Author Heather McCorkle

It never grows old, that feeling of overwhelming relief and accomplishment that comes with finishing a manuscript. This week I wrote the last words on novel number ten and the rush is still just as powerful. I will be celebrating this weekend because regardless of what happens with it, I have grown so much as a writer just with the writing of it. Woo hoo! How about you writers out there? Do you feel the rush each time? And at what point in the process from creation, to writing, to editing, to polishing, does it hit you?

I hesitate to say resolutions because those seem to carry a negative connotation for most. But goals, I love those. They are my friend, especially as a writer. I promised myself I would check in with last year's goals to see how I did, and to help me set new ones. Here we go: 2015: #1  Work out harder, more often. Planned weekly regiment with activity on the weekend as well! Results: I did good, working out four days a week at minimum, usually five. Dropped a bit of weight, feel a lot better. 2016 Resolution: Kick it up a notch to get even more healthy. 2015: #2  Write three more this year. Get them to my agents, sell them, hopefully this year as well. Results:  I did good. I wrote two more novels and got them in my agents hands. The last part, I cannot say yet. :) 2016 Resolution:  Write three more this year. Get them to my agents, sell them, hopefully this year as well. It's a good goal, I figure why mess with it? 2015: #3  Get my manuscripts that...

Well I didn't reach page 189 on my editing because I found myself writing yet another new chapter! That makes four new chapters total, and in random places throughout my manuscript. *sigh* I can't complain though, it is deepening both the characters and the plot and making the entire novel better overall. That alone is worth the extra time it is taking me. I have until January when I plan to send it off to my editor so there is no rush, which is always a good way to revise. Rushing never leads to anything good! My new goal for the week is to get this final new chapter done (oh please let it be the last new one!) and reach 200 pages on editing by next Wednesday. It's a lofty goal I know, but I have a lot of ground to make up. And with the Tour Of Secrets ending today I should have a bit of free time on my hands. Speaking of which, today is the last day to enter the massive giveaway for the Tour Of Secrets. Drop in on the last stop of the tour at the fantastic Readergirls ...