Goals for the New Year

Make New Year resolutions is what people say. In truth those resolutions quickly get broken then tossed aside as failures.
A resolution is so rigid. You will do this. You will not do this.
Such a format is doomed to failure from the beginning.
Enter the New Year goal list. There is no set timetable. Sometime this year this goal will be accomplished. If a snag arises in January, there is February to try again, no stigma, no failure. Life happens.
Even when the list is not quite finished by the end of the year, the goals just shift to the next year.
So it is with my writing goals for this year. I had hopes of completing three books and two drafts. I finished one book and one draft and several rewrites of another draft.
The New Year brings a new writing goal list. That unfinished book heads it. And I hope three more will join it. Then there are two drafts to do.
One extra thing is on my writing goal list this next year. It isn't really writing but marketing. I love to write and know little about marketing which means people don't find out about my books. I want to change that this year.
The New Year officially starts next week end. I couldn't wait. At last I found a way to make free sample pages from all my books available on my website! it's only a PDF link, not a fancy button. But it's done.
Now, what's next on that list of goals?
Happy New Year to everyone. May you fulfill your next year's goal list and have many great happenings to embellish it.
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Published on December 30, 2015 12:31 Tags: goals, lists, new-year, resolutions, writing
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message 1: by Sally (new)

Sally Wragg Thanks, Karen and good luck too with all your goals, in both writing and marketing, for this next year. I so agree with all you say about New Year's resolutions and think we shouldn't set ourselves up for failure in this way.

I broke up at Christmas with the first draft of a novel complete so my first goal in the new year is to complete the second draft. I've heard it said that's when you really write a book so I think I shall have quite a lot of work in front of me!

All good wishes for health and happiness for 2016,
Sally


message 2: by Mack (new)

Mack Good luck with your goals!

It's too true how easily they're cast aside. While cleaning, I found my resolution list from last year. None were accomplished. I'd made progress on my novel, but I hadn't even come near any of my writing goals.

Of course, last year was a suck year all around for me, so I've re-adopted my goals & resolved to actually do them this time. I even made a timeline for homestead goals as well. No shame if I don't make them, so long as we're steadily moving towards them. I hope we can help each other stay focused this year!


message 3: by Karen (new)

Karen GoatKeeper Sally wrote: "Thanks, Karen and good luck too with all your goals, in both writing and marketing, for this next year. I so agree with all you say about New Year's resolutions and think we shouldn't set ourselves..."
My first drafts are really enlarged outlines giving the scope of the story. I like having that first draft because it tells me what research I need to do and lets me see where the story wants to go.
That second draft is when the story becomes a novel for me. The characters develop. The timing and theme take shape.
Enjoy your second draft.


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