Over at the lobo_luna community, I've completed a question and answer session. I thought I'd post the questions and answers here as well.

What are your current and long term writing goals?



The current, short-terms goals are simple.

Novels:
I want to finish the first draft Rija's Tale by the end of April. If Last Car to Annwn Station does not attract an offer from an agent, then I plan to put together a query package for Old Blood's Fate and start submitting it this summer. I want to reach the final draft of Dark Water Blues before autumn, with an eye toward having it submission ready in early 2010. I would like to reach the final draft of Rija's Tale by winter of this year. I have a small press publisher who has asked to look at it once I'm done. I might even start outlining the next novel, Move Along Home, this autumn/winter.

Short Fiction:
I have four works-in-progress that I plan to finish by summer. I hope to complete three or four more pieces by the end of the year. I've sold down my short fiction inventory, until I only have nine pieces out on submission. I generally like to have twelve to fifteen pieces out and looking for homes. It's sort of the scattergun approach to publishing: I'll fling a bunch of things out in different directions and we'll see what hits a target and sticks.

Long terms goals are a little less concrete.

I'm writing novels at the fastest pace I can while still keeping up the quality of work. The theory is: Once I do sign with an agent and get a book contract, I'll be able to go back and repair the older novels with the knowledge I have gained, allowing me to keep new books coming out quickly for the first couple of years, driving momentum for my work, keeping my name in the public eye, and creating a quick backlist. This is the Elizabeth Bear / Kelly McCullough model.

I plan to try different writing projects, including screen and scriptwriting. I'm looking at taking up stage storytelling. I'm looking into taking on some slush reading and working my way into an editor position with a magazine or packaging an anthology. I'm considering rejoining a workshop, because I've felt stuck on this same plateau as a writer for nearly two years now, and I need something to help push me forward.

My most important long-term goals are to continue to grow and stretch as a writer. I don't want to ever find myself being complacent, I never want to say, "This is good enough and I am good enough. I'll just keep doing this from now on." The more I do this writing thing, the better I get at it and the more I realize I have no idea what I'm doing, and that I'm really not all that good.

Reach. Grasp. Fail. Fall. Get up. Dust off. Try again.