Goal Setting & Resolutions

This is the time of year for people to evaluate how they did the previous year and to set new resolutions. The question is: How useful is this practice, really?

As a writer, it's tempting to set goals that are too ambitious, too far-reaching. Then, by the end of the year, I tend to focus on only those things I haven't yet achieved.

This year, I've set two main goals: to complete my two works in progress. On my master "To Do" list, I've moved all my other writing projects to the bottom of a list, in a new category called "Shelved Projects." That way I'm not weighed down with guilt about them whenever I consult my list, but I also won't forget about those ideas.

As a reader, I have seldom set goals about how many books I would read. This year, however, I'm going to set a modest goal of 10 books, just because I know how hard it is to find time to read. And yet, I think that if I use my time effectively, I can finally get through some of the books on my "to read" shelf.

I'm also resolving to complete reviews (even if they're only one paragraph) for the books I did finish reading in 2013.

What about you? Are you setting writing and reading goals for 2014?