Michelle McGill-Vargas

Well, it’s 2014. Time to make new writing goals.

I spent last year conferencing, writing, participating in critique groups, pitching to an agent, sending out query letters and racking up rejection letters. But it wasn’t all bad. I had one flash fiction story accepted. I also had two best-selling authors read and provide positive critiques on my manuscript. In essence, I reached my overall goals. When I first started taking writing seriously back in 2010, all I wanted was to write a book (check!) and get published (check!). Guess I should have been more specific.

So this year, my goal will be to simply finish another manuscript by July. Midwest Writers Workshop is in July, so if there are any compatible agents there, I’ll try another pitch. Then by the end of 2014 (and with help from my critique groups) I’ll be ready to query by October. Simple.

I’ve learned a lot these past three years. I’m glad Writer’s Digest started this year with the article, “Important Writing Lessons From First-Time Novelists”. In this interview, one of the author’s, Eyre Price, summed up my thoughts exactly:  “[Getting a first novel published is] really one of those things where I don’t think anyone can explain it, just all of a sudden the fates align. It’s like a lock tumbler—all the tumblers fall into place.”