Archive for January 1st, 2008

1/1/08: Looking back, looking forward

Word count: 88658 | Since last entry: 4586

2007 was a heck of a year. We traveled to Singapore, Thailand, and Japan, and I retired from my day job. From a writing perspective, it was mixed — focused on my next novel, I only wrote one new short story and made only two new sales (one of which was to a market that folded before the end of the year). But I saw a lot of stories in print, including my second in F&SF, a bunch of translations, and my first Gardner Dozois Year’s Best appearance. I also sold a collection of my short fiction to Wheatland Press, and “Titanium Mike Saves the Day” got at least 8 Nebula recommendations (I’ll find out soon, I hope, if it made the 2007 preliminary ballot… even if it didn’t, it has until April to pick up 2 more for the 2008 ballot).

In 2008 we plan to do a lot of travel. We’re seriously considering 7 science fiction and 6 square dance events, plus at least two writing workshops and a trip to Germany in December. There will probably also be more travel that we don’t even know about yet. I’ll post a travel calendar when we get a few more details sorted out.

Last year’s resolution was to finish my second novel. I didn’t make it — got 12 chapters out of 16 — but I think I made a good effort. My resolution this year is to write 1000 words, or do the equivalent amount of revision, every single day. (Not yet sure how to measure revision or what the equivalent amount to 1000 words is. Maybe an hour.) That’s two or three times as much as I’ve managed in previous years, but I’ve been doing it for at least a couple of weeks now and I think it’s doable.

At that rate I should finish up the first draft of novel #2 by Groundhog Day. I’ll spend February revising it, send it off to the novel workshop on or before March 1, and workshop it at the beginning of April. Then I’ll do whatever revision it needs and get it in the mail as soon as I can, hopefully by May Day. After that, short stories, at least for a while (though I have a couple of novel ideas fidgeting in the waiting room).

12/31/07: David’s Index for 2007

Novel words written: 79,453
Short fiction words written: 5,121
Notes, outline, and synopsis words written: 3,074
Blog words written: 27,076
Total words written: 114,724

New stories written: 1
Existing stories revised: 2

Short fiction submissions sent: 27
Responses received: 31
Rejections: 27
Acceptances: 2 (1 pro, 1 semi-pro)
Other sales: 4 (1 reprint, 2 translations, 1 unpublished story as part of collection)
Awaiting response: 5

Short stories published: 10 (2 pro, 1 semi-pro, 1 reprint, 5 translations, 1 audio)

Novel submissions: 5
Rejections: 4
Acceptances: 0
Awaiting response: 1

Collection submissions: 1
Rejections: 0
Acceptances: 1

Award nominations: 0

Happy New Year!