On the Journey: 20 Weeks to Lift-Off

Current Word Count: 28,736 Beginning Chapter 15

So I'm adding a new weekly post to my blog. If you've been here before, you probably already figured out that on Mondays I try to do some kind of study or tips for writing, and Fridays I write a brief book review.

With the knowledge that I am a Genesis finalist and the annual ACFW conference countdown beginning, I thought it would be fun to include a weekly journal of my progress as I move toward my conference goals. I'll be posting these updates on Wednesdays.

What ARE my goals?

Last year was my first time at a writing conference, and I learned a whole lot, both as I prepared and attended. These few months since the conference have really felt explosive in terms of growth for me. So I am hoping to set goals which will again set me up for massive growth as a writer.

1. Finished Manuscript
Because the prize for winning in any category of the Genesis contest is dibs on a meeting with agent or editor of your choice, I need to be ready to pitch a proposal for a completed manuscript to that agent or editor. (No, I'm not trying to be sly in not saying the title of my piece. We are asked to keep that info under wraps until after the judging is completed, sometime in July. So if you know my title, be warned-- it's classified! Don't tell.)

2. Completed Proposal
One of the things I learned last year was that though an agent won't take stacks of paper home from the conference from all his or her appointments (and I do NOT blame them), that doesn't mean he or she won't ask to see a proposal or sample of my writing. So this year I aim to be prepared with a proposal completed and ready for anyone who asks. Also, that way, it's ready to submit to any interested agent(s) as soon as I get home from the conference.

3. FABULOUS One-Sheet
I don't think these are necessary, and I've heard other writers say that they are never asked for these at other conferences. But I like the concept of putting all the highlights of you and your manuscript on one page. Through a trial-by-fire workshop last year, I learned a LOT about putting one of these babies together, and I'll probably do a post at some point that is all the dos and don'ts that I learned.

But that's it. Those are my goals. I am shooting for writing 1K words per day, which should put me finishing the manuscript sometime in July. Then I'll rewrite. Then start putting together the proposal and one-sheet.