It’s that time of year again! Here’s what my 2014 as a reader/writer looked like:
Reading/Writing Stats
# projects worked on: 4
projects abandoned: 1
projects shelved to come back to: 2
projects currently on worktable: 1
# books read: 54+
books purchased: 27? (Holy Schmoe.)
given as gifts: 7?
# readings attended: 5? (Lauren Oliver, David Sedaris, David Mitchell, BJ Novak, Gretchen Rubin)
Favorite Books Read This Year
Accomplishments
- I got an agent. — plus all the work that led up to it.
- I wrote the entire first draft of a MG project (separate from the YA book I queried and signed with an agent).
- I read 54 books, + several beta reads and nonfiction.
- I finished the rough draft of an illustrated project – very rough, because writing is my strong suit and art is secondary. I’m not convinced I should count this one because I’ve flagged so much of it for redoing it makes my head spin, and right now that just isn’t a high priority. But I would like to come back to it.
Lessons Learned
- It’s okay to abandon/retire a project. It’s important to finish things you start, but it’s also important to recognize when something isn’t working, won’t work, or when you’ve lost enthusiasm and your efforts would be better spent elsewhere.
- It’s okay to shelve a project indefinitely. I had a few ideas this year I was super jazzed about, only to start seeing fundamental problems with them in early development (e.g., reminded me too much of another book, or wanted to be a trilogy when what I want to write right now is standalone). So I put those projects, along with all of my notes and planning for them, carefully aside in folders that can be easily filed back to when the time is right.
- Beta readers are absolute gold. In theory I knew this already, but in practice I appreciated it even more. Love your readers: They will help you find the weak spots.
- Is it good? An obvious question, but when evaluating my own work, I’ve found it to be the ultimate measuring stick. Time may be the best aide for seeing a manuscript objectively, but asking yourself whether passages move/compel you is a close second.
- Is it necessary? The other essential question that’s helped me through my many revisions this year. This one is great 1) for reducing your word count and 2) consequently tightening your story, which will result in a swifter, stronger read.
How was your 2014 in books? Any pieces I’m missing?
Julie Israel 