For the new year, I thought I might try and new way of organizing my schedule. I tried it a few years ago, and it sorta work. I'm sure it would have worked better if I stuck to it. Which I will this time!
As ever, I have my year long calendar hanging from the wall with deadlines highlighted. Some are real, some are self imposed. I then mark off each day with the color corresponding to each series. Green for the Gaslight Hunters, Red for Black and Redd, Blue for the unnamed fantasy, and purple for the shorter works. This is more for my own curiosity. I want to see how much time each project requires. I also want to keep track of when I write the most and when I edit the most.
Next, is a blank notebook with one purpose only. Outlining my time. It might sound rather simple, but it helps me tremendously. The first page is the list of all the projects I want to finish this year, which are then ranked by "importance". Not that any story isn't important, but some are better along than others. I told myself I'd finish a totally new novel by the end of the year. This will help me when I finally am ready to start that. Right now, I'm guessing it will be in the late spring or early summer.
As discussed before, submitting to agents is the top priority right now. I have list of top agents and am working through it. I'm also trying to fit in a few shorts for new markets. And all that time waiting for responses means time to keep writing.
The list helps me pick what to write next. Book 2 of both the Hunters and Redd and Black are fully outlined and have the first chapter written. I keep stalling on doing more because I simply don't know which one will get picked by agents first. Then of course, what if neither do? That's why I'm trying to outline the fantasy series in my down time.
As of right now, I think I have everything fairly well balanced. We all know that could change at any second. This time, I have contingency plans for both successes and failures. I'm so excited for 2016, despite the rather bumpy start.
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