Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is about our New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t really make resolutions because I know I don’t stick to them. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a disorganized blogger (and a disorganized person) and plans and lists don’t really work for me. Still, there are some things that I definitely want to do this year, so I’m going to go ahead and list them out. We shall see!
These are a mix of blogging goals and some other things. I could only easily come up with six, so I decided to just list those, rather than struggling to come up with other things (and not really meaning them). Honestly, I feel like my blogging has been going pretty well – I’m interacting a lot with others, commenting a lot, getting good content out there, so there’s not that much I want to change. Still, there are always some things, right? So, here they are!
Top Ten Six Resolutions for 2015
- Put up a discussion post every week – Of course, since I’m hosting the 2015 Book Blog Discussion Challenge with Shannon from It Starts at Midnight, I have to be a good example, right? Plus, I think this will go a long way toward building up relationships with even more bloggers because discussion posts get us talking!
- Finish writing my book – I started my book during NaNoWriMo and wrote enough to “win” (50k words), but the book is not nearly done yet. And now that NaNoWriMo is over, I’ve lost steam – majorly. Even worse, I’ve totally lost confidence, and I’ve been dwelling on the fact that the book just isn’t that good – there are so many things I need to do to get it up to snuff and there are some issues that I’m not even sure how to tackle. There are some elements of the book that I LOVE, but others that frustrate me. So, in my usual ADHD way, I start thinking about another book I could write and lose confidence in the first book. I don’t know if I can make the original book good enough, but I still want to finish it. I don’t want to just give up. So, I need to finish it in 2015!
- Request some physical ARCs – I feel like, in order to be seen as a real book blog, I have to request (and get) some physical ARCs directly from the publisher. I know, I know – this isn’t truly important. But I want the publishers to know I’m out here – I have to confess that I want to get invited to a publisher event or two at BEA. Is this a shallow goal? Maybe, but I can’t help but want it anyway. So far, in my blogging career, I’ve only requested ARCs twice (I got one of the books, and didn’t get the other – I was SO excited to get my first physical ARC directly from the publisher!). I will make more requests this year.
- Prioritize my editing work – Last year, one of my resolutions was to publicize my editing a bit more and try to get new clients. Well, I didn’t do too much with that, but I did create an Editing Services page on my blog and put up a half price introductory offer, which was enough to attract a new client. Turns out, that one client (L.A. Starkey – check her out!) was all I needed! I’ve already started working on four books with her (finished two), and she has plans for LOTS of books throughout the year. And, unlike me, she’s very motivated to keep writing (I need some of her energy!). She signed on with a publishing company called Booktrope, which is a sort of hybrid publishing/self-publishing company, and now I’m freelance editing for Booktrope too! All this is to say, that I will need to prioritize editing over reading and blogging sometimes throughout the next year. Which brings me to my next point …
- Find someone to guest post or co-blog – I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and have mentioned it once or twice, but this year I really need to make a concerted effort to find someone who can help out on the blog. Like I said, I will most likely be doing more editing work this year, and I don’t want to let my blog just peter out in the process (which I don’t think would happen) or kill myself trying to do everything myself (right now, I really should be editing, but I already didn’t put a post up yesterday, so I really wanted to get something up today). So, I’m going to find the right person (or maybe people?) to help add some great content to the blog!
- Exercise more – Yep, I’m going there. I used to be pretty good about working out – even if it was just on the elliptical down in the basement. But this past year, I was horrible about exercising! My husband joined a Crossfit class and has convinced me to join one too. I’m really nervous about it, and not at all sure that this type of program will be for me – but I do think it will be good to have someone specifically motivating me to work hard. Wish me luck!
How about you? What are your 2015 resolutions?
Number three massively relates to me! I would love to get to the stage where I feel I can request physical ARCs, but I’m not sure that I’m “there” yet. Where to start??!
R x
I guess this is more common than I thought. I really felt like most everyone but me was requesting ARCs. I feel like my blog is pretty well-established and I should be able to request them, but I’ve still held back for some reason. Do a Google search on requesting ARCs and you’ll get good advice!
Good luck on your book! I have zero confidence to start my book and I need to change that next year.
Confidence is the hardest part – how do you convince yourself that you can really do it? I’m not going to give up, though!
Sounds like some good goals for the new year! I hope you can find someone to help out with the blog. I have a co-blogger, Alicia, who hasn’t been around for awhile but she’s coming back this year, so that will help out a TON when I’m juggling the blog with two jobs and three classes, among other things. haha
-lauren
Yes, I think a co-blogger would be a great help – or at the very least having some people who might like to do guest posts.
Awesome goals!! I want to exercise more too, we can do it!! 🙂 Receiving ARCs is always a joy, I love getting the mail these days. Bookish mail rules! Whoa, a discussion post each week!? Sounds like fun. I wish you luck 😀
Okay – we’re both going to exercise. We can do it!! I know it’s silly that I haven’t requested ARCs. I really think my blog is well-established enough that I should be able to get them, but it’s just this mental block I have. 🙂
My doctor nixed Crossfit off my list of workouts due to my back issues. I need to get into going back to the gym, though. I started at the beginning of summer, and then it petered out.
I really hope you stick with your book!
I tend to go in spurts – I’ll be great about working out for awhile and then I’ll go back to not doing anything. I really need to be more consistent and stick with it!
I think these are all awesome goals and I hope you do well with all of them!
Thanks! I’m going to try!
OOh nice! Yay for us and writing our books! I need to edit mine a bit and then I might be looking into self-publishing it. Unless I get really happy with my changes, then I’ll try querying again!
Good luck with your resolutions!
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I’m super pumped for your discussion challenge this year, as I am also hoping on writing more discussions this year. I’ve also thought about trying to request some physical ARCs, but I’m rather nervous about it all. Though the worst thing they can do is ignore my email or say no, right? So I’ve been trying to think of some new releases that I really want to request this year.
Yes! We’ll all have to request ARCs and then have a big discussion about it. Combine those goals! 🙂
Great goals! I never requested physical ARC’s, because I live in the Netherlands and am afraid pubisher don’t want to send me books, but after reading a great post about requesting ARC’s lately I decided to give it a try. Not sure were to start though.
I enjoy your discussion posts, so I am happy to hear you’ll keep doing those every week :).
Good luck with your book! Maybe you can set yourself goals like edit X pages each week?
Yes, you’re definitely at a disadvantage when it comes to ARCs. Glad you’ve been enjoying my discussions!
Good luck with your goals! I’m also hoping to finish one of my stories in 2015, I have way to many unfinished stories lying around. I know the feeling of temporarily losing excitement over your project after Nanowrimo, usually I eventually get it back but it takes some time.
Yes – I really don’t want to start up a new book without finishing this first one. I just have to keep my confidence going!
These are some great goals so best of luck with them! And I hope you finish your NaNoWriMo novel! I know I have lost steam with mine as well and have started to doubt whether it’s any good, but I don’t want to give up on it either.
And I’m definitely looking forward to the Discussion Challenge, and reading your discussion posts!
I go through spurts with my novel where I feel great about it for a little while, and then I start to doubt myself. The great thing about NaNo was that the philosophy was just to keep writing – it kept me moving forward instead of thinking too hard about what I wanted to change. I really need to get myself back into that mindset!
Good luck with all your goals! I’m also participating in Shannon’s event, because I definitely do not post discussion posts that often, and that needs to be fixed haha!
I started doing much better about posting discussions in the past couple of months, and I’ve found that I love it! So glad you’re joining us!
These are awesome goals, Nicole. It’s hard to keep resolutions, but at least you can say you tried. Your goals are actually very similar to mine. I’m also hoping to post more discussions because I’m also participating in the challenge. Good luck with finishing your book! I want to finish three of my WIPs this year, including editing them, which is kind of a scary prospect to me. I wouldn’t worry too much about feeling discouraged about your NaNo novel. I always hit a point when I’m writing a novel and I feel completely stuck (well, I’ve only written one and a half novels so far, but still), and usually taking a break does wonders. Then I just force myself to keep on writing until I finish it or else I can’t start my next novel. I also hope to request a physical ARC from a publisher this year. Maybe Black Dove White Raven? I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll have enough time for that because it releases soon and my blog is still pretty new. Ah, #6. I haven’t exercised in a while, but I just got off from a 5 month cross country season, so I think I got in all my exercise for the year :).
Good to know I’m not the only one who’s hit a writing slump. I think I was so pumped up with NaNo, and then I just kind of dropped everything and now I feel a bit deflated. I’m hoping to get my mojo back, though.
These are all great resolutions! Do you listen to any writing podcasts? Learning more about the craft and how to fix things gone wrong may help you out. Don’t give up on a story that’s almost complete. All the magic happens in revisions! I highly recommend the Writing Excuses podcast. Each is only 15 minutes long and full of great advice. This summer I started listening to them all the time, from season one. I listen while in the car or emptying the dishwasher. They’ve taught me so much. Everything is fixable, you just need to learn the methods to fix things that are wrong before you have a trunk of 20+ novels that went nowhere 🙂
http://www.writingexcuses.com
Thanks for the advice – I will definitely go and check that podcast out! I know that I need to just keep moving and not give up, but as soon as NaNo was over and I took a break from writing, I started doubting myself. I still love aspects of my book though, so I’m not going to give up!
Know that you are not alone. It’s totally natural to doubt yourself. I think every book I write is crap 🙂 And many others think the same of their books. Face that fear and get back to work! You can do it!
They sound like good goals. I’m on the exercise buzz now too and I’ve decided to do a monthly blog post about how I’m getting on with my goals. I hope that will keep me on track. And good luck with the physical arcs, I just love when they come, it feels fab to get book post. But if I’m honest I prefer reading ebooks as it’s just handier.
It is true that ebooks are handier sometimes – I used to always prefer physical books because I just love the feel of them and the experience is just different somehow, but I now find more and more often that I’m choosing to pick up my Kindle.
Oh I know what you mean about requesting physical ARCs and not feeling like “real” book blogs if you don’t have one. I’m making it a point to request too this year! And good luck on writing your book, I’m sure you can pull it off! And hit me up about the co-blogging thing — I’ve been trying to find more opportunities to blog more. 🙂
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I’ll definitely shoot you an email about co-blogging – I could use a little help around here! 🙂
Good luck with all yours goals!!! I agree with #3, I feel the same that physical ARCs will mean I’ve really made it. Obviously, I’m nowhere near that goal yet but one day… one day… 😀
Obsessive Compulsive Reader
I guess this is a pretty common goal – Requesting ARCs is the big step that we all make as bloggers that makes us feel official. 🙂
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For your physical ARCs and pub invite goal, I recommend trying for Macmillan, they love book bloggers and have a fun party at BEA 🙂 Good luck!
I just now saw this comment for some reason, but I had to reply! Thanks for the advice – it just so happens that Macmillan is the first publisher that I contacted about an ARC because I absolutely ADORED Kiss of Deception and I really want to read the second book, which is coming out in July. I’m nervous because I haven’t heard back from them yet, but I honestly have no idea how long it usually takes to hear from a publisher (it’s only been twelve days). Guess if I don’t hear back on that book, I’ll try another one (maybe a debut – one that’s not quite as popular). If you have any advice on that first publisher contact, I’d love to hear it. 🙂
[…] Top Six Resolutions for 2015 […]
How are your resolutions going? I never make them because I never keep them. Hope you have better luck!
I love that you asked – I need someone to keep me on my toes! Well, let’s see – some of the resolutions have been going great, and some … not as great. I HAVE been putting up a discussion post every week. But I have made ZERO progress on finishing my book. Yikes! I requested a physical ARC earlier this month (we shall see what happens with that!). I have given TONS of priority to my editing work (which is pretty much why I’ve made zero progress on my writing). I haven’t found anyone to co-host or guest blog (though I had one person inquire and I didn’t follow up – need to do that!). And exercise – well, I was doing great at first with the Crossfit, but I’ve found it to be a little intimidating. Everyone is WAY above me in their level of fitness and I just kind of ending up feeling like a wimp when I go there, which hasn’t been super motivating. I’m debating switching to something else, but I can’t decide for sure.
Thanks for asking because it made me take a look at these goals again and remind myself! Hope you don’t mind my long-winded response!
Hubby and I joined our YMCA almost 3 years ago and I like the things there. They don’t seem as intense and the other gyms. I also love water aerobics…easier in the water, plus 3/4th of the body is hidden! 😉
Ha! Yes – that sounds more my speed!