I like the word ‘goals’ so much better than ‘resolutions,’ don’t you? Resolutions seem to depend on nothing but mind power–we resolve to do something. My brain accepts ‘goal’ as something that require steps, not just closing my eyes, holding my breath, and wishing!
So, here are my writing goals for 2011:
1. Prepare 2-3 novel openings for submission to Genesis (by March 4)
2. Write 1-2 novels
3. Revise 1-2 novels
4. Prepare 2 novels for submission
5. Attend ACFW conference (September in St Louis)
Clearcut and simple. Yes, I’m leaving myself some fudge room. No, I’m not assigning titles to which novels will be written, revised, or submitted. Seems every time I do that, my brain goes sideways and a different story takes priority for whatever reason. No matter how clear it seems at the beginning of the year, plans shift. My real plan is to write a novel from scratch and finish one that’s been hanging out there, partially complete, for a couple of years, but things may change if any one of the proposals, partials, or fulls I have out bear fruit. Then I’ll be more than delighted to rearrange all my goals to fit the new parameters.
Other goal:
Lose 1-2 pounds per month by snacking less and exercising more.
Things to keep doing in 2011:
One more year of webmaster and board secretary for Creston Valley Food Action Coalition
Plant, care for, and process a large garden
Take a vacation!!
Spoil my granddaughter 😀
These don’t require much change, if any, so they’re ‘easy’ to do. What things have you been doing the last few years that are positive and you just need to keep the ball rolling?
Looks like a sensible set of goals, both ambitious and possible.
I tried not naming projects a couple of years ago, since they always change, but the muse part of my brain took that as permission to not work on anything. So last year I named things and just realized that I might not be working on what I planned. It worked well.
That sounds fair. I’ve never tried ‘not-naming’ before, so I may find the same thing as you. I guess I’ll know before December!
It looks like my muse has looked at all those nice options and turned her nose up at all of them. She wants to work on short stories…
At least she wants to work? Mine’s on strike.
I like that you also named what you did well before that you plan to continue. It gives the brain a positive thing to focus on as well. Not that your goals aren’t positive, they are, but you demonstrate momentum, which can carry the other goals along with you.
I’m trying to find which baby steps will work for me in the health department. As far as weight loss goes, baby steps seem to be too large for me, so I’m trying to find something even more incremental that will get me going in a positive direction.
As for writing, finish NaNo novel, Fooling Mother Nature, 250-500 words at a time, and revise Polar Bear on the Loose, using How to Revise Your Novel class in 30 minutes a day.
It’s true that the whole weight/health thing comes in minute incremental steps. Sometimes so small they don’t seem useful. I’ve much to learn here, too. As for ongoing goals, only makes sense, doesn’t it? 😉 We don’t need to add all new things every year, but build on where we’ve been.