Ready. Set. Write! {Goals}

Ready. Set. WRITE! is a summer writing intensive that encourages goal-setting and accountability, and provides an opportunity for us to cheer each other on wherever we’re at in our writing—planning, drafting, revising, or polishing. This year, your RSW hosts are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, and myself. Find the rest of the details HERE.

Today I’m setting my RSW goals…

1. Complete a revision of my contemporary YA, Where Poppies Bloom. I’m currently about a 1/3 of the way through the heavy overhauling, and then I’ll need to do a read-through. I’d like to have the manuscript CP-ready by the end of June, and agent-ready by the end of July.

2. Complete the first draft of my contemporary YA, The Road So Far, by the close of RSW. This WiP is currently plotted and sitting at 30K words. I am super verbose in my first drafts, so I suspect it will be “done” at around 80K. Yikes.

3. Read (on average) one YA/adult novel per week.

4. Read (on average) one MG novel with my daughter every two weeks.

5. Maintain my tan. (Yes.)

That’s it! Simple, right? 

Don’t forget… this year we’ll be using headings for our weekly updates, which will take place every Monday. The headings are as follows…

* How I did on last week’s goal(s).
* My goal(s) for this week.
* A favorite line from my project OR a word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised.
* The biggest challenge I faced this week.
* Something I love about my WiP. 

We’ll see you next week for our first official progress posts. Until then, best of luck with your writing/revising, and please do link your own goals post below…

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57 thoughts on “Ready. Set. Write! {Goals}”

  1. Alison Miller says:

    I should totally make “maintain my tan” a goal. Of course, we’re supposed to get rain every day for the next two weeks so…

    Also, I love your goals because um…that means I get to read your story sooner than later. 🙂 And I LOVE that you make reading time with C a goal!

    Good luck this week!

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  4. Rachelwrites007 says:

    I LOVE the title of your Poppies sequel and yayayay for bringing POPPIES back from the dead (sorry, puns all around here !)…I’m so so excited for you and can’t wait to see what you do with both. I also love the goal of reading 1 YA and the 1 MG with C. You should keep us updated on what you read! 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks, Rachel! I’m glad POPPIES is being resurrected (ha!) too. It’s been fun to revisit these characters. C and I read reading THE ONE & ONLY IVAN right now, and we are LOVING it. So heartbreak and beautiful!

    • katyupperman says:

      The books are *totally* my reward too! I like having all of my plans down in writing, though. Definitely keeps me from slacking. Can’t wait to check out your goals and spend the summer writing with you, Jennifer!

  7. crystalschubert says:

    I didn’t think to add reading goals to my list, but that’s a good one. Lots of luck on all of your goals! And if you get down all 50,000 of your words for THE ROAD SO FAR while sitting outside, you can take care of the tan at the same time 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      I like the way you think, Crystal. 😉 I plan to write (and read!) outside as much as possible. I do better in the fresh air. Can’t wait to check out your goals, lady!

  8. Jaime Morrow says:

    I didn’t realize you were working on WHERE POPPIES BLOOM again. Very cool. I’ve always wondered about that one when I saw it in your list of writing projects. Sounds awesome. 😀 (I love the title so much!) As for your other WiP, I have the same goal: finish by the end of RSW. I’m about the same amount of words in, too! Good luck meeting all your goals, Katy!

    • katyupperman says:

      Victoria gave me incredible feedback for POPPIES, so yes, I’m revisiting it. Hopefully I’ll be able to wrestle it into something amazing. 🙂 Best of luck this week, Jaime!

  9. Ghenet Myrthil says:

    I love that maintaining your tan made it to your list of goals. 🙂 I live in a beach town in CT and plan to spend as much time as possible at our beach this summer.

    Reading a book a week is an unofficial goal of mine. I have so many books in my TBR, I’d love to make a significant dent.

    Good luck with your projects this summer. They both sound great!

    • katyupperman says:

      Yes, my TBR is out of control, hence the book-a-week goal. I think I can manage it, though I probably should have made “cut down on book-buying” a goal too. 🙂 Yay for summer at the beach!

  10. mandiebaxter says:

    Nice goals. I borrowed your book goal. And I’m so jealous of your tan! Haha. I’m such a pale pale girl.
    Our goals would be super easy if the kids would cooperate. Maybe the more writing/play dates we do the easier it’ll get?!

    • katyupperman says:

      Maybe we should just buy them a couple packages of Oreos and prop them up in front of the TV? 😉 And yes, I am all for writing/playdates anytime!

  11. Krispy says:

    This is great! Reading is definitely going to be part of my goals because I’m failing at that too! Thanks for hosting RSW again! 🙂

  12. Elodie says:

    End of June, if you need additional eyes on WHERE POPPIES BLOOM, let me know and even though I´ll be joining RSW only in July, I’ll be cheering you on before that. (and I love love love that reading with your cutie is one of your goals)

    • katyupperman says:

      Thanks, Elodie, and your feedback on POPPIES would be amazing… Yes, please! Can’t wait to see what you’ll be working on come July. 🙂

  13. prerna pickett says:

    glad to know you write big first drafts, I tend to do so as well. Wish I knew how to break the cycle, but it is what it is. Good luck with your goals!

    • katyupperman says:

      I actually think it’s easier to trim than to add (in most cases, anyway), so I’m perfectly fine with my enormous first drafts. My last project went from an 88K word first draft (contemporary YA!) to a 75K readable version. Cut, cut, cut! Looking forward to checking out your goals, Prerna!

  15. Cortney Pearson says:

    I love that you added reading as one of your goals as well–definitely a must for any summer! Those sound like some delicious titles–good luck this week on getting started with your goals!

  16. Erin Funk says:

    Best of luck balancing two projects, Katy! I hope both the drafting and the revisions go well! I’m sure you’ll do great with the “heavy overhauling.” I hear you on being verbose in first drafts. Me too. 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      Glad I’m not the only wordy drafter. 🙂 My first drafts are a lot of getting to know characters and word-building that I cut later. Helps me to get a real feel for the story. Hope you had a great first day, lady!

  17. Tracey Neithercott (@T_Neithercott) says:

    I remember you talking about POPPIES and giving little snippets on this blog. I think that’s when I was like, why is Katy not published yet?!?! Anyhow, good luck revising it and writing THE ROAD SO FAR.

    Let’s do many Twitter writing nights!

    • katyupperman says:

      Aww, thank you! That comment totally made me smile. 🙂 Hopefully it’ll be publishable one of these days — sooner than later, preferably!

  18. leandrajwallace says:

    Great goals, including reading books. That’s something that sometimes suffers when I’m trying to get my writing time in. =( Thanks for hosting!

  20. Kitty says:

    Woohoo for maintaining your tan! 🙂 And all your other goals, too, of course. Good luck with all your goals and thanks for hosting RSW. This is gonna be awesome!

    • katyupperman says:

      Aww, thanks, Dana! Titles are always a challenge for me, so I’m glad these caught your eye. Can’t wait to hear about what you’re working on this summer!

  24. Sara Biren (@sbiren) says:

    Hi Katy – so happy to have another summer of RSW and possibility before us! It’s going to be a great summer and I’m certain that will all have lots of success stories to share. Good luck with your goals – love the one about the tan. Umm. I should add “get a tan” to my list! Ha! And let’s compare notes on books for our girlies. 🙂

    • katyupperman says:

      Oh, I’m sure your tan will come. Gotta make it a priority. 😉 So happy to do RSW with you again, Sara! Let’s keep our nighttime Twitter trend going!

  25. lisaaldin says:

    I like you how included manage your tan! Also it’s so nice that you aim to read a book/week with your daughter, my mom did that with me/does that with my younger siblings & it really fosters a love for reading. Good luck with your goals, Katy!!

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