It is never too early to set goals. When wandering past Sharon’s The Sunlit Desk discussion on her creative goals, I was inspired to make my writing goals more formal. Locking them down together in a concrete place versus pockets of hopes and dreams in random spaces. Then I read Linda’s What I Read page on her blog Out of My Mind and reaffirmed the need for planning. Plus, with my work responsibilities at the beginning of each year, having set path goals in place will allow me to stay focused and not feel behind by February.
So here’s where I’m heading:
- Continue with The Other Side of a Funky Place blog (ongoing)
- Read 50 books/journals, with a post a month updating where I am (ongoing)
- Attend another writing conference (summer)
- Publish a short story (ongoing)
- Organize writing files (January) and revise work as needed (February/March)
- Create more writing-related posts (at least 2 a month, ongoing)
- Publish a personal essay (ongoing)
- Publish a poem (ongoing)
- Attend a mini-writers’ retreat with like-minded friends (October)
- Journal at least two times a week (ongoing)
- Submit for publication at least once a month (ongoing)
- Research one new market each week (ongoing)
What are you thinking of for your upcoming goals?
Barbara McDowell 
Those are awesome goals!! I can’t wait to see you conquer every single one of them!
Thanks Jessi! Putting them into a formal list made me feel really good and made it seem doable. So much better then only dreaming in my head.
Love this post. I agree that it can be hard to stay on track with our personal writing goals and having a plan in place can definitely be one of the critical keys to success. Earlier this weekend, I realized that in my professional life, I often use editorial calendars, communications plans, and different planning tools to ensure I reached goals and objectives. Odd that until 31DBBB, it never occured to me to use those same tools to achieve my personal writing objectives. So this weekend, I started working on an editorial calendar for my blog and I plan to implement one to achieve my other creative writing goals as well. I’ll keep you posted as to how I make out! 🙂
I look forward to hearing about how you make out on your journey and achievements – best of luck reaching all your goals.
“Odd that until 31DBBB, it never occured to me to use those same tools to achieve my personal writing objectives.” So true Natalie! I had a like-duh moment when realizing how all the focused planning, time management, etc. that make me so productive in my day gig could and should be applied to my writing. Can’t wait to hear more on your future writing goals!
Great Goals! I need to formalize my own! Ah another post I need to write
Thanks! Yes, I feel like I have a net now. Like, if I’m ever staring at the screen or notebook, floundering and wondering where to point my energy, I can tap back to this list. Far less overwhelming.
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I’m sitting down to today to write up a business plan for my freelance writing. Love the writing goals and will now probably do something similar. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Walker! Glad I could inspire since others did for me. I’ve printed out a copy of my goals and have them now in my planner so I can stay present with them each day.