Right About Time - Written in the Stars

I've always thought horoscopes were interesting, but I don't usually read mine every day. Most of the time, horoscopes are vague and general and can apply to anyone. But once in awhile, I come across a horoscope that seems to be written just for me.

Like the one in today's New York Daily News, written by Jennifer Angel:

"It's time to get serious, Sagittarius. The end of the year is almost here, and your goals and New Year's resolutions are up for reevaluation. Tick off what has been achieved, and what hasn't, taking into account what was realistic and what wasn't. Set new goals now for the remaining three months of the year, but make sure they're realistic and achievable."

Wow. A straightforward admonishment, that I really needed to read and contemplate. A wake-up call that the year is running out, and it's right about time to reevaluate my writing and focus on my writing goals.

I have achieved some of my writing goals so far this year. I took a step towards a more professional view of my writing, when I went with Kim S. to the SCBWI NYC conference in February. For that weekend, I got to see just how large-scaled the world of childrens/teen publishing really is. The big-time. And I was inspired to visualize my place in it.

I also went, with Michelle, to the local SCBWI Mid-Hudson Valley conference in June - our sixth one now. That helped keep the momentum of inspiration going through out the summer.

But what about the actual writing? At the beginning of the year, I planned to focus on two projects - my tween novel, What Luck, and my time-travel fantasy for adults - and to finish them both by the end of the year.

I'm still writing and rewriting What Luck, but haven't reached the end yet. I realized I need to restructure the plot to deepen the story for my main character, so I've been focused yet again on the first half of the book. I know how it develops and how it ends, and I've outlined it all. But I have yet to actually write out the ending.

As for my time-travel novel, I haven't done much more than an outline, character studies, and notes. I know I need to focus on one project at a time, and I've committed to finishing What Luck, but I also want to give the time-travel book more attention.

So, it is now realistic to still hope to finish both books by the end of the year? Probably not, since there's just over three months left, and the retail holiday season, which always eats up a lot of my time and energy, is fast approaching.

I seem to be in the same spot that I'm always in, at this point every year. With time running out on goals set with good intentions. Usually, it's around this time that I give up, and look to the new year to set the same goals again for myself, and hope that I finally get a chance to accomplish them.

But I need to break this cycle. I don't want to set my writing goals aside until next year. I feel the long shadow of time behind me, and I know that I can't count on unlimited time ahead. It's time now for accomplishments, not just dreams.

What Luck is in pretty good shape - I realistically think that I can finish the first draft by the end of the year, if I devote a lot of my time to it. I'll give as much of my free time as I can to the project. I'll keep in mind that the SCBWI NYC conference is coming up again in February - that should give me incentive.

I won't be able to do much with the time-travel novel in the next three months, but I can keep the story in the back of my mind, and continue to add to my notes when I can.

And if I start to get off track again, I'll remember today's message, that seemed to be written in the stars, just for me.