Normally, I would have already written this post by now. I’ve been out of school for a week! But don’t worry. I haven’t been laying about, sunning myself by the pool and feeding the goldfish, totally un-goal-oriented. Oh no. (For one thing, there’s been very little sun.)
I’ve been so caught up in revisions for THE EIGHTH DAY, I haven’t had the chance to write it down as #1 on my To Do List! But by the time you read this post, I expect I will have sent the manuscript back to my editor, so I can go ahead, make the list, and check the first one off:
1. Complete revisions for THE EIGHTH DAY and send the manuscript off to my editor. (DONE, I hope!)
2. Plan and then complete revisions on the draft of THE EIGHTH DAY #2. This is due to my editor by August 1. It will be her first look at the manuscript – and the very first manuscript I’ve ever turned in that was contracted before it was written. (Gulp.)
3. Visit my sister’s family in Kansas and try not to think about book stuff all the time.
4. Contact book stores and libraries about appearances to promote THE CAGED GRAVES. (This is difficult for me because I am shy. I love it when I am invited to appear somewhere. Soliciting engagements is harder for me.)
5. Plan and plot THE EIGHTH DAY #3 – at least as much as I can before the main characters wrench the outline out of my hands and force me to start writing the draft under their direction.
6. Get off my behind to swim and walk and bike as much as possible.
7. Visit London, Wales, and possibly Paris with the family. Part of this trip will be book research. Part of it will be Doctor Who Fan-Girling. All of it will be fun.
8. Make a quick pass of revisions on another manuscript and do a little brainstorming/research for a Shiny New Idea.
I know this is far more than I can ever get done in a couple months, and yet I feel like I have to put it all on the List. What are your goals for the summer?
Good luck! Your #2 is exactly mine too. (commence freak out) 😀
I have one goal: revise NO REST and get it ready for submission. If I can get that done this summer I’ll be pretty happy.
Busy as always I see, Dianne. Nothing wrong with that.
My summer goals consist of finishing up my sequel and revising. I’ll probably either write a few more picture books or return to writing my MG series.
My list is equally crazy-ambitious, but what are we going to do? 🙂
Sounds like you have some great FUN activities on there as well as work. We’re only going as far as D.C. this summer, but I’m looking forward to sharing that with the boys. It’s a trip we’ve been wanting to do with them since they were born!
And… of course… a TON of writing.
Good luck with your goals!
Busy as always. I feel like summer gets cramped with all the stuff we want to do so freaking badly and then…sometimes it doesn’t always get done. Sounds like your list is manageable and fun. 🙂 Good luck with revisions on T8thD and T8thD#2 – you can do it!!!!!! *waves pom poms* You have a great editor by your side, don’t worry! 🙂
And woo oooh wa oooh (my terrible rendition of the DW theme song), have a blast on your trip to London, Paris, etc!
I was just wondering to myself how long it will be before your books atart making enough money that you can quit your day job and be a full time writer, and here you are, buried under a mountain of to-do’s and you’re not even going to your day job! Maybe you’re destined to be a busy, busy lady no matter what. 🙂
Wow, impressive. I have a lot of mini goals, but my big one is finish revising and start querying.
#3, echoed–and man do I hear you on #4, but until you ask, you have no idea how wonderful a response you may miss out on, eh?
My goals? Stay in one piece, finish my WIP, get through edits…as soon as my editor returns them to me, and try to keep the kids learning something so we’re on target for a 2 month break around Thanksgiving/Christmas time. That works, right?
Good luck with all your goals! I love how you schedule in some fun time too. I mainly just make all mine writing/editing related and forget things like real life. LOL!
#2 would scare me too… so would the self-promotion thing. I don’t mind talking to people, but asking them to do things for me – ug!
I love your traveling goals as well as the biking and stuff.
You’ve got a lot to do this summer, don’t you? 😉
You’ve got all kinds of exciting stuff lined up!!
Writing wise I’m hoping to finish revisions on one story and get it to crit buddies, polish another & send it off to my editor and start a rewrite of a 3rd! 🙂
Goals? *snort* I should set goals. Let’s see…can I go on vacation with you, LOL? Everything you have planned sounds lovely.
But seriously, I’ve got some major editing to do on novel #2, then I need to start writing novella #2 (#1 novella is done and #2 is outlined)
Nice goals! I’m also shy about soliciting promo work for my book. I love getting invites, though!
I’m hoping to do editorial edits for Catalyst, and then finish my WIP, and get much of Control #3 out of the way. phew!
Good luck on all your goals. If you get all this done, it sounds like you’ll have a great summer.
I love how you slipped #7 in there so nonchalantly, as though it were nothing. Holy moley! Where’s the excitement, woman???
Sounds like a fabulous summer ahead for you.
Hi, Dianne,
Well, you certainly have one busy and FUN summer planned. I hope you meet all your goals.
Don’t forget to keep breathing. LOL.
What a cool trip. AND FOR RESEARCH.. Excellent. I can think of no better way to spend free time.
Sounds like you have an exciting summer planned ahead. I hope you take lots of pictures. I visited London and Paris before. You can totally get inspired visiting those cities.
Ambitious, but awesome!
Um… jealous of your travel plans!!! The book I just finished is set at a French chateau in the Loire River Valley. Wish I could have done research there, wah wah. ENJOY! Take lots of pictures for us. It sounds like you have a really busy and productive summer coming right up!
Ok, if you can aspire to do all that, surely I can finish my manuscript and write some short stories. When I feel overwhelmed, I’ll think of you. 😉
Thanks for commenting on my blog today, Dianne! I think it’s great that you were able to connect with that student. As a former educator, I loved making connections with my students.
I just wanted you to know that I added an update to that post. I think some people might’ve misinterpreted what I was saying there, and I really just want to clear things up. =)
Buena Suerte with all your revisions and solicitations. Swimming and biking are high on my summer to-do list as well. 7 weeks until I go back to my classroom…
Hi Dianne … sounds as though life is planned – good for you .. and practise makes perfect with getting over the shyness – you’ve got so much going for Caged Graves – milk it!!
Happy preparations .. are you seriously coming to London – if so and there’s time give me an email and I’ll try and get up to meet you .. ?
cheers Hilary