The first month of my 14-month short story collection plan is over. While I was at the informal writing business retreat last month, I created a timeline for the next short stories I plan to write. My working copy of the plan breaks down with weekly deadlines, but here’s a general overview:
- September – Outlining
- October – February – Write!
- March – May – Critiques
- June-August – Editor review and revise
- September – onward – Query agents.
Last year I started outlining Magazine Queries That Worked over the summer, then wrote it on weekends from October-March. I realized this past summer that I could apply the same structure to my fiction writing. So I am!
A few things are helping me along:
Project management – I broke the monthly plan down into weekly production deadlines. This way I don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of this project. I simply look at what I’m doing this week. To help ease my writing flow as I move on to each story, I created a story table with separate columns for character, setting, plot, and themes/symbols. I find these help as quick triggers/reminders of what is intended in each story, and how all the stories connect as a whole.
Accountability – The writing business retreat I went on last month was great, and the writer-hostess has decided to offer them monthly! I just came back from my second retreat, and I’m already signed up for October’s. At these retreats we have morning and lunch check-in and goal setting sessions, then a debriefing at the end of the day to assess and direct our progress. I’m also regularly posting on social media about this planning and writing process. I feel accountable to the other retreaters and online communities as I move forward with each month in the plan. Since I’m sharing this plan here, I’m also feeling very accountable to you, dear readers!
Time management – I set the same reasonable (to me) time commitment that I did for my last book, about 4-5 hours per week of deep, focused writing. Before the week begins, I plot out where those chunks of writing time will be on my calendar, and where they will be physically. I pick if I’m at a coffee shop, writing with friends, library or solo at home. To boost productivity in my professional and personal life, I subscribed to Calendly and began meal planning with grocery pick-up service. I no longer need to send back-and-forth emails with clients and prospects to pick a time for a call, and the meal plans have made dinner prep simple and freed up mental energy. Let’s not forget I’m also on a creative writing submission strike, which saves plenty of time.
I have never been so excited and energized about any writing project as I am about this one. That energy in and of itself is enough to help me along, and I’ll share monthly re-caps as this process rolls forward!
You’re a true inspiration! I love this plan and your time management ideas…much of which I need to practice.
Thanks! Having a plan helps me a lot, but some people don’t work well with them. I’m so used to having deadlines for client work so this feels like it’s coming naturally.
Hey! I nominated you for a blogger award! https://paperbeatsworld.com/2017/09/25/blogger-recognition-awards/
This is so cool. I’m so bad at planning. I don’t miss deadlines, and I get a lot done, but I’ve never managed to pull off “5 hours a week: project x, 4 hours a week project y…” sort of planning. This shall be my inspiration. 🙂 Best of luck, inspiration, and health to you! 🙂 (I included the health part because I have a cold again. I find it easier to get more done when you are healthy. ;))
Thanks! Yes, this is new territory for me as I apply these systems to fiction. I’m so used to creating plans for non-f work. The image I keep coming back to, for myself and in my stories, is a train. I’m only moving forward and I keep getting off at different stations for each story. Thx for the health blessing too–I hope you feel better soon! I’m keeping a pretty steady fitness/balanced eating routine so I hope colds and viruses stay away!
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