Just like thousands of other writers, I’m working out my goals for 2011. The big scary goal for next year is the Write 1 Sub 1 challenge. The most short stories I ever wrote in a year was 9 to 10. I’ve done it twice. This past year, I focussed on my revision skills. I’ve submutted 7 new stories this year. I learned a lot about my writing, and about the methods that work for me. Armed with this, I’ve set myself a half goal for the Write 1 Sub 1.
The original goal for the challenge is to imitate Ray Bradbury, and each week, write a story and submit a story. I’m pushing this year, but I’m not pushing myself so far I’m going to break myself. My half goal of 26 stories written and submitted is over double what I’ve ever done.
This breaks down to about two stories per month written and submitted. My method, to keep me sane, will go something like this:
- 2 new stories: one from my story ideas file, one from a prompt.
- 2 revisions pulled from my completed stories folder (preferably not the newly drafted stories)
I need distance to revise well, and I think writing more stories will create that distance.
This could be a good approach; I’ll try it and see. It is subject to change. 🙂 Also, I don’t want to pass on my May Story A Day challenge, so I will likely not be revising that month, and writing extra short stories.
I’m eager to see what this will do to my writing, both skill and habit.
Good luck to those of you taking part. 🙂
DAWN BONANNO 
Can’t go wrong with a goal like that. Flood the markets with good.
Hopefully I can make ’em good not just to flood the market, but to fill it. 😀
It doesn’t count as flooding unless you breach the sandbag barrier at least once, sure.
Sounds like you’ve molded the challenge to something that’ll really push you. I’m willing to bet that your writing will improve markedly, particularly across the habits side of things.
Bring on 2011! 🙂
Great way to make Write1Sub1 work for you! It’s sure to be an awesome year of writing for us all.
Thanks guys. I’m getting anxious for January 1st. 😀
The paragon of undrestanindg these issues is right here!
I’ll be following your W1S1! I have a feeling that Im going to need all of the outside motivation that I can get. And you’re doing Story a Day too. And here I thought I was ambitious! Good luck with both and happy writings.
Hi Nicky,
I think the strategy for May submissions is flash fiction, this way I can get some decent story writing time. It’s like folding laundry: there is a way to make it all fit in the drawer…