Conferences are very good for making you think about your long-term plans.
There are writers there that have been published for the past 20 to 30 years…and there are writers who are just starting out, too, and thinking about where they want to go.
And there’s nothing like a talk with your agent to help you straighten out your long-term goals. :)
I’ve said before that one of the best things I’ve done for my writing career was decide what direction I wanted to take with my writing. What was my purpose? How many people did I want to write for?
It reminds me of journalism’s Five Ws (and one H) that are needed to get the full story on a subject:
Why are we doing this? Do we only want to share our work with family and friends? If so, then we could consider self-publishing. Or do we want to share a story with a wider audience?
What steps are we going to take to achieve our goals? Take online classes on writing topics we’re weak in? Attend workshops? Go to conferences that sponsor agent pitches?
Where would we like to see our novel or nonfiction published? Where would we like to go with all this…a long-term career or a one-time thing?
When is our self-imposed deadline for completing a first draft? For a submission-ready manuscript?
Who is our ideal agent? We can research agents on Agent Query and check the ones we find against Preditors and Editors and Writers Beware.
How are we going to achieve our goals if our efforts are met with continued failure? Do we have a plan B? Consider pitching to smaller or independent publishers? Try building up our name or resume by getting published in magazines? Enter contests? Consider writing a different genre– a more commercially viable one?
Sometimes I feel like I’m just responding to stimuli and not really reassessing my master plan. Talking to my agent helped refocus me and made me take a look at where I am now and where I want to be—and the steps I need to take to get there.
Do you know where you’re going?
I have a small road map and my GPS ready for my writing journey. I “think” I know where I’m going. But now I see, I need to be more sure – more planned. Thanks for the thought provoking post.
T
I’m always wandering off track (I do that when hiking too and see the most interesting things), but you are so right that we need to make a plan and stick to it. I have one written down somewhere and just need to find the piece of paper…
btw, you didn’t say what your plan was. Are you planning on sticking around for a while so we can all enjoy your books for years to come? Are you sticking to cozies or venturing into new territory?
I don’t know. Every time I think I know where I’m going something comes along to tell me I don’t. Yet I still think I’m getting somewhere. I like plans and goals and structure but I know not to rely on things happening according to the plan.
Elizabeth – I think you ask some very important questions here. In fact, I’ve been asking them of myself. Once we really reflect on where we are and where we want to be, it’s much easier to set goals for how to get there. What I have found, too, is that it’s hard to even ask the right questions about how to get where one’s going (and get expert advice) until one’s decided where one’s going.
Those five Ws and 1 H help what any project you under take. They do help give you a sense of direction.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I like your hiking-off-the-track metaphor, Lorel. Sometimes it takes you to fantastic new places. But it also happens that you end up in dense bush and harsh wilderness … >:)
Cold As Heaven
I know where I’m going. In circles.
Elizabeth, it was absolutely great meeting you in person at Malice!
Where you’re going isn’t always where you’d like to be going. Nice reminders to take stock and see if you need to modify your plans
Wow, this got me thinking. I knew where I was going with my memoir, but now, not so sure. Thanks, Elizabeth. Glad you had a chance to re-focus your energy with your agent.
Karen
Great post. I bookmarked it so I can refer to it again. Right now I’m in the middle of How.
I’ve had a lot of new options open up to me (new ideas, new genres, among other things), and I have to readjust again. (I seem to need to refocus every six months or so.)
In the meantime, I need to focus on my W.I.P. and all the goal related to it.
I believe that when we find purpose, we find power. I know what my purpose is and my writing fits into that but isn’t all of it. For my writing journey I cannot see in entirity where the road goes. I like the five w’s and the crucial h. I’ve used it with business plans and it works perfectly. Now I’m going to get back to my road map! I found my destination yesterday and I certainly know a lot of the stops on the way but I need to HAVE to end up where I do instead of just meandering over there!
Knowing where you’re going is good. Knowing how you’re going to get there is better. Having many back-up plans when the journey goes off track is the best plan of all. That said, it can be tricky to keep your eyes focused on the horizon when you’re knee-deep in mud and there are tentacled creatures sucking on your shoes.
Elizabeth, I love your spin on the 5 “W’s” and 1 “H.” Really helpful as I begin thinking seriously about my writing carrer.
But as your are making this plan, how do you avoid being pigeon-holed? I have always been interested in writing in several different genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror or some of the cross-pollenations. Yet, I’ve read that once you become even moderately successful in a certain genre, it becomes very difficult to publish something in another genre. Dan Simmons has complained of this issue despite being successful in numerous genres.
Thanks for you thoughts.
You’d think by time I reached this age I’d know the answers to that question, but my response seems to change on a daily basis!)
Last year was one for finding my way, stumbling, fumbling, and bubmbling through the dark. First book, first blog, first book signings. Did everything myself with some help of blogging buddies and Yahoo! group friends.
This year I have a pretty good feel for what I need to do. Learned from mistakes (will probably makemore) and expect 2009 to be a launching board for 2010.
Best wishes for everyone else’s continued success.
Stephen Tremp
I think I know where I’m going! I’m asking myself your Five Ws and One H right now. It’s probably good to consider those questions every few months anyway to keep ourselves on track and moving forward. One simple thing could alter our goal without us even realizing it.
Most of the time I know and then some days, when the Ws don’t work out the way I planned, I have to change them again. I like this post, it reminds us writers that we always should stay focused.
CD
I know where I need to go next, just mustering up the enthusiasm to go there.
Like Helen, I don’t plan too much – but I do see how important it is. I tend to take things one step at a time – I don’t get overwhelmed that way :)
Journaling Woman–And maybe leave yourself some room for flexibility, too, to change the plan.
Lorel–My plan, suddenly, is to try to develop a 3rd series. :) Yes, I think I’m going to stick with cozies for a while…I love the genre. I’d love experimenting with police procedurals later on.
Cold As Heaven–I liked it, too. :) And you’re right…it’s always a risk, but when it pays off, it *really* pays off.
Cassandra–Congratulations on your release!
I think it’s nice to *have* a plan, so we can try to take steps to reach a goal..but you’re right–the flexibility needs to be there, too!
Jan–I love that. Yes, purpose is power, for sure.
Meandering works, too, but I’m too impatient to do it!
Margot–You’re right–because we don’t even know the questions to ask if we don’t know our direction.
Mason–Spoken like a true fellow journalist! :)
Alan–Oh, I have my days like that, too!! Today might qualify, actually.
And I enjoyed meeting you in person, too! I’m going to post pictures in the next couple of days…heads-up! :)
Ike–Well, I’m writing under 2 names. :) And, if I change genres, I’ll probably add a 3rd name.
When I pitch another project in a different genre, I’m going to play up the publishers I worked with and not the genre I wrote. I think that will help.
Although several names *sounds* bad for branding, we can tie these names together online–via Facebook, blogging, etc. I’m going to do more with my Riley name as the July release gets closer.
Jane–Mine changes, too. I’m trying to learn to be more flexible and, maybe, more ambitious.
Terry–I know what you mean. I think if we’re open to new possibilities then it can help, career-wise.
Karen–Thanks! And good luck with goal-setting. :)
Stephen–Yeah, I’ve made some mistakes, too. :) But if we learn something then it’s worth it…I think!
Carol–Good luck with the ‘how’ of it!
The Daring Novelist–I like the idea of exploring new genres. I think I’m going to be open to that possibility a little later on.
Laura–I think you’re right. You should have seen my face when my agent was looking to see what direction I was heading. “Uhhhhh….” Brilliant! :)
Elspeth–I’ve got one of those creatures on me right now! Sometimes, though, it’s easier to focus on the future and plan how to get there instead of getting mired down in the present.
Clarissa–I think that’s true–if we don’t reassess where we’re heading, then maybe we’ll miss out on some opportunities.
Diane–Good luck with the mustering!
I have a pretty well defined destination in mind, yes, but I really like your five “W”‘s, too.
Marvin D Wilson
Having a plan will really help. I admit I’m not so good at that, but I do really see the value.
I’d love to hear what you decided after talking with your agent.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Thanks for a thought-provoking post. The idea of answering all those questions honestly brings on a mild anxiety attack, which may mean it’s past time to confront them honestly.
I find that I’m in the same place, wondering what my master plan should be. Between PR for the next novel, editing the current book and blogging there are times I wonder. I’d be very curious what you decided to do.
This is a great post, Elizabeth. It really has me thinking, because I have never thought about my writing in terms of having a master plan! You make such good points – I will definitely be thinking more about this over the next little while.
Marvin–It’s good to think about, isn’t it?
Helen–I’ve decided to put more irons in the fire. I’m looking to write another series. :)
Jemi–That’s another way to go about it–baby steps with an eye to the goal. And you know where you’re headed…you have a genre, you have a platform…it definitely all makes sense.
Julie–I know what you mean! It’s a little overwhelming, isn’t it? But sometimes I think that after asking all the questions and coming up with all the answers, that really we’re just left with a very short plan–maybe even just 3-5 steps. Mine seems to be that short, actually. But the figuring it out is definitely the pain.
Kathi–I decided to step up my pace and try to take on another series. :)
Belle–Thanks. :) Hope it helps.
I am unable to see the entire road and/or map. I know just the part that’s right in front of me. For my drama, it’s writing it to the end and having a live read-through and the plan is to have it performed locally. What happens next…we’ll see. God only knows.