Beautiful People: laying down the guidelines

"Goals" has always been a word I dislike. It goes hand-in-hand with "deadlines" and "schedules" and alludes to "organized."

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I stink at all the above. So yeah. Not my favorite topic. 

But I have realized that having an idea about where you want to be and when, helps you actually get there. So I'm linking up with Beautiful People hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ further up and further in.

Mind you, these are just guidelines.

1. What were your writing achievements last year?

Erm, I don't remember.

That was a year ago.

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(You have no idea how relative that gif is to. . . everything.)

2. Tell us about your top priorty writing project this year?

Oddball, Oddball, Oddball.

I'm going to finish the first draft of Oddball the Sequel. Then I'll work on revising Oddball the First and will hopefully tackle Oddball the Last.

 I'm learning interesting things about trilogies.

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3. List 5 areas you'd like to work the hardest to improve this year.

Five? But, wha- That's a lot!

 I really don't like this commitment thing you're making me do. It's disturbing my peace of mind.

*pouts*

1) Short story writing. 

I stink at it. End of story.

2) This originally read : 

"Being more organized?"

But let's be realistic. That ain't gonna happen. 

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3) Writing more. 

I know every writer says that. But I don't even write once a day. I'll write 8,000-10,000 words in the span of a day/week. And then not write for the rest of the month. This is not an okay thing.

4) Read more. 

That does correlate with writing. Promises.

5) Journal more. 

Just 'cause.

4. Are you participating in any writing challenges?

1) You know I mentioned short stories? Beginning November of the 2015, I challenged myself to write one short story a month. November went well.

But December's short story is not turning out so short. It's leaked into January, and I kind of just want to shred it to bits at this point. I'll finish it. And afterward banish it too a dark dungeon where no one will ever, ever see it.

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But hey, if you want to buddy up and we can challenge each other to write a short story a month that would be cool.

2)  I'll be doing the Starting Sparks link up as the norm.

3) Does this link up count as a writing challenge?

Because I'm doing it. . .

5. What's you critique partner/beta reader situation like and do you have plans to expand this year?

I did send one short story out to be beta read. And I thank you all who so graciously read it and helped so very much with it (there shall be a smallish announcement of mild importance and great excitement on Jan. 29th).

Really, though people. I feel so ignorant. What do CPs even do? Do they look at each other's first drafts? Do they talk about character development, world-building, help solve plot problems? I have no clue.

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When people give me their writing to beta read, I only hope I'm doing it right.

I don't even know what word wars are. SOMEBODY HELP ME!

Recently, Skye let me read a first draft of hers. Which I happen to think is rather brave. Pretty much nobody sees my first drafts. They are hidden in dark places behind many locked doors. I'm a bit of an edit freak at times, and last year I tried to work on letting a bit of that go. But STILL!

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(So I can't come up with a single reason for this gif. Other then, it cracks me up beyond reasoning.)

6. Do you have plans to read any writer-related books this year? Or are there specific books you want to read for research?

I read The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maas somewhere in my past history. It was really good, but it's way more useful if you're revising/editing, and I was a wee little writer with half a working first draft. So when I revise Oddball the First I plan on going through The Fire in Fiction again.

7. Pick one character you want to get to know better, and how are you going to achieve this?

For once, I'm going to say no to characters. I'm all about characters and tend to get lost in their development. Since I've been working on Oddball since 2010 (way too long), I have a fairly good handle on the Foursome. So I'm going to focus more on actually writing.

Actually, I should just work on focusing. In general.

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8. Do you plan to edit or query, and what's your plan of attack?

Toss the plan. Just attack.  

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9. Toni Morrison once said, "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." What are the book that you want to see more of, and what "holes" do you think need filling in the literary world?

This question calls for three answers. Yeah, you're in for it.

1) Once upon a time I was a young human child (I hope most of you were, otherwise it begs the questions, what were you exactly?). At that time, any book or movie with magic was banded from our house. But I loved fantasy and it was near impossible for me to find non-magical fantasy books. Or maybe I was just looking in the wrong places? Anyhow, this is kind of why the Oddball Trilogy has no magic element. 

(Someone asked if Oddball could even be a fantasy if there's no magic. *shrugs* Maybe not? I don't really care what you call it. To me, it is complexly Oddball.)

2) There are books with great writing, amazing characters, excellent plot. I respect and admire that. But in a lot of the books I've read (or DNF) last year, some of the content did not please me. It makes me sad that today's standards are so low that society thinks some of these things are okay (sex before marriage, drunkness, etc.). I understand that it happens in today's society. I'm not necessarily saying books should not show these things. But--

Why are books celebrating and glorifying it? Why is it portrayed in a good light?

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I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I want my books to depict right as right and wrong as wrong. I hope that doesn't sound snobbish, because I sincerely do not mean it that way. You are free to think what you will (as if you need my permission *rolls eyes*). You can call me what you want. I will not judge.

But I will not apologize for what I think.
 

3) Think. A book that features a cute couple, yes? They both acknowledge that they like each other. The book may not necessarily center on their relationship, but it is a part of the story still, and--

And!

They never do so much as kiss on page. Not even kiss.

IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

Obviously, I think 'yes' since it's on my list.

"Why?"

1) Because I can.

2) Because love is not physical.

 

Have you ever seen this in a book? (I might want to read such a book.)

10. What do you hope to have achieved by the end of 2016?

Nearing the completion of the Oddball trilogy.

Getting better at writing short stories.

I think I'm done with commitments for the rest the year now. 

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Do you have a CP? What in the world do CPs DO?! What are some areas you hope to improve on during this year?