Second draft of Spirit Quest - Completed!

I crossed the Second Draft finish line over the weekend. Although I don't feel a lot like celebrating as I know how much work there's still left in the next drafts to follow. The back end of the novel felt a little rougher, needing more connective tissue. I feel like a second second draft might be in order, but I want to give it a bit of time to settle.

The first 100 pages of my manuscript are being professionally edited and I'm a bit anxious and excited at the prospects of recovering her comments.

What's on my plate for the next month?

- Prepare my application form for the Canada Arts Council grants
- Prepare my agent queries/submission packages
- Recover the first 100 pages of edits
- Work on my Third Draft to sort out all sorts of issues that I noticed through the initial drafts, clearing up the magic system, synch up the ages of characters, add a bit more details and descriptions in those talking head chapters.

Piece of cake, right?

If you have any advice or experience with wrapping up second drafts and third (and fourth and fifth) drafts, please comment and share.

My 2013 Writing Goals

After surveying the year that was 2012, I’d like to kick off 2013 with some writing goals and publicly post them as a means to shame me if I don’t follow through on them! Instead of resolutions, I thought that for 2013, I’d try a different angle and construct a To Do list based on my resolutions.

1. Read more. Sadly, 2012 was a pathetic year for reading. Everything else took precedent over reading. And when I did read, there was a noticeable effect on my writing and generation of ideas.
   [   ] Read 2 books a month
   [   ] Read 1 short story a week
2. Finish what I’ve started. I have two novel projects on the go. I need to focus on these and finish them. THIS YEAR. I’ve submitted End Times to the Borderlands Writing Boot Camp, so I’m sure after I emotionally recover from the critiquing, I’ll come out fired up.
   [   ] Revise plot/synopsis for End Times
   [   ] Complete First Draft of End Times
   [   ] Revise plot/synopsis for Elegant Darkness
   [   ] Complete First Draft of Elegant Darkness
3. Continue to pursue grants this year.
   [   ] Ontario Arts Council (February and October 2013)
   [   ] Toronto Arts Council (June 17/2013; check in April for app.)
   [   ] Canada Arts Council (October 1/2013)
4. Blog. I’ve got three blogs I’d like to keep active on:
   [   ] Jason Shayer – writing blog (twice a week)
   [   ] Marvel 1980s comic book blog (four times a month)
   [   ] Biff Bam Pop – Tales from the Longbox (twice a month)