Goal Setting by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Happy New Year! This first Manuscript Monday of 2011, let's dive into goal setting with a very prolific writer, Kim Vogel Sawyer. We hope you're inspired to approach your own writing this year with renewed enthusiasm. Enjoy!

Goal Setting
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

God gave me the privilege of publication. Along with contracts comes little details, like deadlines. Because my deadlines tumble one on top of another at a rather rapid pace (I have a book due every four months), I don’t have a lot of wiggle time between those “turn it in NOW” dates. Consequently, I discipline myself to stick to a writing schedule.

Since my novels are supposed to be between 90 and 100K words (and I seem to always lean toward the longer edge of that range), and since I usually take a couple of weeks for research/character-building and a couple of weeks for editing, that leaves approximately twelve weeks for the actual writing. Bring on the daily goal chart!

Twelve weeks equates to 84 days. But I immediately subtract 12, because I don’t write on Sundays. It’s a personal thing. :o) That leaves 72 days. Then I cross off the 12 Saturdays. If I get in a pinch I might write on Saturday, but I really try to keep those open either for family, speaking events, or book signings. That brings me down to 60 days. 60 days to write 100K words! Are you panicking yet? Honestly, it’s doable. When you divide 100K by 60, you get roughly 1700 words needed each of those days to meet the deadline. I bump that number up to 2000, which is approximately eight pages. That doesn’t sound so overwhelming, does it?
So here’s my goal: an average of 10,000 words per week. I record my daily word count as well as a running total to keep track of where I am in the completion of the novel. If I fall behind one week due to outside commitments or appointments, I make it up the following week. Seeing that number climb toward the magic 100,000 words is very motivating.

Something else that keeps me motivated is finding an accountability partner—someone who asks on a daily basis, “How’d the writing go today?” Or even just posting my count on Facebook gives me an accountability. If I reach my goal—i.e., turn in the book on time!—I reward myself and my husband (because he has to leave me alone and let me write!) with a dinner out.

Basically, setting goals gives me a tangible something to work toward. It insures I’ll be pleasing my publisher by sticking to their schedule for the book, and it lets me have a life outside of my office, too. Because when I meet my daily word count, I know I’ve completed my task for the day and can go see the grandkiddos or visit a friend or take my mom to lunch or just play with my cats. So meeting the goal has its rewards.

Writing takes discipline, and establishing and meeting goals is a big part of that. Blessings to you as you write for Him!

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Kim's latest book, Courting Miss Amsel, released January 1, 2011.

Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment: a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Independent, headstrong, and a firm believer in a well-rounded education, Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community. But is Walnut Hill ready for her?

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A former elementary school teacher who loves "C" words like children, cats, and chocolate, Kim Vogel Sawyer has become one of the most beloved authors writing for the inspirational market today. Drawn to her gentle stories and connecting with the spiritual truths in them, readers continue to fall in love with Kim’s novels. Kim and her husband are empty-nesters who make their home on the beautiful plains of central Kansas, the setting for many of her books.

Writing Historicals by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This Writer’s Journey Wednesday, I’m pleased to have guest Kim Vogel Sawyer share tips on writing historicals. Kim is an award winning author and friend. I’ve (Dawn) personally enjoyed her novels, and quite a few have found a home in my bookshelves. Enjoy her recommendations for writing in the historical genre.

Writing Historicals

One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is getting lost in a novel. Preferably a historical novel. As a little girl, I enjoyed visiting the past through reading a good story. When I grew up, I became a history teacher. I suppose, then, given my interest in history and reading historical stories it wasn’t much of a stretch that I would try to become an historical author.

One of the most important elements of any story is reality. Even though it’s a fiction story, plot lines that step beyond the bounds of believability can make a writer lost credibility in a reader’s eyes. So getting the facts straight—being historically accurate—is important. And that’s where research comes in to play.

When my fifth grade students researched for reports, I told them they needed to verify their information with three separate sources. As an author, I follow the same rule. Of course, kids loved to research on-line, and so do grown-ups! But just because you find something on a website doesn’t necessarily prove it’s correct—anyone can start a website. So using other sources is essential.

If possible, I like to visit college libraries in the area where my story is being set. They have wonderful reference sources and often have information specific to the area that you won’t find anywhere else. Librarians are a wonderful help if you need hard-to-find information. I have yet to find a resource librarian that wasn’t willing to help me dig for details.

Building a private library is advisable—especially if your stories tend to focus within a specific time period or area. Having your own books lets you mark important passages, fold down corners, or whatever else helps you study. Librarians usually frown if you mark up their books. :o) Since I write predominantly late 1800s-in-Kansas stories, most of my books are committed to Kansas in the 19th century. I write some Mennonite stories, so I also have Mennonite history books. Over the past years, I’ve collected textbooks from 1911 through the 1950s—not only do these books give historical information, they usually have photographs and they’re written in a language that “sounds” like the time period, helping me step into character.

Books are fantastic, but nothing beats a personal visit to get a “feel” for the area. Every area has its own landscape, vegetation, and typical weather patterns. Experiencing these things for yourself can help you understand what your characters lived.

So carefully research. Then share the information—as a natural extension of the story—so the setting comes alive for your readers.

Bestselling, award-winning author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a small-town Kansas girl living out her childhood fantasies of becoming a writer. Kim's stories contain faith lessons her readers can adopt into their personal lives. She and her husband are empty-nesters with three adults daughters and six grandchildren. Learn more at http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/