I can't believe this, but I'm actually excited to get back to work. Well, not really back to my job, but certainly back to blogging and writing.
Now let's get down to business. I've been running this blog for about 9 months now. I'm incredibly satisfied with the results. I've met countless other amazing writers, started a critique group, and even hob-nobbed with a few literary agents. But one thing that has suffered is my writing. I don't ever seem to have enough time to work on my novel, which is sad because that really is the point of all of this: to get a book published.
I mean yes, I want to help other writers, and I love doing so, but even more important than that to me is getting a novel published. Not because I want to get rich, that's not going to happen anyway, but because I want to tell a story. My story.
Now that doesn't mean I'm going to stop blogging, oh no, I love it way too much to even consider that. But I am going to have to start taking things a little more seriously around here. I'm going to try to start focusing on blogging about writing more and putting up less silly posts about my personal life. I'm going to try to get back to the thing that made this blog cool in the first place: queries. Examples of good queries, critiques for writers who think their queries need a little help ... and I would try to share more of my own bad old queries, but I'm pretty sure I've run out.
So here is a list of things I plan on trying to do this year:
- A 500 follower contest.
- A blogfest about my favorite storytellers of all time.
- More guest posts sharing successful queries (KM Walton is next!)
- More interviews with bloggers and writers that I want you all to follow (JM Leotti is first!)
- More posts with query critiques (if you have a query that you think needs work, please email me)
I guess that's it for now. Sadly this means that if I buckle down and do as much work on the re-write of my novel as I plan to I won't be able to read and comment on as many blogs as I used to. I will still try to visit as many of you as I can, as often as I can though.
So here's a to great, successful year for all of us! I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better, and meeting many other great new writers.
46 comments:
This sounds like a good plan! Here's to a very successful 2011 for you, Matt!
I happen to love your silly posts about your personal life. :D
Looking forward to all the things you have planned for this year.
Best of luck with everything this year! I'm sure great things are coming your way. The blogfest sounds great, too. AND maybe I'll finally do the whole query thing....
Welcome back! Err...I didn't know you were gone, but only because I was gone, too. ;-)
Congrats on hitting the 9 month mark. Here's to another wonderful 9months ... and MORE!!!!
Oh, and can I snag that cool button for Jessica's editing services? I would love to stick it on my blog.
~JD
We started blogging about the same time. You were one of my first followers, too. Congratulations on a great year and good luck conquering this next one, too!
Good on you, Matt! I think a lot of us have vowed to do something a little similar this year. Give ourselves more time to write! Welcome back! :o)
Hey there, you! Sounds like a plan! Yeah, I went away and thought up some stuff of my own--so here's to us getting it done! Good luck!
Happy New Year, Matthew, to you and your family and all your readers!
Happy New Year, Matthew! I do love a mix of personal and writing posts! In 2010 I cut back on my blog posts from 3-4 posts a week to about two. It was taking away from my actual writing time and it does seem to work better for me. Everyone needs to find their own groove! Good luck in the new year!
I'm riding that happy blog train with you.
Sounds like a great plan! I can't wait!
Good plan. I agree the writing should come first, but even now I’m catching up on my blogs first. ;)
Excellent! I'm having to cut back on my reading and commenting on blogs too.
Good resolutions--getting back to the meat and potatoes of blogging. I'm hoping to do more blogging in 2011--get back to my normal schedule. It's hard to balance it all!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Good luck with your resolutions! I think your blog is going from strength to strength!!!
Good luck with your writing too! Take care
x
Yay!!! Get back on that dang book! I want to see you in print. And I'll keep my promise re: query letter if it happens~
I mean *when* it happens. When.
Dang crickets... ;p <3
Good plan, Matthew.
I think your blog is brilliant. I'll probably miss the funny personal stuff, but that's okay.
I'll get my query to you one of these days (if the offer still stands?)
Good luck!
That sounds like a good plan Matt. Sometimes it's important to focus on a few attainables. I look forward to reading your blog in 2011.
Happy New Year!
I think those are great goals! Sometimes you have to put things in perspective. :D
Good luck to you on your novel. The blogfest is a good idea.
Hey, writing comes first. I shall spam anyone who says otherwise.
Awe, You gotta do what you gotta do. It's true that it's easy to let blogging and networking take over the time you need for actual writing! I find when I do find time for writing it helps with my blogging and visa versa too..whether it's giving me new material for my blog, new questions, or new outlooks on writing and the publishing process. Good luck and happy new year!
Good Luck! It sounds like we have a lot of Goals in common this year! Hopefully 2011 will bring you everything you hope for!
Great goals! As always, I look forward to your posts and look forward to the next year's worth!
Awesome goals and good luck reaching them all!
Blogging does suck up time!
And you'll have to break down and do one fun post, because now everyone wants to know about your weird music tastes. Come on, Matthew!
Don't completely do away with the silly posts about real life! :o( Maybe take one day a week. Like "Mondays with Matthew" or something.
I love seeing other peoples' query woes though. Makes me feel less alone.
Happy New Year to you too!
Yup, I've cut way back on blogging, but I think there's a balance somewhere.
Your list for 2011 sounds awesome! I'm looking forward to the contest and the blog fest!
Happy New Year, Matthew! Keep up the great work on the blog. (silly posts are still okay)
Hugs!
Great plan. Good luck! This must be the year for getting down to business as I too have set myself some serious writerly goals for myself.
Glad you won't be disappearing on us though!
I hear you! And I'm glad that you will be focusing on your writing - it's a tough choice, but I know you won't regret it. (also I'll be posting about this on Thursday, if you have time for a peek!). :)
I totally love all your posts but that plan looks like the beesknees! Can't wait for the blogfest. Sounds intruiging!
Happy New Year
:D
oh yeah, i had a problenm with that last year - too much blogging and playing around, not enough actual writing. Which is why i dropped down to 3 posts a week and made sure i hit bloggers who comment on my posts and who i'm pals with first and foremost, and only worried about the others if i had extra time.
I would say it's slowed my follower growth and dropped my comments a bit, but i finished 2 novels so it was a good trade-off.
After i work on my query, i'll totes send it to you to post
I'm actually trying to cut down on the blogs I read, but this won't be one of them.
Congrats on the new focus, and by the way, no post is silly if people enjoy it.
Happy New Year!
Love your goals, but throw in some of your fun posts. we love them as well. :)
Nice to see you back. It looks like a good year ahead.
Happy New Year. This year is going to be excellent for all of us. I can feel it!
Happy New Year, Matthew! I think refocusing on your novel is a good move....That's the only way it is going to get published. :-)
Here's to a fantastic 2011, Matt :D Good luck with your writing and with all your blog goals in the new year :)
Happy New Year, Matthew! Glad to see you back!
Happy New Year! Don't feel bad if you need to cut back on blogging to write. I need to get more serious about progress in my writing. I'm going to try to limit reading blogs a tad. At least I think I am.
Hey Matthew! I'm just back today, too! I like your list of resolutions, although, since I've just recently started to follow your blog, I'll miss your personal posts. But I think it's important to have focus, SO--do whatcha gotta do!
I blushed a little when I saw my name as the first interview. I guess we'd better get to writing those questions! I've already written a few for when you 'guest' at my blog, but not nearly enough! ;-)
Anyway, I look forward to chatting. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you Matthew--and I think you'll feel better about blogging with your plan for 2011. I am looking forward to your posts.
Sounds like a great plan to me! Happy New Year :-)
Good luck on buckliing down this year! I need to do that too, and it's nice to know others feel the same way. We're all in this for the same thing- to get published- so we might as well start trying ;p Your plan for the blog sounds fun- can't wait to see what you have in store!
Post a Comment