Happy New Year! I always look forward to this time, when I can set myself goals for the year ahead. So far I�ve invested in my writing for the new year by purchasing; 1. Notebooks � who can resist...
Happy New Year!
I always look forward to this time, when I can set myself goals for the year ahead.
So far I�ve invested in my writing for the new year by purchasing;
1. Notebooks � who can resist a beautiful notebook?
2. Research books � Blueprint for a Book by Jennie Nash. Even though I�ve written quite a few novels, you can still learn new things and new ways of doing things. Blood, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls, not pictured above as it�s on my bedside table. This is a research for book 2 in MH series, the reason will become apparent when I publish! I�m reading Bear�s book at the moment and really enjoying it.
3. Pens with built-in lights for those ideas that strike in the middle of the night.
4. I�ve joined the Romantic Novelist Association�s New Writers Scheme for the second year running.
5. I�ve invested in the BBC Maestro subscription giving me access to hundreds of hours of masterclasses on all sorts of topics, writing being the big one of course.
6. I�ve bought the Mslexia 2024 diary and planner.
7. During Black Friday 2023 I bought the Pro-writing aid lifetime subscription of their editing software.
8. I joined the Marine Conservation Society as it�s a great charity more people should support. Plus it�s research for book 3 in MH series.
My writing plans for this year
First Quarter
Finish and type up the draft of book 0 in my Mermaid Hotel Series. It�s intended to be a prequel spanning Christmas, Valentine�s, and all the way to the following Christmas.
Read Book 1 � Secrets and Love Songs at The Mermaid Hotel. Send it to the publishers on my shortlist.
Write / Edit 1 � 2k words per day of book 2 in the Mermaid Hotel series. I need to get the word count up drastically as I plan to send this book in for my RNA New Writers Scheme entitlement. I can then get some feedback from a professional romance author.
Write something (anything) in my writing diary everyday.
Later in the year
I plan to write a draft of book 4 longhand as that is how I find I am most creative. I also plan to type it up at the weekends. That way I will quickly have a working draft ready to edit and it won�t be such a daunting task typing the whole thing up at once. I�m hoping this method will prove to be a success and I can write future books in this way too.
Each month I plan to write a short story for my Christmas short story collection (in the Christmas Notebook pictured above). Then I will get beta reader comments from my writing group and edit accordingly. I want to have the collection ready for publication in October 2024. This will include a blog tour and I want to have all formats of the book available including audiobook.
At some point in 2024
Revisit my unfinished fantasy series. I really want to work on Starlight Prophecy again.
I would like to take part in Nanowrimo 2024. Whether that is with the fantasy series or one of my mermaid hotel stories, it depends how far I get with the rest of my goals for the year.
Writing Retreats � it would be great to go on an all-inclusive writing break for writers. I think it could really help me get unstuck with my fantasy idea. If that isn�t possible, I hope to go on a writing break of my own design where I stay at a hotel all inclusive and write between meals! Sounds like heaven.
I would love to visit Cornwall with the family. It is where my book series is set and it�s been far too long since my last visit. I love the idea of catching an overnight train like some of my characters do. I wish Lowenporth existed in the real world and not just in my imagination. We could stay at The Mermaid Hotel, with Mrs Shallon looking after us. We could take a stroll along Kerensa Bay and have a dip in the sea at the Secret Cove. Maybe a visit to Sedgewood Nature reserve or spot some dolphins whilst hiring a boat from Yerling Harbour.
All this talk is making me want to get back to my characters. I hope 2024 is the year I get to write lots more in this world and share it with my readers.
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That�s about it for my plans so far. These will no doubt change as the year goes on, but it�s a starting point. I have the usual plans to eat better and exercise more in 2024, but I�m not setting any strict resolutions.
What about you?
Do you set lots of goals and resolutions?
What do you hope 2024 will bring?
Here�s to the new year everyone, though when this post goes out not doubt we�ll all have had a few too?many of these!
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Suzanne Rogerson � Author of epic fantasy, heart-warming romance and short stories
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See all my published books at Suzanne Rogerson Collection.
