My 2016 Writing Goals (As Told by Bilbo Baggins)

2016 is just around the corner, and I can hardly believe it. Where did 2015 go?

As January approaches, I've been trying to get myself back into the swing of things, both with blogging and writing my novels. It can be easy for me to put things off (as you already know), but I'm starting off the new year with a fresh determination to stick to my goals. So without further ado, I wanted to share my writing goals for 2016.

I don't know why, but this post seems to want to use hobbit gifs. Can we just pretend I'm Bilbo Baggins for a bit? Okay, thanks.

Overall goals

• Write more! (This one is kind of obvious.)

•  I want to get in the habit of making writing a daily routine, which involves using 750words.com as much as possible.

• Edit more. Years ago, my problem was that I never finished anything. Currently, my problem is that I never revise anything. I need to fix that.

The view I'm trying to have about my first drafts.

• Let myself follow my inspiration. Sometimes I get so caught up in finishing something that I make myself stay on one project, While this is good at times, I need to be able to let go and be a bit more free with regards to what I choose to work on. I'm hoping to find the balance between staying focused but also letting myself pursue plot bunnies. (Because I have to admit, I kind of thrive on plot bunnies. And adventures. I think I actually am Bilbo Baggins...)

• Basically? Just write my heart out. This goal trumps all the others. I don't really care what I get done this year, as long as I'm writing... because that is what will really help me grow. (It also helps me feel fulfilled and happy, so that's all the more reason to do it.)

Specific projects I want to work on

• Because I'm Irish. Every December or January, I get the itch to work on my baby, Because I'm Irish. (Okay, I know it sounds weird to say "baby" with regards to novels, but you know that novel you come back to time and time again? That's what I mean.) Whether it's working on the first draft, which I started in December 2011, or rewriting it, which I started last December, I'm almost always working on BCII during the winter. I've also worked on its sequel. The weird thing is, it takes me usually about 6 months to a year to finish working on all the various BCII things I've done. So I always finish by June or July of the following year. So, to keep on track this year, I need to start now and finish this next summer. I'm thinking of editing both BCII and its sequel, Because We Can. Once those are both finished, I can start writing the third and final book in the series (something that I'm admittedly not ready for, but I'm trying to be).

• Lost Girls. This has so much potential, I just need to edit it. 

• Spaceboy. I started this randomly after NaNoWriMo. It involves space trips and space ships and cute people. It's going to be great.

(It's still Martin Freeman, so close enough.)

New things to try in 2016

• Tentatively, I would like to try out having beta readers, or at least let more people read my work than I ever have before.

• Working towards querying. Obviously, this was the goal all along, but I really want to make a point on polishing my writing so that I can get a move on.

• Short stories. (Maybe?) Of course, every time I try to write a short story, it turns into a novel, so...

• I want to write something where a girl spends the entire time pining over a guy and then absolutely nothing happens. Yes. It will suck. But it's quite realistic. (And perhaps a bit evil...)

These are by no means all of my writing goals, but these are some of them. I felt that writing them down might help me stay focused. Plus, it's always fun to share with you all. (And my third reason? I wanted to use all the Bilbo Baggins gifs.)

(What I will need while completing these goals.)

And now I want to hear from you! What are your writing goals for 2016?