Big Goals + Big Reward = Crazy Writer

This year on my birthday my super awesome friend, Carol Lynch Williams (who I adore) wrote this sweet  message on my facebook wall....

Happy happy birthday, Erin, dear.
Gotta get a book out for next year.
If I had a wish then it would be
A book of yours signed from you to me.

Ahhhh, isn't she cute? Well. This got me thinking about where I'd like to be, what I'd like to have accomplished by next year. (Yes. Deep Thoughts.)

Around the same time I saw a post on author Lisa Yee's blog about the SCBWI conference in LA. This is basically where the stars of childrens writing converge to discuss books and writing, party, and schmooze. And I thought to myself, "Hey now.  I want to go to that."

So, I decided to set some Crazy Big goals and.... if I reach them? Then I deserve a Crazy Big reward, right? Like, say, a trip to LA next August? Yes. That's a rockin' plan.

Wait until you hear the goals. They're nuts. (Me and my goals usually have that in common)

Goal #1: Finish my MG novel that I've been working on for....too long. I've been calling it simply Jasper.

But it has nothing do with this kind of Jasper....



And more to do with this kind...




There's a second part to goal #1....Start subbing that book out to agents. I'm planning on starting on this wild and crazy adventure...The Great Agent Search in January.  Wooh. That's going to be a milestone. (heh heh...mileSTONE....get it?)

Goal #2: Write a decent draft of my steampunk MG novel. Yes. Steampunk. I. Am. So. EXCITED. We'll dub it WW.

Here's some random steampunk pictures to enjoy...

                                            



ACK! So fun, right?

Goal #3: Write a decent draft of a third novel. I think this one may be YA. And there just might be a dashing wizard in need of help from a plucky heroine. But I'm not sure if I'll work on it or another MG idea that's been patiently waiting in line for the last year or so. I might have to get to that one first.



This will be my Wild Card novel.

Now you may be wondering to yourself, "Why is Erin so insane?"

This is a valid question and one I find myself pondering often. I'm sure my husband and children find themselves musing over this as well. As of yet, I don't have a good answer for you.

But one thing that I'm thinking is it's pointless for me to put out the money and effort to make the trip to the LA conference if I'm not in a place to make all that networking worth it.

So, wish me luck. And if you happen to see me looking as though I haven't showered for a couple weeks (you'll probably smell me before you see me...) then you'll know why.

Simply remind me what day of the week it is. And where I am. And whether or not I was coming or going. And if I have something stuck to me, like dried mac 'n' cheese or oatmeal, kindly pick it off.  Or ignore it. Whatever. Your call.

Thank you for your support.