New Years Resolutions

Happy 2014 everyone!

I hope everyone's 2013 was a good one, and I hope that 2014 will be an even better one!

There are a lot of things that come with a new year, perhaps the most common of which is New Years Resolutions. If you live in my life, you're probably going to get hounded about making them just about every day for the next two weeks. The people in my life are highly supportive of New Years Resolutions and goal setting and such.

But you really can't blame them.

Harvard once did a study, and I really wish I could find the exact study, but I couldn't find it, where they interviewed one of their classes. These are Harvard students, so they're all already really smart and hardworking. They asked each of the students whether they had made New Years Resolutions. This is one of the reasons I wanted the study, so I could give you the exact number.

I think about two thirds of the class or something had made resolutions, half of them had written them down, and ten percent had written out a plan for how they were going to accomplish their goal.

Ten years or later, the students who had made goals were making some percentage more money that the group that hadn't. The one that had written the goals down were making even more money than them and the group that had written out plans was generally making more than twice the group that had written their goals down.

Now I know that this is a young writers blog, but I want you to take this and apply it to anything that you want to accomplish this year.

1. Think about what you want to do or accomplish. Actually think about. Then:

2. WRITE IT DOWN. Type it up or write it down and put it somewhere where you're going to see it. Don't type it up and hide it in a folder on your computer you never look at like I did last year.

And then, especially if it's a vague resolution like "Lose weight" (The number 1 resolution for Americans in 2014) or "Get organized" (Number 2) 

3. MAKE A PLAN FOR HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.

Don't say "Lose Weight", say

"Every Monday, after school at 3:30, I will go jogging for 30 minutes. 
Every Tuesday, after school at 3:30, I will do Pop Pilates for an hour. 
Every Wednesday, after school at 3:30, I will go jogging for 30 minutes. 
Every Thursday, after school at 3:30, I will do Pop Pilates for an hour. 
Every Friday, after school at 3:30, I will go jogging for 30 minutes. 
Every Saturday, I will get up at 8:00 and go jogging for an hour. 
Every Sunday, I will rest."

Use specifics and repetition. 

• Every Monday
• 3:30
• Jogging on some days, Pilates on others
• Half and hour or an hour
• I will go jogging, not I will try  ("Do, or do. There is no try.")

I use exercise because it's an easy one to plan out (though so hard to actually execute... I'm a couch potato... Exercise is icky.) There are some that are harder to plan out, I'll give you that. It's hard to plan out a goal like "Enjoy life to it's fullest" (4th most popular resolution). It's really hard to plan out a resolution like "Get a book published".

However, it is not hard to make a resolution to write a blog post every Friday, which just so happens to be one of mine.

It's not that hard to make a resolution to write 500 words a day. 

That's it. 500 words. Just sit down and write 500 words. You're not allowed to write 499. It has to be 500 or more. Even if you have writers block and you have no idea what you're going to do or what you want to write, just write them. EVERY. DAY. Even if you hate them, go back, delete those 500 words the next day and rewrite them if you want to or have to. But write 500 words every day.

By the end of 2014, writing 500 words every day, you will have written 182,500 words. That's easily two novels. So even if you delete what you wrote the day before every other day, you've still written a sizable novel by the end of the year.

Set a time. Right when you get home, before you start your homework. Right after you finish your homework. After your shower. Pick a time and most importantly STICK TO IT. 

If your goal is to edit your novel (that would be me ladies and gentlemen), make a resolution to spend 20 minutes or more either thinking or editing or rereading or rewriting your novel a day. 20 minutes. Even if it's just sitting there and debating with yourself whether you really need this chapter in there at all or something else. 20 minutes.

DO IT. Set a time and stick to it.

If your goal is to get it published, spend that same 20 minutes or longer working on query letters or looking for agents or editors you think might be willing to take you on. 20 minutes a day. That's it. That's not even the length of a sitcom. 

And finally

4. Do whatever you have to to remind yourself. 

• Write sticky notes to yourself and put them all over the place. 
• Tell a friend. I'm actually really good at making sure other people make their goals. A friend of mine once wanted to finish this book that she needed to finish for a project and I bugged her every single day about it until she finished. Friends can help you. 
• Put reminders on your phone. 
• Reward yourself. 
• Guilt trip yourself. 

Whatever works for you. Use a couple different methods at the same time.


Don't put it off or ignore it. If you take it seriously, you'll do it.

And I hope you will, whatever your goal is, literary or not.

Wishing you the best success and see you on Friday! Happy New Year!

- The Vinshire Sisters

How to Write a Novel

Okay, so I know that we haven’t done anything for weeks now, and you might be wondering what’s going on and if this is the beginning of a second end, but I promise you it is not. Things have just been pretty busy lately.

Small update:

At the beginning of the month, we managed to get to spend some time together in person. For those of you who don't know because you haven't read all we've written (not really that much unfortunately), Margaret and I met online. We got to know each other through a mix of a writing website, email, chatrooms, and Skype. We have met in person before, but this was the first time we actually got to spend an extended amount of time together (it was two days). While there was a TON of awkward giggling for the first day and a half, by the end of the last day and the day she was going home, we managed to talk like normal human beings and one of the things we discussed was the story I am going to be writing for this blog. We (more I, but I'm sure something she said inspired the idea to land in my head) managed to come up with an end, which mean that I'm likely to start writing it soon. I have the chapter outline about 3/4 done.

She went back to school on Monday August 12 2013 and my first day back at the evil death trap called “High School” was today.

Begin to cry young ones.

School is coming upon us all. Not only did school begin today, but I have spent the past two/three weeks frantically trying to finish all of the summer homework from my AP classes I was supposed to spend all summer doing. I told myself I could neglect it only if I was neglecting it for editing my book.

... let's not talk about that. Last summer I wrote a book. This summer I completely failed on the editing thing.

So yes, school is here. That means let time for writing. Hopefully it will also mean a return to structure and perhaps more steady uploads. Or it could have the opposite effect and we'll be so distracted that we won't... but let's hope for the first one, yes?

Hmm. Anything else? Margaret managed to fill in two plot holes! Yay! That’s always an awesome feeling.

Now, this post is not all just updating, though that probably will consist of about half of it. I just wanted to share this one thought that was actually shared with me a few days ago. It was actually used in a completely different context, but it was about goals and setting them and all that and that’s what we’re doing, isn’t it? It also ties in pretty heavily with some of the feelings I’ve been having myself lately.

The title of this post is “How To Write A Novel” and I do have to apologize for the slightly misleading title. I’m not going to be describing a foolproof THE way to write a novel, or even my way of writing a novel. Personally I don’t think I have the right to write an article like that until I actually have my name in print. But that’s beside the point.

We all have an ultimate goal in mind. Whether this goal is to get published, or maybe your goal is to be able to live off writing, or maybe your goal is to be the next JK Rowling (I’m gonna tell you right now, straight up, there are some goals and aspirations and dreams I can approve… if you think you’re the next JK Rowling… Not to be depressing or smashing your dreams to tiny pieces, but… I wouldn’t count on it), it is a goal.

So imagine this goal as the top of Mt. Everest.

And you’re standing at the little village at the base of the mountain where people plan their expeditions.

Look up.

It’s a looooonnngggg way to go. 29,029 feet/8,848 meters.

It doesn’t just look big, trust me, it is. And it’s not going to be easy to climb it. The people that climb it have to go through a lot to get to stand on the top and proudly yell “I’M KING OF THE WORLD!”

But every climb starts with a step. And then more steps after that. And even more. And a lot of steps. And in this case a lot of ropes and pulley systems and other people ahead of you to lead the way and or hoist you up a sheer face.

With those lots of steps, frozen sweat, ropes, and support system, even though you started at the very bottom, you can wind up at the top.

That is how you write a novel, or publish a novel, or whatever your literary goal may be. You take it one step at a time as you can, until you do get to stand at the top of that mountain and shout that you are indeed, King of the World.

The Doubters

Let’s face it people. They’re always going to be there. It’s like the little kid when they’re five saying “Mommy I want to be the president!” or the ten year old who gets cast in his fifth grade play and becomes convinced that he’s going to become the next Hollywood star.

“Awww…. How cute!”

They’re going to be like that until you get a book deal. In fact, they’ll probably be there AFTER you get the book deal simply because of how hard it is to get into the business. In today’s world it’s almost as hard to muscle your way into the writing business as it is to get into the acting business. Not as hard as from the acting to music! *cheesy joke drum roll* You know, like the Disney stars who start singing cause it’d cheaper for Disney to re-contract them then find someone else…

Anyways, my point is that there are going to be doubters. I deal with this problem. Margaret deals with this problem. You deal with the problem or soon will. If you don’t, it’s probably because you’re some closet bunny that knows everyone wants you to be a doctor not a writer.

My Experience

I get really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really mad. And I don’t get really mad very easily. I’m just one of those easy going people that really only wants a computer, books, food, and air conditioning to be happy in life. But when people tell me or make it obvious that they don’t think I have what it takes to make it into the published/writing world I get MAD.

For me it’s a matter of I don’t think they realized how serious I am about it. I can imagine them reacting that way when I was eight and was writing the story mentioned before. Or in third grade when I wrote a story just because my best friend at the time was and it was a COMPLETE rip-off of Harry Potter. But now it makes me very mad that they don’t understand that it’s a serious goal. I am working towards it as we speak. Reading Writer’s Market 2013 (a birthday present from Margaret a few days ago :D THANK YOU!), trying to work on building a platform (which you see the product of here… :)), writing in my free time. I’m passive about a lot of things, but not this.

So, as I’ve said before already, I get mad when people don’t take me seriously.

What I Do/What My Advice About What You Should Do About It

Ignore them.

I would say spit in their faces, but that wouldn't be very nice at all. Nor sanitary. Nor socially acceptable. And It probably wouldn't make them believe you any more that they already were. In fact it might make them believe you less. So don’t spit in their faces.

I usually just ignore them. Or just answer politely. They’ll have to eat they’re words when you do end up making it. You’re probably not going to become the next JK Rowling (Sorry. I probably won’t be either, if that helps.) but you will still be able to shove your autographed copy in their faces which will be well worth it.

The Wrap/Encouragement/Pep Talk

I just want you to know right now that you cannot let them get to you. I will repeat again, DO NOT LET THEM GET TO YOU! If you are really and truly determined to become an author you will become so! Even if your writing sucks, if you really want to write you’ll write and get better. You will go and make the effort of pitching to ever single agent that would ever consider picking up your book.

But if you start to believe the doubters, you won’t. Because it is hard. It’s going to be hard, for you and me. And if you’re not determined with every fiber of your being and scorning the doubters in your head (like I said, no spiting in faces) you’re probably not going to make it.

And you have to make it.

~Amanda Vinshire

P.S. If you have any questions, topics, or doubts yourself please email them in! We'd love to answer them!

vinshire.sisters@gmail.com