My targets for 2013

First of all, Happy New Year! I hope 2013 will be a spectacular year for you.

This time last year I set out my goals for 2012. Yesterday I posted how I faired.

As the new year rolls in it’s time to set my goals and ambitions for the next 12 months:

1. Pitch two children’s book series.

I am currently working on two stories with the mysterious codenames of Project: Parp and Project: Poodle. The latter is plotted out and about a quarter way through being written while the former is still in the random notes in a notebook stage. Work will probably begin in earnest in March once I’ve got my commissioned work for January and February out of the way. Both could easily spin into a series, so they’ll be my first big push of the year to get published.

2. Get two comic commissions.

Always a difficult one, but I’ll keep pegging away. Made some good contacts during 2012 – just need to act upon them now!

3. Write an original radio play.

It’s no secret that I love audio drama. While I love writing tie-in audios, with and without my long-time writing partner, Mark, this year I want to try an original solo project with my own characters. Ideally, I’d also like to tackle a different genre – no spaceships, monsters or ghosts – but we’ll see.

This month sees me hopefully joining a local scriptwriting group, something I’ve been meaning to do for ages. It will be a bit nerve-wracking, walking into a room full of strangers but I’m cautiously excited. It could be the boost I need.

4. Write an adult novel.

At the moment this could be another tie-in project or my own characters. Time will tell. I’ve been working on the plot of a fantasy novel throughout most of 2012, but now is the time to stop scribbling notes and start scribbling chapters. This one will need organisation – to fit it around all my other work – but 2013 is the year it must happen, one way or another.

5. Start the search for an agent.

So far I’ve not needed an agent. Most of the work I’ve been doing has been work-for-hire commissions. If I’m serious about writing my own material, I’ll need to find representation – but first I’ll need to complete either goal 1 or 4.

And there you are, my targets for 2013 laid out for all the world to see. Will I reach them? Well, I’ll see you back here on 31st December to find out.