The first line is the most important. It sets the mood, promises something amazing is about to happen. Tantalizes. Hooks. If a reader follows that first line to the second, the third, the fourth, then by the end of the paragraph, the reader has tasted the journey ahead. The first paragraph ushers the reader onto the roller coaster, excitement and panic pitting heart against head while the safety bar–an illusion of comfort–clicks into place and it is too late to escape.
Then the real ride begins.
Welcome to the Deadline Dames. We are nine urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and young adult writers who have joined forces to talk about our roller coaster lives in the writing trenches. (Hey, these are my trenches. If I want roller coasters in them, I get roller coasters. And cotton candy. And a big red balloon.)
Since I get balloons and trench coasters, what do you get? Prizes. The first two weeks alone we’re handing out books, advance reader copies, cover flats, and more. What else? Interviews with fantastic writers, exclusive excerpts of our own work, excerpts of your own works, thoughts about books we love, links to great online resources, and hell, a place to share a laugh or two. But wait, there’s more! We’ll let you in on the real skinny of writing for a living–yep, all the pains and joys. And we’ll do our damnedest to keep it honest and entertaining–while still hitting our deadlines.
Got that? Good. Now let’s talk dirty.
Deadline. (Don’t think that’s dirty? Trust me. Deadline is one of the twelve dirtiest words in a writer’s life. I’d tell you the others, but we’d have to make the children look away.)
There are a boatload of tricks you can use to bring a deadline to its knees. (What, exactly, a deadline does once its on its knees I leave to your imagination.) I’m going to talk about one trick I use.
Set a goal and be held accountable. Stop rolling your eyes. I know you’ve heard it before: set a goal, stick to it, and everything will be just fine.
I believe it really can work. Especially if the “held accountable” part is strong enough.
And let’s be clear that a deadline doesn’t have to be about writing. Anything in your life that you want to achieve should have a time in which you hope to achieve it. I know, I know. There are always things out of our control. It would be easy to say, “sell novel before tomorrow” and it might be difficult to actually hit that deadline. So we’re talking about reasonable goals you set for yourself for THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR CONTROL.
So what do you want to get done in the next two weeks? Think about it. Pick something you have control over: Exercise twice a week, save ten dollars for the vacation, write one page on the novel, read five books.
Have an idea? It will be worth it. (Remember those prizes I mentioned?)
My favorite way to hit a deadline is to set a goal that is reasonably low, and a goal that is unreasonably high.
Here are my writing goals for the next two weeks:
Reasonably low: Finish two chapters of the current novel project.
Unreasonably high: Write half of the novel.
Did you think I was kidding when I said “unreasonably?”
Why do I set such a high goal? Because it keeps me aiming high, reaching past what I think I can do. If I only achieve half that goal, or hell, barely nick the thing, on average, I still land far ahead of what I would have set for myself if it were an easy, reasonable goal. That means I am not allowed to beat myself up for not hitting the high goal. I am, however, allowed to revel in my success, or shrug away my failure.
Still with me? Excellent, ‘cause here’s the pay off, which also happens to be the accountability piece I was talking about.
Leave your reasonable and unreasonable goals in the comment section of this post. Everyone who posts their goals by midnight Pacific Standard Time Friday, the 23rd, goes into the drawing for a signed copy of MAGIC TO THE BONE, and BETTER OFF UNDEAD to be announced on Saturday January 24th, 3:00 pm Pacific Standard Time.
But wait, that’s not all!
I’m going to check in with you, and you’re invited to come back and check in with me, on Monday February 2nd–which is my next turn to blog on this site. We’ll see how our goals are going. We’ll talk about if we hit them, or about what got in our way. We are going to keep each other accountable.
Don’t let me down! I get all wild when left to my own devices. I put pennies on train tracks for cripessake. Anyone who sticks with me, and reports how they did, just for January, will receive an additional special gift from me.
Now, what I failed to mention at the beginning of this post is that last lines are pretty important too. So, as the roller coaster chain clacks out of rhythm with your heart beat, nosing snail-slow up that steep New Year hill, remember the Dames are grateful you’ve risked climbing into the coaster with us. We promise that no matter how fast, twisty, or upside-down-loopy things get, we’ll be right here with you, throwing our hands in the air– laughing and screaming with fear and joy– to the end of the ride.
Related posts:
Tags: Contest, Devon Monk
Reasonable goal: I was thinking of someone as a possible crit partner. Now I want to take the plunge and ask if she’d be interested.
Unreasonable goal: Write half of my futuristic novel.
Have a lovely day!
I run a small business making corsets, so I have quite a few goals with varying degrees of difficulty
Have my work sold in shops (so far it’s in one, and am just finishing negotiations on a second – Puritan)
Have my work published in a high end magazine – so far there is a picture in a french gothy magazine, which is pretty cool.
Have my work be in demand for Bridal and Formal wear… slowly but surely getting there.
Wear my work to places like the opera, and be noticed by someone famous
Have someone like Dita Von Tease want to wear my stuff… so far i have a few local burlesque dancers wearing it, and have had my stuff shown with Topsy Turvy Designs (who have had Dita wear their stuff)
Eventually earn enough money to live off my business and to hire a full time assistant
Okay, I know that as a fellow dame (Is using “fellow” and “Dame” in the same sentence oxymoronic?) I can’t win the prize. But I woke up this morning, turned on my computer and, voila! The Dames are live. Picture me doing the happy-dance with my coffee. (In your version, my hair is brushed and my bathrobe isn’t so tatty.)
Come on, readers. Get those comments up and maybe you’ll win a prize. Let the contest begin…
Hi there! Glad to see the Deadline Dames finally up and running. *grin*
I use the same trick, for the same reasons, in my life goals – if you aim for the stars and only get half way, you’re still flying high. Maybe it’s about time I try it with my writing. So, my reasonable goal is: finish laying out the basics of the Shiny New Idea and write the first chapter. Unreasonable goal: finish The-Never-Ending-Novel.
Let’s get this roller coaster going!
HUZZAH!!! The Deadline Dames are here!
Obviously, please don’t enter me in the contest.
Reasonable goal: Finish formatting all Cat and Muse scripts before February 2009
Unreasonable goal: Finish rewriting manuscript from YA to MG by February 2009
Love this site – and great idea with high and low goals. In the next two weeks I will:
reasonable goal: write proposal for new kick ass series
Unreasonable goal: Finish LVS, my current WIP due March 15th
This is much more fun than riding roller coasters, lol
I have a list of goals for the year, but I’m thinking they’re getting unreasonable fast!
I’m not an aspiring author, but I am an aspiring quilter and book reviewer, so my goals usually revolve around them.
reasonable goal: getting fabric cut for my retreat, finishing up a couple of reviews I need to write
unrealistic goals: getting the bathroom cleaned out and organized, getting some of the books off of my TBR pile.
I’m looking forward to following this site!!! Thanks guys for starting it!
Great site. Good luck!
Lori
Love this new blog. I’m excited to follow it. So let’s see, here goes:
Reasonable goal: Finish next chapter of wip and send out one more query for my immediate past project.
Unreasonable goal: Finish five next chapters and send out ten queries.
Now, do I expect the goal police on my doorstep or nice safe cyberlights flashing at me from my computer screen only?
Great job on the site, guys!
What’s the deadline again? February 2nd?
Reasonable Goal: Read one book a week.
Unreasonable Goal: Write ten books a year. (for me, anyway)
Great blog!
Reasonable Goal-finish editing current work in progress.
Unreasonable Goal (for me)-Write synopsis of current work in progress in one day.
Woohoo! Very excited to see the Dames up and running. Best of luck!
Reasonable goal: Pick one of the ideas I have and stick with it.
Unreasonable goal: Turn that idea into an actual novel (hey, when I aim high, I aim high).
Glad to see that your site is now live!
I’m a reader not a writer. My goals relate to reading.
Reasonable Goal: Read 5 books from the chair where the last few packages of new books have been placed.
Unreasonable Goal: Read all of the books on that chair.
There are too many books being published that I want to read but real life and the internet suck away my time to read.
hi this looks like it’s going to be a fun site
reasonable goal ~ finish last weeks reviews and this set of reviews in two weeks
unreasonable goal ~ and read the paperback books i’ve got before the next review books get sent out.
I wanted to think about excersise as well but i have a cold so we’ll leave that untill next time
Hugs
Hollie
Ok, here we go…
Reasonable Goal: I will rewrite the first chapter of my 2nd book.
Unreasonable Goal: By this time next week i will be signing contracts with a Super Agent and have three publishers bidding on book 1.
Ooh, great idea, goal-setting. Let’s see. Reasonable: Finish outline by month’s end. Unreasonable? Marry Clive Owen.
Hey, a girl’s gotta try, right?
Congratulations on the new blog! Best wishes to all.
Cheers,
Sherri
Reasonable: Write some fiction in 2009. Anything. Just make up a story and put it on paper.
Unreasonable: Write a novel in 2009 and have ready to send to agents before 2010.
Too bad I actually made the unreasonable one a New Year’s Resolution. Wouldn’t be so unreasonable except that I have three special-needs kids, am in the middle of an ugly divorce and a move, and am preparing to start teaching for the first time since Spring 2005. Nothing like college freshmen failing to appreciate literary masterworks to kill the creative drive. SIGH.
Reasonable goal: finish one chapter of my WIP
Unreasonable goal: finish the entire book
Reasonable goal: Write another chapter on my WIP by the end of the month.
Unreasonable goal: Have a finished draft to send out to agents byt he end of the month.
Looking forward to following the Dames! So much talent all in one place. Love it.
Reasonable – complete 8 book reviews in the next two weeks
Unreasonable – complete 12 book reviews in the next two weeks.
Looking forward to reading yall’s posts.
Reasonable Goal: Write 10,000 words on WIP in the next two weeks.
Unreasonable Goal: Write 25,000 words on WIP in the next two weeks, putting me at the novel’s halfway point. Sheesh, that’s not gonna happen.
I’m here by way of Jackie and Toni
So my reasonable goal this week is to plot and outline half of my newest brainchild.
My unreasonable goal is to do this along with getting my entire house clean.
Great idea!!!
Great blog! Came through twitter, and loving it
Let’s see…
Reasonable goal: Finsih editing and send my novel to a literary contest due 1st February.
Unreasonable: Start plotting my YA and write first chapters to see if it’s worth the effort. It’s the one that needs more research and not sure about it yet.
Congrats again on the blog. I’ll keep an eye on you ;
Love the site!
Reasonable goal: Finish synopsis for current WIP; write 3000 words.
Unreasonable goal: Finish synopsis for current WIP and write 14,000 words (1000 words per day).
Thank you for putting this together!
- elizabeth
My reasonable goal is to have my house clean & all laundry done and put in its proper place. Due to personal circumstance, I have no other choice. It must be done ASAP.
My unreasonable goal is to complete a fast draft in two weeks. Would be more reasonable if I didn’t have the above to contend with. (I’ll be happy with 1k a day, though.)
Reasonably low goal: Write another 2 chapters in my WIP. Do one blog post a day, at least. Read a book that pulls me in.
Unreasonably high goal: Write 2nd-3rd of WIP. Do 2 blog posts a day. Read at least 5 books.
I am aiming for the high goal….
I am going to have to put this site’s link up at my Yahoo Group(s) page (Erotic Romance Workshop and its sub sister vampireanthologygroup.) “Deadlines” is a topic we all need to keep in focus, especially since 14 of the members of ERW are working on a paranormal anthology where all the stories involve a bit of vampirism! Thanks for the great info on this subject.
Marie
Reasonable Goal: Organize and declutter bedroom.
Unreasonable Goal: Organize and declutter bedroom to extreme minimalism.
I always feel like I’m so busy with school that I don’t have time for other stuff. That’s impossible though! Here are my goals:
Reasonable: Work out 2 days a week.
Unreasonable: Work out 5 days a week.
5 doesn’t seem like it should be unreasonable, but I sure feel like it is. haha
Congrats on the blog!
I’m excited to read everything you ladies have to say about being (amazing) writers. 
Reasonable: Try to beat my count of reading 63 books last year! Ubreasonable: Read a book a day!
Reasonable Goal: Finish a draft of my thesis essay and send it to my reader. (Though, this does not seem reasonable at the moment…)
Unreasonable Goal: Revise my YA that’s awaiting revision (all 400 some pages)
Unreasonable goal: Marry Johnny Depp! *g*
Reasonable goal: Read more, blog less. *bg*
Welcome to the Dames everyone!
Reasonable Goal: Finally buying a house this year.
Unreasonable Goal: Finding George Clooney and have my way with him.
Great new website!
Reasonable goal: I want my children’s free books competition up and running on my blogsite for UK schools to enter. The competition to go live by the end of January with the deadline for competition entries February 09.
Unreasonable goal: complete my current work in progress, including amending a few scenes, which I can then ask a few friends to read and crit for me.
I’m going to make my goals about reading because my TBR pile is getting crazy and there are so many good books coming out this year that I want!
My goals for the next two weeks:
Reasonably low: Read 6 books
Unreasonably high: Read 13 books
Reasonably low: Lose 10 pounds in 2 months
Unreasonably high: Win Powerball.
Yay for the Dames!
Reasonable Goal: Finish agent revisions by the end of this month.
Unreasonable Goal: Finish them by the end of this week.
Woohoo! I’m so excited that the Deadline Dames have launched.
Reasonable Goal: Write 5k words on my WIP
Unreasonable Goal: Hit 50% on my WIP
w00t! Glad to see the Dames live!
Reasonable Goal: Finish editing/revisions on Faerie Fate and return to my editor.
Unreasonable Goal: All of the above, plus final edit and submission of Faerie Fire, plus finish current WIP, Waltzing Matilda. Oh. And clean my house.
I am very glad your site is up and running!
Reasonable Goal: Read 5 books off my TBR pile
Unreasonable Goal: Don’t buy any more books until I have depleted some of my TBR pile, so not gonna happen,lol
Congratulations on getting the site up and running!
Reasonable Goal: Sort out my ‘already read’ book mountain in the next couple of weeks and decide what may be kept versus what must go. This breaks my heart but we have a small house and I have already double-depth filled two six ft bookcases, one 3ft wicker box and a waist high revolving bookcase. These are safe. The problem is the tottering 6ft high x 4ft square collection taking over the dining room floor…I really hate to let a book go…
Unreasonable Goal: Tackle the even larger quantity of books I have been storing in my Mum’s attic and conservatory for far too long. I want to do this before she goes into hospital on the 19th March; but I strongly suspect they’ll be there for her to rest her crutches on once she’s discharged.
Reasonable goal: Review 1 book a month.
Unreasonable goal: Hook up with Gerard Butler – yes, high dreams indeed but that’s so when I end up with Jensen Ackles, I’ll be ok
Love the new site. Congrats to everyone.
Reasonable goal: 750 wds, 5 days a week on on Fairy Dust Chronicles:Wizard.
Unreasonable Goal: Finish FD first draft by the end of February.
Reasonable goal: 500 words/day, every day, and 1 review written.
Unreasonable goal: That AND get the next piece completely plotted and researched
reasonable goal: Write everyday.
Unreasonable goal: Finish the First draft of the Wild Hunt by the beginning of March….
The first will help me reach the second
Great blog and I have already bookmarked you as one of my favorites.
I am not a writer, but I am a reader…so my goals will be about reading. I have decided this year to keep track of what I read.
Reasonable goal: Read three books…yes, I am a very slow reader.
Unreasonable goal: Read twelve books…I really cannot imagine this happening.
Congrats on the new blog!!
Reasonable Goal: Try to get at least one of my “soon to be novels” completed in a way that makes me happy.
Or is that unreasonable??
Unreasonable Goal: Getting all my unfinished “soon to be novels” completed before the end of the year. I get so busy! And I am so picky about what I write and can never be satisfied with what I wrote. I feel like all I do is revise nowadays!
For two weeks hence:
Reasonable goal: finish rewriting chapters and synopsis of WIP to submit to agent
Unreasonable goal: Also figure out the Next Big Thing to work on.
Thanks for suggesting this. I needed a kick to be unreasonable. That sounds odd, but it’s true!
What a wonderful collection of authors! I’m really excited to see what’s in store for your blog.
Reasonable goal: Finish book and review for TBR challenge, and work out 2 times/week
Unreasonable goal: Finish 5 blog post drafts that have been sitting around for months, and work out 5 times/week.
Good luck to everybody on meeting their goals!
This looks like it is going to be such a cool blog to read Please enter me in the contest.
For next two weeks:
Reasonable goal: Write 10 chapters on Developing WIP. Complete red pen markup of WIP in Edits and get 75 pages of polishing completed on that work.
Unreasonable goal: Finish Developing WIP. Finish editing/polishing WIP in Edits and be ready to send out queries on it.
Definitely not eligible to win, but I wanted to say the site looks fantastic. As for goals, on the non-work related side I’m trying to get into better shape so:
Reasonable: exercise at least 30 minutes 5 days a week
Unreasonable: exercise everyday, including the ones I’m on the Florida Romance Writers Cruise.
Wish I’d thought of these goals more than a few days lead time for a conference that pretty much guarantees people will see me in a swim suit.
Thank goodness this blog is up, I’m very pleased..
Reasonable goal–catalog one bookcase in my room by; series, author name, and genre.
Unreasonable goal–catalog all bookcases in my house, (15 of them) by series, author name, and genre.
Something I’ve been wanting to do and now I have an excuse to do it!!!
This is so very cool! Go, Dames!
So, here are my goals:
Reasonable – finish a short story, pref. the vampire romance I’m contracted to do by mid-Feb.
Unreasonable – finish entire YA novel by end of Feb. (still about 45K to go plus revision)
Have fun on the Great Paranormal Coaster!
I found your website almost by mistake, and it looks good!
Reasonable goal: enter two writing contests a month.
Unreasonable goal: write a new novel this year. (It usually takes me ten!)
Best of luck with your website.
Congrats on getting this site together!
Here are mine:
Reasonable Goal: set aside 2 hours a week to do nothing but write.
Unreasonable Goal: Sell my first UF/PR book by end of year.
Yeah, yeah… that is why they call it ‘unreasonable’, right?
I have a second one too:
Reasonable Goal: Chose between the 4 story ideas I have percolating in and concentrate on it alone.
Unreasonable Goal: Find a writing group to work with.
Seriously. There doesn’t seem to be a UF/PR one in Toronto. Why??? If there is one… someone let me know. PLEASE!
It’s so great to see you gals up and running. This website is so exciting!!
My reasonable goal?
Since I’ve just finished writing my first novel (Yay!) my reasonable goal is to get the first chapter edited by the end of the week.
My unreasonable goal?
Let’s shoot for the stars, shall we? How about getting the first hundred pages edited.
I already know it will be easier to accomplish will all of you on my butt…thanks for the support ladies! Looking forward to reading everyone’s updates too.
I’m so happy this site has gone live! I’ve already bookmarked it.
Reasonable Goal: Write my synopsis and revise four more chapters of my Blaze, Virgin Territory
Unreasonable Goal: Finish revising Virgin Territory and send out the partial to Harlequin
This was a great idea guys.
reasonable goal: Getting myself to work and daughter to school on time for a whole week (it does occasionally happen).
unreasonable goal: Getting myself to work and daughter to school on time the rest of the year.
I’m not much of a writer, more of a tinker/builder/dabbler.
Reasonable Goal: Finish paperwork for provisional patent.
Unreasonable Goal: Sell/licence all three things under provisional patent so I can quit my day job.
Two week goal:
Reasonable goal: Start to work out this week(Wed cause I had to work tonight & tomorrow night) and lose 5 lbs in the next 2 weeks.
Unreasonable goal: Start to work out today and lose 10 lbs in the next 2 weeks.
Semi-Longterm:
Reasonable goal: Work out 3 times a week and lose 15 lbs in the next three months.
Unreasonable goal: Work out 7 times a week and lose 30 lbs in the next 3 months.
I just joined the biggest loser in my town so that is why I choose exercise and weight loss to post.
Awesome site you have here dames!!!:)
I love it and will visit everyday. You are now in my favorites!
Great first blog post and question for the contest.;)
Congrats!!:D
The site looks great, congrats on getting it all set up and running.
Reasonable goal: Edit the two rough drafts I have sitting on the coffee table in front of me.
Unreasonable goal: Have the two current WIPs finished to rough draft stage.
Reasonable Goal: Finish a piece that I started last month and two chapters of a new project.
Unreasonable: Have 4 chapters done of new project and 2 WIPs edited.
Nice inaugural post! And quite the topic too. I’ve got to be careful with this one. Goals that I think are reasonable suddenly turn frighteningly unreasonable with Mr. Toddler.
Reasonable goal: Print out all promised pictures of the princeling and post (like the alliteration?).
Unreasonable goal: Paint all the surfaces in our home that had to be replastered (4 different colors in 3 different rooms).
My goal is to be a better person. To try to be there for those that might need an ear. To try to be generous and as kind as my heart gives me the ability to be.
I want to make new friends, and continue to cherish the old. I want to see new places, feel new feelings, and I want to learn.
I want to finish and publish my second book and make even one person who reads it, forget their problems if only for a moment.
And I want to be happy, a good goal for sure!
Great post and Congrats on the new site.
Reasonable goal: Be more healthy – eat better, work out more.
Unreasonable goal: Win the lottery.
Congrats on the great blog – Rodgers and Hammerstein had it right, There ain’t nothing like a dame!
Look forward to hearing from all of you, especially Rinda.
Reasonable goal: Write two chapters in WIP
Unreasonable goal: Finish WIP and all of the ironing
Welcome to the Dames website, everyone, and good luck with your goals!
Oh, and Wanderer–Jenson Ackles is mine!
Yay! Glad you are here.
Reasonable goal: Hit 15k words (at 7500 currently)
Unreasonable goal: Hit 50k words
Thanks for letting me play. And anyone who’s interested in submitting a critique for a critter comments episode or wants to be interviewed…PLEASE hit me up. Also looking for authors who want to do a small guest audio post on the site. Mark Henry is the first…don’t let him be the only cool one.
Reasonable goal: Get more consistent in offering my toddler use of the potty chair. I’m going to say “More consistent” is defined as you know… actually doing it every day. And stopping play to take off her diaper for a while and have her sit naked on the chair watching tv or something.
Unreasonable: Have child totally in panties and potty trained. (this is pretty much an unreasonable goal for anyone, since you can’t force the kids lol)
And my LJ is private… But Devon, you’re on my friends list so you should be able to see it. Let me know if there’s any problems.
Reasonable goal: Whittle down my TBR pile this year
Unreasonable goal: Don’t buy any new books until those already purchased have been read. (yeah – that won’t happen.)
And congrats on the new blog!
Reasonable goal: Rewrite the query letter for my WIP and finish the rewrites of the last two chapters by next week.
Crazy goal: Finish the dang rewrite, turn query letters in, three chapters of next WIP in line.
Much fun to be here. I’m excited to see how this blog will go. Many of my favorites all in a row!
~Jana
Reasonable Goal: start and finish round three edits of Book 2 in my vampire trilogy by Sunday (totally doable if I get my ass in gear and stop being distracted by other books I’m writing).
Unreasonable Goal: I have two. One- Finish book 3 of said trilogy by March 1st and Two- I suppose it would be too much to stop the nerves from jittering while I wait for new from 2 agents and a small publisher. Is it?
All right, since other Dames have weighed in, I’ll share my goals, too.
Reasonable goal: get my fifth Morgan Kingsley book out the door by my Feb 1 deadline.
Unreasonable goal: get the edits on my YA novel done by the same, so I can start on the next book in that series for my May 1 deadline. (Unreasonable because I don’t know what the edits are yet! LOL)
Low Goals:
- to lose three pounds
- to be up to date with college work
- to have done a chapter of my writing
High Goals:
- to lose one stone
- to be ahead with my college work
- to have done 4 chapters of my writing
wish me luck
Keri Arthur – I would call them fighting words but since I’m a huge fan of Riley, Rhoan and of course Quinn, I may be willing to consider Jared instead. Keyword = may
Can’t wait to read Deadly Desire!
Love the new site!
Reasonable: complete partial revisions and resubmit requested materials. Add Dames as a favorite link.
Unreasonable: complete three mss and submit.
I’d like to get my Christmas cards, now titled New Year’s cards sent out. If I can do that one thing I’ll be thrilled.
Reasonable Goal – start writing a novel and hit 10000 words.
Unreasonable Goal – start writing a novel and have it a third of the way finished, if say it were a 120000 words long.
First, I’m looking forward to reading all about your trenches. Lol.
Second, my goals… I’m trying to balance a full time school load with writing a book. So… I have fun goals indeed.
–Reasonable goals:
*Complete all homework
*Finish chapter 2.
–Unreasonable goals:
*Complete all homework
*Finish chapter 2 and fix chapter 1
*Work on making my TBR pile significantly shorter.
I love the idea of accountability btw. So I will be sure to check back.
When I was 10 I annouced to my mother I wanted to be a writer, so she bought me a typewriter for my birthday. I loved my typewriter but was dismayed with my work (even at such a young age I was severely self-critical). I stopped writing then. When I went to university I trained first to be an archaeologist, then an anthropologist but writing has always been an underlying desire. I hope that this site, along with Ms Saintcrows, will flame my long burning embers.
So my reasonable goal is to write something and not think it’s stupid and pointless before I begin.
My unreasonable goal is to stick with work on and add to the same idea for a month.(But I’ll also go with the Johnny Depp or Jensen Ackles ideas.)
Reasonable goal: write 10000 words in the novel I’m working
Unreasonable goal: Finish the **** thing!
Reasonable Goal: Do chores and post new web site
Unreasonable Goal: Reading about 10 books before New York Comic Con.
Go team Urban Fantasy!
Reasonable- Will post 2 chapters of the current running online story.
Unreasonable- Will edit entire newly finished novel.
Probable – Will survive the upcoming work week.(LOL)
Reasonable Goal: Finish character sketches for new novel.
Unreasonable Goal: Finish plotting and outlining new novel.
Thanks, Devon! And thanks to all the dames for an amazing new website!
Nice digs.
Reasonable goal: I will clear 60,000 words by the end of next week.
Unreasonable goal: I will finish my draft by the end of this week.
Love the new site!! I read sooo many of you already and get a few new ones!! I’m not a writer but here’s my goals
Reasonable goal: Send out more resumes for work.
Unreasonable goal: Win the ca lotto, hey dream big they’re free right??
And yes my reasonable goal is even hard to do.. I have a 19 month old to chase and The Devil’s Due mid-read. If I could make a living reading I’d be a billionaire.
Whoo-hoo Deadline Dames!!
Reasonable Goal: Begin scene by scene plotting for new book.
Unreasonable Goal: Finish scene by scene plotting and write first 3,000 words.
Well, considering my day job is sucking the life out of my muse lately…
Reasonable goal: I’d like to sit down (by Feb 2nd) and actually put on paper the scene from my work-in-progress that’s been floating around in my head for months.
Unreasonable goal: To make said scene into a full plot arc, thus rewriting about a third of my current work.
On a different note: Hooray for Dames being up & running!
I am a single parent and am always doing things for my daughter and my father so one of my goals for this year is to do more for myself and take care of myself better.
This is way better than a New Year’s Resolution!
Reasonable Goal – Besides work, meetings, kids -Get the house clean —HAS to happen we’ve got company coming Saturday!!
Unreasonable Goal – Eliminate clutter, finish laundry, recycle cardboard boxes, sort books, take some to local used book store, take stuff to Goodwill, clean off desk, clean refrigerator inside and out, weed front garden beds, clean off back patio, water overwintering plants, dust, clean carpets, label toy boxes
Just enumerating it all may get me to do some of it! Thanks!
-Happy dance!-
Most of my favourite authors in one place!
Unreasonable Goal : Get everything up to date (think several short stories and essays to write, random familial obligations, lost English & History course work and just general chaos).
Reasonable Goal: Vist a family member, finish my most pressing essay and attempt to brave the horror that is my desk.
Once again, horray for the site being up!
Awesome! I’ve been looking for exactly this website, and here you are!
Reasonable Goal: 15,000 words along on the rewrite of ‘Swimming North’ + create list of another 10 agents to send ‘Remember’ to.
Unreasonable Goal: 25,000 words along on the rewrite, plus actually send out 10 queries.
Congrats on getting up and running.
Reasonable Goal: read 3 books a week.
Unreasonable Goal: read everything in my TBR stack – if I give up work this might be possible
Reasonable Goal: get up earlier every day and have more time to exercise (walking) and get in shape
Unreasonable Goal: walk DAILY before or after work, drop 20+ pounds in the next month, become a morning person and do the above cheerfully.
Reasonable Goal: Finish the beast of a book that I’m currently editing and have a small celebration (with a good book and a glass of wine!) when it’s DONE!
Unreasonable Goal: Finish the beast of a book that I’m currently editing AND the next beast of a book that’s currently waiting to be edited… and while I’m at it, read all of the books in my TBR pile that have been taunting me, too!
Great new Web site! I look so forward to joining in on the fun here!
Contratualtions on the new site! I’m keen to follow it.
My mum always told me you should always aim for the stars because at the very least you’ll catch the moon. I like the idea of setting two goals and announcing what they are so you become responsible for them. I’m a great one for setting goals, and then letting the minutae of everyday get in the way of achieving them. With the upper of the two goals to aim for, if I don’t make the first shoot me, shoot me now!
So, in the spirit of getting my behind into gear, my goals for the next two weeks are:
Reasonable – read four books off my TBR shelf, catalogue one bookcase and plot and outline ‘The Next Greatest Australian Novel (TM)’. (Sounds like a lot, but there’s a long weekend on its way!)
Unreasonable – finish reading half of my TBR shelf, catalogue all my books and write the first three chapters of “The Next Greatest Australian Novel (TM)’.
Cool! Another site to follow. (like I need more help procrastinating) =]
reasonable goal: revise the first two chapters of my novel
unreasonable: revise the whole thing. =]
I have been searching for a critique partner to help me keep my goals. It is hard because most of the writers I know live too far for to visit once a week, especially because of working full time and being a mom of two small girls.
So…..
Reasonable Goal- Keep a Schedule and Write twenty pages of my WIP.- First Draft.
Unreasonable Goal- Keep a Schedule and Write Sixty pages of my WIP- First Draft!
BTW- This Site is Awesome!
Great to see you all here together.
Reasonable goal:
Try to be more on time for appointments, parties and whatever. I get caught up in other things and usually the last to get there, but I can try and make some of them on time.
Unreasonable goal:
Pare down my keeper collection of books. Every time I try to do it, I find some new nook or cranny to put more in.
Great first post! Congrats on the new site.
Reasonable goal would be to write 8,000 words on my WIP.
Unreasonable goal would be to write 12,000 words on my WIP.
The 8,000 in two weeks is possible if I work hard. The 12,000 could happen but only if RL doesn’t interrupt, which is highly unlikely.
Hmmm
Reasonable goal: Lets see post 8 reviews and 3 interviews today
Unreasonable goal: post 20 reviews 3 interviews and a few guest blogging posts. LOL
Great site ladies! I have added you to the Bitten by Books Blogroll!
Ohhhh… so super excited that the site is up *does horribly peppy cheer in background*. Good luck and all the best.
‘Kay now for goals
Reasonable: finally go for driving lessons
Unreasonable: go out and buy a mini cooper s
hows that? ;p
It’s so cool the site is up and running. I will be coming her every day.
Goals for me hmmmm.
Reasonable: Getting off my butt and finishing my first attempt at writing a book.
Unreasonable: To finish the book with out me breaking into a spell of yelling profanities at it.
It is good to see you online! Can’t wait to read all your posts.
Hmm…
Reasonable: Will try to read 200 books this year. 50 of them by new to me authors.
Unreasonable: Wait to buy new books until I’ve managed to read at least half of my tbr books. Not gonna happen, as I have over 1000 books in my tbr mountain. And nothing is more fun than shopping for books.
For a 75,000 word mystery, I set a goal of 5 pages a day/15 pages per week minimum. At twenty chapters and 15 pages per chapter, that means I need 20 weeks to write the book. This does not include plotting and research or revisions. For a 100,000 word paranormal romance, I have to write those 5 pages per day for 5 days a week or 25 pages per week total. The thing to do is decide on a deadline, then figure out how many days per week you can write and how many pages per day you have to do to reach your goal.
wooowwwhoooo,love the dames!!great site
errmm were do i start with the goal setting…
ok ive got it:
reasonable goal-try to be more patient with my tantruming 2yr old and stroppy 4 yr old!!(boys)
un-reasonable goal-win the lottery!!hehe gotta dream hey
Cool new website!!
Well then:
reasonable goal – passing 2 university exams during the february session
unreasonable goal – coming home to Gerard Butler dressed as Leonidas… *drool*
Ok, sorry for the drool moment, couldn’t help it… *mopping the floor*
Wow, this site looks great and it like a lot of fun!
Reasonable goal- Finish the book I’m reading now…
Unreasonable goal- Stop buying so many that my TBR pile is a mile high (and the one on my e-reader is getting that way, too, lol)!
I’d say keep up with the blogs I read or post on, but that is not only improbable, it’s impossible!
Lil
Okay, I’ll give this goal thing a whirl
Right now I’m working on 2 writing projects at once.
Reasonable Goal: Finish editing and submit novella
Unreasonable Goal: Finish editing and submit novella AND single title.
Sue
Hi, Devon! I found the Dames through Lili and had, sorry, never heard of you before, but gotta say, the idea of trench coasters alone makes me want to check out your writing.
Reasonable Goal: Write 10k on the women’s fiction.
Unreasonable Goal: Write 30k on the women’s fiction.
Right now, all my goals seem unreasonable. I’m hoping that’s just a fleeting perspective…
I really need deadlines so yeah I’m going to do this…hmmm…
my reasonable goal will to have my first three chapters done (and reasonably edited as well)
my unreasonable goal will be to have the whole thing finished (not edited, but finished).
I would love to have my unreasonable goal finished, but I’m not going to hold my breath because unlike my characters, that is something I do all the time. lol.
So goals huh welll have a few of those. Getting them done is a task.
Reasonable Goal: Get a stable job and hold it for 6 months.
Unreasonable Goal: Not to pick a fight with my husband
Reasonable goal: remodel my kitchen this year
Unreasonable goal: finish all the renovations needed for my fixer upper house this year.
Congrats on the new blog! Gotta add it to my reader.
Reasonable goal: Pass of my classes this semester.
Unreasonable goal: Finish school this year.
Holy Moly!!! I just heard about this site today and look how many posts there are.
So goals huh?
Reasonable goal: Get exercising. I said I would to the Quantico Run Amuck so i might want to get in a not so round shape.
Unreasonable goal: Stop buying book until I’ve made it through what I already have. Lets not get crazy here, I’ll always buy books.
Reasonable goal: read 20 books a month, possibly more.
Unreasonable goal: ever get through all 825+ books on my TBR list (it seems pretty unreasonable and impossible right now)
Reasonable goal: Exercise 3 times a week for a minimum of 30mins a time
Unreasonable goal: Exercise 7 times a week for an hour a time.
Reasonable goal: Finish and review one book this week.
Unreasonable: Finish and review all partially read books (all nine of them!) this week.
I already feel a little more accomplished just acknowledging them. ;D
Great post.
reasonable: write a short story in 2 weeks and read/review 3 books
unreasonable: Finish WIP and clean house from top to bottom, read 5 books.
Awesome post!
Reasonable goal: Find a starting point for book 2 and finish a chapter by the end of this month.
Unreasonable goal: Reasonable goal + Find an ending to book 1 and write it by the end of the month. (this ending is seriously locked behind my muse’s taunting smile)
Honestly at the moment I don’t have any real crazy goals. I accomplished the ones I had of graduating college (yay for being a graduate for a full month!) and getting a temporary job while waiting to hear back from grad schools. I actually didn’t even make a New Years resolution because at the moment I am so content.
But since I am not so good at not working toward something I started my book blog and my goal, which is totally reasonable, is to keep that going for a full year.
Reasonable goal: Finish my first novel within 2 years.
Unreasonable: Writing more than I read.
WOOHOO! The Dames are up
Reasonable goal: Read 10 more books this month
Unreasonable goal: Read 20 more books this month
Reasonable Goal (considering time frame): finish MS
Unreasonable Goal (considering three demanding juniors): finish MS
Unreasonable Goal: Exercise 7 times a week for 45 min
Reasonable Goal: Exercise 3 times a week for 45 min
I’m so excited that the Deadline Dames are up and blogging! =)
Unreasonable goal: Finish revising novel and get 3/4th into the already started sequel.
Reasonable goal: Finish revising novel and brainstorm more on sequel.
Reasonable Goal: Write at least 1k words daily. For the most part (except on weekends) I meet this goal.
Unreasonable Goal: Finish both my novels (and start my YA) by the end of the year and be published by 2010. It could happen, but more than likely it won’t. Also I will toss my hat into the Jensen Ackles fray. That man sears my synapses with his sexiness.
Reasonable Goal: Finish 10 books from my TBR pile before buying any new ones
Unreasonable Goal: Finish 20 books from by TBR pile before buying any new ones.
Love the site!
My reasonable goal for this week is to finish writing up my character reports for the main characters in my novel.
My unreasonable goal is to also finish the plotting of my novel by the end of the week.
I like the idea of having 2 goals…so hear goes:
Reasonable goal: Get back to my revisions/re-write, doing something on it daily.
Unreasonable goal: Finish the revisions and get WIP to beta readers by this time next month.
Dear Lord. HERE goes, here!!!
Great site!
Reasonable goal: Write the first draft of my one-act play.
Unreasonable goal: Sell my screenplay or get an agent.
[...] juriš do Deadline Dames i nadajte se najboljem. U najmanju ruku, mi koji živimo s rokovima znamo kako dobro dođe svaki, pa [...]
Congratulations on the new blog!
Reasonable goal: read one book a week
Unreasonable goal: Read all the books in my TBR pile by the end of the month.
LOVE the new website!
))))))
ive read half of the books that is pictures but i really want the other half
Reasonable goal: Get more book reviews poster per month and more art-y things done in general
Unreasonable goal (well seems to be): Convince all my migraines to go away
-Lucile
Reasonable goals: Finish my revisions of my novel OTHER by the deadline. Write a solid draft of the sequel within a year or so. Graduate college next year. Get an internship at a publisher/agency.
Unreasonable goals: Sell new novel for mega $$$. Start that 9-book series idea I had recently. Get interviewed on TV somehow.
Reasonable goal: Finish packing for back to school.
Unreasonable goal: Get all A’s in school.
Nice website. I will be following it. *prays* I want to win this books.
Great site.
Reasonable goal: Finish the next two chapters of my novel by Jan. 31.
Unreasonable goal: Finish the entire novel by Jan. 31! Snort. (This was the original goal, but a family illness derailed my writing schedule. You do what you gotta do…)
I really love this idea. It is great that authors interact with their readers. This is what helps make it all that much better.
Reasonable goal: exercise 3 times a week.
Unreasonable goal: exercise every day…
This is a great first entry to the blog! I’m excited about what you guys are doing with the blog community here, and am pretty darn inspired by this post. So, here we go:
Reasonable goal: Between now and February 2nd, I will meet four deadlines (two copyediting, two writing) *and* blog twice per week.
Unreasonable goal: I will finish two short stories and half the WIP novel, *and* blog every day.
Better get over to the blog…
Reasonable goal: Finishing one of my novels this year without being distracted by one of the others V.V”"
Unreasonable goal: Finishing all four of my current projects this year
Whoa! Many goals here! You got me thinking about mine, so, here they are:
One reasonable goal: change my job. I’d like to find a job in another school, where the principal isn’t harassing the whole teachers’ lounge.
One unreasonable goal: change my occupation. Instead of teaching, I’d love to land a steady job as a translator, translating SF-novels from English in Croatian.
(which is, actually, an SF in itself, considering how things go in our little book-market 
)
Reasonable goal: Keep in touch with family and friends… call more often, send written notes.
Swim weekly!!
Unreasonable goal: Eat healthier! I love chocolate and coffee! I’ve tried to cut back but it’s so hard! Fruits and veggies are expensive! I’m trying!!
Reasonable goal: exercise 3 times a week
Unreasonable goal: exercise 7 times a week
I’m excited at this reader involved blog! I’m going to look forward to all your contests and advice!
Reasonable goals: attend both belly dance classes next week, start brainstorming second novel, and go through revision notes for my first novel.
Unreasonable goal: Finish editing the novel, start writing the second.
Reasonable: Staying caught up in all of my classes.
Unreasonable: Finishing my online courses (2 of the 4) by March.
Hi Devon – glad to see your post on this site. my goals are related to reading and losing weight. two very simple but important goals – I’ve already made (my very first) new years resolution to get back to reading books and your book was the first book I finished in 2009. (Loved it)
reasonable goal #1 finish one book this weekend
reasonable goal #2 start walking to lose weight – I will go on at least one walk this weekend.
unreasonable goal #1 finish reading Lonely werewolf Girl (huge book) by Saturday (told you these were simple goals)
unreasonable goal #2 Lose 5 pounds by next Friday (I’ve got to lose weight – beginning to feel very unhealthy)
based on responses to your post so far – a third unreasonable goal would be to win this contest! (am waiting for your next book – posted about Magic to the Bone on my blogger account) I REALLY enjoyed your book and am glad to see this website with these other authors – Lilith Saintcrow, Rachel Vincent and Jenna Black (and now you) are all writers that I would automatically buy any book written by – just by seeing the author names. Hope that’s not too “fan-girl-squee-like”, I’m too old for that.
Reasonable: Stick to a budget.
Unreasonable: Lose 50 pounds in two months.
Deidre
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com
Reasonable goal – write 4 pages a day
Unreasonable goal – write 50 pages a day
I’ll get a lot closer to the 4, but 20 isn’t unreasonable for a weekend day, either. Daddy wants to take a bite out of that WIP. V^^V
Okay, I just found this site on Rachel Vincent’s site and must say I think I have found me some new authors. YEAH!
Reasonable goal: Totally clean out my closet and drawers
Unreasonable goal: Totally clean out all my closets and drawers (I tend to be a pack rat)
Hope you meet yours!!
Reasonable goal: Remodel the kitchen
Unreasonable goal: Remodel the entire house
Nice blog!
I had a book published 4 years ago. I wish now that I’d had support from a sympathetic group. I didn’t. I found out about the underbelly of writing. The book took 10 years (out of my life).
I thought I was among friends…but wasn’t. So, I marvel when I read about friends supporting friends (constructively in groups and about authors who are happy when one of their own make it.