Here we are at the beginning of a brand-new year ~ ushering in a plethora of fresh and exciting opportunities. Although we can start anew any day of the year, there’s something special about January.
It’s not really a new beginning ~ January is dead-center winter where I come from, but its preparing for it, as winter blankets an earth awaiting renewal … kind of like us.
Gratefully, we can seek renewal ourselves! Renewal of relationships long neglected; renewal of healthy goals dropped by the wayside; renewal of faith and hope; renewal of the things in our lives that bring us peace; renewal of striving to overcome; and renewal of knowledge and ability ~ for a writer, that means acquiring greater writing and marketing skills by vigilant study and then firm application.
But how does one do that? It’s pretty easy to think of a goal or two we’d like to accomplish this year, but if a goal is not written down, measurable, have a beginning and ending date, and realistic – chances are it’ll not make it to February.
Here’s how I am going to accomplish one of my writing goals for 2013.
I wrote Sons of Elderberry at least five years ago, but have not finished revising it – the third to the last step before I send it to my editor. It’s caused me a lot of frustration, because my writing has evolved over these past years, and now I have to go through this wonderful story and tighten, tighten, tighten! But it must be done – and this is how I am going to do it:
I will revise a minimum of ten pages a day Monday through Saturday by forgoing television, movies, internet, and reading until the ten pages are done for that day starting on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. That pulls me through its revision at 70 single-spaced pages a week. Sons of Elderberry is 96,305 words and 197 single-spaced pages long. At that rate, I will be finished revising by January 31, 2013.
Written down. Measurable. Beginning and ending date. Realistic.
Okay – now what happens if I cannot accomplish this the way I have it set? Then as I evaluate my daily progress, I will recalculate and reset my original goal until I fall into a reasonable and realistic pattern that will lead me to my goal.
And then? I’ll send it off to my beta readers and wait for them to return it to me; recalculate and reset my goal to revise from their input; and then finally send the finished product to my editor! I’m excited to get going on this and attribute the process of goal setting to it’s final dusting off and ultimate publication.
So, this year – 2013 -what are your goals?
Sounds like a great goal. Best of luck with that! Mine was to get a writer’s group. Our first meeting is tomorrow 🙂 One down, a few others to go.
That’s awesome Michelle! Yay!!!
Well thought out plan. I will finish editing Hidden Heritage before Conference then move on and finish Escape from fire.
Thanks Donna! Have you written that goal down? It’s important to map out how your going to meet that goal – how many pages, etc. to revise per day to meet your chosen ending date … keep it up, and let me know your progress!
I love the idea of “I will recalculate and reset.” It is in better keeping with fluid reality than most goal setting plans. Thanks.
Thanks Granny enchanted! (Love your user name btw!) Yep – I agree ~ fluid reality, what visual imagery that conjures up ~ it’s very important to evaluate and adjust to meet that reality!
Great way to accomplish a goal! And love the way you’ve accommodated for not accomplishing it. At my house, I can’t depend on doing anything six days a week for a month, less a year. Hang in there! It is definitely worthwhile!
Thanks Lynn! Used to be that way in my house … miss my sweet children for sure ~ and hope to have lots of grand babies to keep me company in the future! But right now, my ‘season’ allows me to spend lots of time on my goals … your time will come too!
Great post and awesome attitude! Goal setting is very important and reflection is key to obtaining goals. I wish nothing but the best for you!
Thanks Mikey! I wish the very best for you too! Hope you’ll read my books! 😉
Dang. It threw me off having the blurb about you. Duh. Should have scrolled down farther.
Glad you figured it out Donna! I hope this post was informative! 😉
Thanks Kari – 😀
I love the way you approached your situation. I’m definitely going to apply this technique to a couple of goals I have sitting in my brain…waiting for me to activate them. I can’t wait to read the fruits of your labor! hugs~