2024 Goals and Retrospective

Hello readers, it’s time for a special update! One year ago, I published my author’s website, declaring a timeline of goals for my sci-fi novel. In November, I accomplished my first goal: to write a full draft of my science fiction novel in 2023. Since then, I have been preparing for the next draft, summarizing what I’ve written, analyzing each plot thread for weak parts, and creating an improved outline for draft 2. Most of the work is done, and I’m about ready to start drafting again!

My goal for 2024 is to write a full second draft, submitting each chapter as I go to my critique group. I have a wonderful bunch of writing friends who meet at coffee shops, and I want to thank them for providing me with a positive work environment. Because of them, my stamina has improved to the point where I am comfortable writing for three hours at once, three times a week. That’s an encouraging step toward the dream of writing full time!

Looking forward, I expect new challenges. My opening scene is still weak, as is one of the turning points in the middle. The second draft will be harder to write than the first, especially since I want to polish each chapter for my critique group. To meet my goal and finish the draft this year, I will have to further increase my writing time. Because I use my home office for other things, I tend not to get much writing done there, even if I set aside time for it. Perhaps I’ll schedule more times to haunt the coffee shops during the week.

My book will eventually need a new name. Mobius is a holdover from my teenage years, when things were simple and titles were just meant to sound cool. Now that I’m an adult, writing adult fiction, Mobius is not metaphorical enough, not poetic enough to suit what the story has become. A title bears a lot of responsibility. George R. R. Martin could have called his epic fantasy series something catchy like, A War of Dragons, but he didn’t. Instead, he titled his series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and his first book, A Game of Thrones. Mobius is too generic, too low effort for a professional work of fiction. Finding a new title will be hard, since I’ve had plenty of years to grow attached to this one. But I’ll keep my mind open, and when the right one comes by, I’ll be ready for it!

My goal for the rest of February and March is to finish preparing and to write at least three chapters of draft 2. This includes polishing them up and presenting them to my critique group. Three chapters a month is not enough to finish by December, but it’s a fair starting goal if I anticipate my weekly writing hours to increase over the year. Here’s to a creative 2024!