writing goals – Meilo Zaborowski: Author

I could be an accident, but I’m still trying

Sorry I’ve been quiet for a while. I uh. Decided to take a break from book 3. I was originally only going to wait until the beginning of the year, just to gain a little distance, but now it looks like it’s going to be a bit longer.

See, I stumbled across a little thing called Story Grid. It’s an entire framework for editing, and by association, writing, created by an editor of over 30 years, and has now grown into a team of editors and writing coaches. I’ve read most of their books, watched a ton of their YouTube videos… I know, I know, not another writing help spiral, right? (Honestly though, when have I gone wrong?) Except this one’s different: their workshop includes tailored, one-on-one feedback from trained coaches. I’m already enrolled in the 4-month program starting in January.

Because it’s not just book 3 that needs help. I have always felt like I’m chasing what the big boys have been doing, but haven’t ever gotten close enough to touching. My scenes are usually thin and way short, my pacing is all over the place, and if Audrey’s response to book 3 is any indication, I don’t have plotting down as well as I thought.

Maybe I’ll get back to working on the book before the workshop is over, but no guarantees. What is guaranteed, though (literally! or I can ask for my money back), is that I’ll come out the other side a better writer.

Let hope burn in your eyes

Goal 1) Revise BM&A3

My Goal: Finish one lesson every two weeks (roughly)
Where I planned to be: Lesson 21, complete
Where I am: Lesson 21, complete
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Ayo, it’s doooooooone!

Well, the revision, at least. Just gotta do some quick housekeeping bits before I send it off to Audrey.

Today I’m not, not afraid to die

Goal 1) Revise BM&A3

My Goal: Finish one lesson every two weeks (roughly)
Where I planned to be: Lesson 21, 240 pages in
Where I am: Lesson 21, 249 pages in
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Ugh, so many handwritten pages to type in the last two weeks. But I think I’m done with the bulk of them now.

I’m on track to finish the type-in next week! And I’ve already reached out to my editor, Audrey, and she says I can send it to her as soon as I’m ready. She does have a regular job now, so she said she won’t be able to get it back to me quite as quickly as before, but that will give me time to finalize the cover and description. But we are certainly barreling toward the finish line here, folks. Not gonna count my chickens just yet, but I might be able to release this before the end of the year.

Nice try, but you can’t avoid this forever

Goal 1) Revise BM&A3

My Goal: Finish one lesson every two weeks (roughly)
Where I planned to be: Lesson 21, 180 pages in
Where I am: Lesson 21, 189 pages in
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
You know, it’s really hard to type when there’s a cat lying in your lap in front of your keyboard. Too bad there’s no way to just scan my handwritten pages into text. That would be neat.

I know that this will hurt if you let go of me first

Goal 1) Revise BM&A3

My Goal: Finish one lesson every two weeks (roughly)
Where I planned to be: Lesson 21, 120 pages in
Where I am: Lesson 21, 132 pages in
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Andrew says I should be more descriptive in my posts, but honestly, this is the most boring part of the whole revision. Not for me; I love seeing everything come together and fall in place. But really, all I’m doing is taking each page of printed manuscript, in order, copy-pasting what I can from the draft document, and typing in any changes or additions I’ve made on paper. There is no thought involved in this process (or at least, very minimal thought; any on-the-fly changes at this point are only wording/grammar/punctuation tweaks).

Maybe that’s part of why I like it. Other than, you know, almost being done.