break because I’ve been reading a buttload of YA books, but I have had a PB ready for submission for about a month now and I have yet to submit it! I must harness the powers of the bunny and get on it immediately!
May 19th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I’m with you, floppy ears! Must snail mail hard copy of revised YA to agent man before leaving for London/India next Friday. ATTACK!!
May 20th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Well, I’ll be crying. Not sure about the battle!
May 20th, 2010 at 7:52 am
I am SOOO going on attack! I might need you to send over the bunny to kick my butt, though. Woo-Hoo!!
May 20th, 2010 at 9:35 am
You can do it!
I love the idea of outlining an old WIP in a new version. I have one that definitely needs a new version. I might have to try that.
May 20th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Dena, you can do it! Use that bunny power and get that PB out the door!
Yay, Nandini! I hope your agent loves your revision!
Aw, Sherrie. A little crying is okay as long as you bounce right back and write!
Heather, I’m sure we can get the bunny to make a house call!
Catherine, it’s really helped me think of the story in a new way. Let me know if you give it a try.
May 20th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I’m participating in Weronika Janczuk’s Page-A-Day challenge through mid-June. After that, I suspect I’ll just keep plugging along until my first draft is done, then revise an older story while the newest one rests.
May 20th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
My goal is to finish my WIP draft by June 30, major rewrites by Sept. 30, and final polish by Dec. 31.
May 21st, 2010 at 9:41 am
Kathryn, the page-a-day challenge sounds like a great way to stay motivated. I hope the momentum continues for you!
Marcia, I love that you’ve got it all planned out. Just keep plugging along – you’ll get there!