Beautiful Books-2017 Writing Goals

It's 2017, guys. Which means it's time to start hacking away at our writing goals. Which means I'll be doing the Beautiful Books 2017 Writing Goals Link-Up. The draft I'm going to be rambling non stop about talking about today is the first draft of Runaway, my novel (learn more about Connor and Kyle's story here).

Shall we begin with the questions?

I WROTE A NOVEL GUYS I WROTE A NOVEL!!!! Runaway's first draft is done and sitting in my closet with its notebook friends. *pets the pretty notebooks* I also wrote a short story, One Last Time, and had some awesome beta readers look at it (thank you so much guys!). I entered and won a couple Monday's Minute Challenge contests and guest posted on Savannah's blog. That's all my fickle memory can think of at the moment. =)

So much I want to do, so little time… I totally want to do at least one Nano. I’d love to send Runaway to betas so they can give me aaalllll the comments and to have its third draft DONE by January first, if Connor and Kyle cooperate… I also want to send some articles/stories to other publications.

RUNAWAY. RUNAWAY RUNAWAY RUNAWAY. That is my number one priority right now, editing that story. *insert groans from my characters here* But in the meantime, I have plot bunnies for a Nano novel hopping ALL OVER THE PLACE in my head. *hides from bunnies* 

Guys I actually did my own photography for this ENTIRE post! =D 

I hope to master the whole showing-not-telling thing a little more, and I also hope to get better with my settings. I've noticed that I've had a hard time with those. 

Well, um, you see, I don’t really have a general editing process. Everything I write has a different process. For example, with my novella, I went through it but by bit with Tessa Emily Hall and made tweaks along the way. Right now, I’m doing some HUGE edits on Runaway, so that looks way different than the touching up I did to A Sleep So Deep. THIS STUFF IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

I’d give it a 5. It’s way messy and bare bones, in need of some major plot changes and character building. BUT IT IS MY BABY SO IT GETS A FIVE.

Say hello to Runaway. THIS IS THE NOTEBOOK. 

The plot. I cannot say this enough. THE PLOT NEEDS WORK. Go Teen Writers by Jill Williamson and Stephanie Morrill is helping out A LOT.

My characters. *hugs Connor and Kyle and Kayla and allll the characters* I’ve grown so attached to them… *wipes eyes* They grow up so fast! Just don't tell Connor I said that.

AFTER EDITING??? I... Have no clue. Probably some querying. I really want to publish something, and Runaway may be THE ONE. 

And then I'll hide in a dark hole forever. With a good supply of chocolate and novels. A notebook or two may be allowed. 

Reward yourself, then take a break. You just wrote the bare bones of a book. Your brain may crash if you don't take a break. Plus, it's always good to look at you novel with a fresh set of eyes awhile later.   =)

*gives you candy if you actually read this entire thing* What are your writerly goals for 2017? What stage is your novel in? What advice would you give your past self when you were writing your first draft?