I'm starting the goals early, simply because I'm excited about my number one goal...

1. Attend SIWC!!! But it'll be different this year - we're really going to miss you, Jen. Can't you pop on over?
2. Get Autumn in Snake Canyon to 20,000 first-draft words or more.
3. Work on Freedom screenplay, maybe half done?
4. Finish a SF short story that I started.
5. Send Garden Monster out again, if I don't hear from Lobster Press by October 16th. They're one of these that only contact you if they're interested.

That's all I should write down, or I'll have a lot of incompletes at the end of the month.

Ahh October. An October without SIWC. *shivers* It's like the world is out of alignment.

Good goals Angela.

My own:
1. Try not to become too moody about missing the SIWC. This is an important goal for my husband's sake.
2. Attend the October write-a-thon (whoops I forgot what we called it) here at the forum. Yay!
3. Finish line-editing the book and begin the larger edits. I should have the first part done this week, actually. The larger edits can take most of October.
4. Continue building the new story. I'm worried I'll lose it during November but I hope not. Hey, maybe I'll come out of NaNoWriMo more pumped to write it than ever! Well, I can always dream.
5. Decide what to write for NaNoWriMo.

It's a few hours later and I'm changing one!

4. Continue building the new story, and get at least 5000 words written (so the story begun) before NaNoWriMo. That'll give me something to go from in December, no matter what happens, and even if I've lost it I'll have a better thing to try to get back to.

Re: your #4 - good idea.

I want to add one too. The forum's writing retreat. How could I have forgotten?

Hmmmm . . .

1) I want to get the final change notes completed on my current WIP, and I'm going to strive to act on the final change notes, get changes/add-ins finished too, but October's looking crazy, so I'm unsure . . . I'll make a good start though, for sure!

2) Take part in our forum writing retreat.

3) Go to Surrey. I hope. Gah. Stay posted.

4) Write and polish query letter for WIP.

5) Keep up with/kindle new work.

Well, happy writing and daydreaming everyone. Keep cozy and warm. I wish you tonnes of coffee (hot chocolate?) inspired words this month!

Surrey - gah? Stay posted?

You have to come!!!!!

Dear Ang (and anyone else who cares ):

Re: Surrey. Sorry for the GAH yesterday. Right up until last night I was going back and forth--then I just bit the bullet and went with my gut. I am going to Surrey. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! The moment I hit submit on the registration site, I knew I'd done the right thing.

Sorry for the scare.

Yaaay Ev! I'm so glad you're coming. Guts know best!!

Goals, hmmmm, well, being as I feel like I'm immersed in mud up to my neck when it comes to writing, I'm tempted to whine and moan and say I won't get anything done BUT I'm so inspired by you guys that I'm gonna say:

1. Surrey: totally easy because it's so much fun and I can hardly wait to visit!

2. Keep on keeping on with the WIP.

3. Think about, agonize over, Nano and decide whether I'm gonna do it.

4. Last but not least the forum writing retreat!

And November draws near! Just a few days left, and it's quiet as the grave around here (like my Halloweeny simile? huh? huh?) so I may as well review my goals. (And so should you, if you're reading this.)

1. Try not to become too moody about missing the SIWC. This is an important goal for my husband's sake. I did all right The wonderfulness of attendees who kept me "in the loop" helped, too.

2. Attend the October write-a-thon (whoops I forgot what we called it) here at the forum. Yay! Yay indeed! It rocked. I'm glad we're having another early next year.

3. Finish line-editing the book and begin the larger edits. I should have the first part done this week, actually. The larger edits can take most of October. And I did! There's just one big change left, and thanks to a marvellous writing exercise I think I know what I'm going to do about it. I'll tackle it in December.

4. Continue building the new story, and get at least 5000 words written (so the story begun) before NaNoWriMo. That'll give me something to go from in December, no matter what happens, and even if I've lost it I'll have a better thing to try to get back to. I hit 5000 today! It's very, very awkward going, mostly because the story I'm writing is unlike anything I've written before and a major change occurs at about 10,000 words that I know is going to make it a peculiar thing to write and I'm not sure how to handle that. But I'm charging ahead anyway, and I'll edit out the kinks later.

5. Decide what to write for NaNoWriMo. Not really. I've changed my mind a few times. But I'll figure it out Sunday or Monday.

Dear Jen,

Hurrah re: your goals this month! You did awesome. (And yes, I loved your Hallowe'en simile.)

1) I want to get the final change notes completed on my current WIP, and I'm going to strive to act on the final change notes, get changes/add-ins finished too, but October's looking crazy, so I'm unsure . . . I'll make a good start though, for sure! Just as I figured, I didn't get around to actually starting the final change/add-ins, but I have very thorough notes and even better, got two other ideas during Surrey workshops. I've never been so ready (or excited!) for an final edit. I can't wait to get started on it!

2) Take part in our forum writing retreat. This was awesome, and like you, Jen (and I assume, Barb and Ang!), I'm thrilled that we're going to make it a seasonal thing.

3) Go to Surrey. I hope. Gah. Stay posted. This was the best SiWC I've ever attended--I'm unsure if it's because of the actual workshops/attendees/presenters/and company (though I know those things, especially the latter! ) were HUGE, or if it's just because there was something deep in me (that I didn't even know about) that needed changed/affirmed/challenged and the conference/some other Surry stuff met that unknown need. In any event, it was wonderful and I already can't wait until 2010's.

4) Write and polish query letter for WIP. I did this (Thanks, everyone who critiqued!), and now, after Surrey, have lots of ideas of how to make it still better.

5) Keep up with/kindle new work. I did do this, but need to do a lot more of it (especially the latter).

Anyway, it was a really, really great, inspiring month and I am PUMPED for November.

You both did so well! Jen, I'm looking forward to when you have your edits finished, because then I get to read your manuscript, right? Also, I'm very curious about the change at 10,000 words in your new manuscript. Can you tell us more?

My goals:
1. Attend SIWC!!! It was so good. The best one yet. I too am not sure why. It was almost an intangible "better". Already, I can't wait until next year.
2. Get Autumn in Snake Canyon to 20,000 first-draft words or more. Almost. I'll get it by Friday for sure.
3. Work on Freedom screenplay, maybe half done? Nothing done here, however, I'm not behind. Marina is doing the rewrite behind me and she hasn't caught up to what I did last month yet.
4. Finish a SF short story that I started. Oddly enough, I did write a short story, but it wasn't the one that I was thinking of when I made this goal.
5. Send Garden Monster out again, if I don't hear from Lobster Press by October 16th. They're one of these that only contact you if they're interested. Nope, didn't do this. I'm not sure why I only gave them a month to respond.

And then I later added a goal - the Writer's Retreat here. It was fabulous!!! In fact that's where the short story started that I wrote. Also, I may do something with the bear story.

So not a brilliant month, but not bad either.

That's right Ang I'm glad you still want to!

I can't really tell you more about the "big change" at 10,000 words, though I'm sure whoever publishes the book (look at my confidence! ha!) will ruin it for everyone on the back flap anyway, so... I'll think about it, when it's written.

Mrs. Admin, could we change the title of this thread to October 2009 so we don't forget which year? I know it's unlikely but the librarian in me wishes it. Heh.

1. Surrey: totally easy because it's so much fun and I can hardly wait to visit! Done, Done, Done! And it was inspiring and motivating!

2. Keep on keeping on with the WIP.I've been muddling along and I did get some new ideas in Surrey

3. Think about, agonize over, Nano and decide whether I'm gonna do it. Did think and agonize over it but I don't think it's going to be a nano year for me

4. Last but not least the forum writing retreat!Which went wll and I'm looking forward to the next one!