My 2014 Writing Goals

I’m an awful goal setter.

Actually, I’m an awful goal keeper — yes, in sports, but mainly in writing. You would think that, as an editor, I’d be a pro at keeping my own set goals. But I actually do just fine keeping goals that involve other people, like my editing clients. It’s the goals I set for myself that seem to slip right through my flimsy determination.

Why is that? Am I alone out here?

I actually have a lot more fun writing goals than keeping them, but I’m also a fan of fresh starts. So, “Hello 2014 — year of kept goals!”

Supposedly, if I state my goals out loud or post them on social media, I’m more likely to keep them. I don’t think that’s true for me. I really don’t give in to self-imposed peer pressure very much. I also don’t like New Year’s Resolutions. I’d rather make a resolution in June just because it’s the time I decided to make a little life change. This may be why I left this post until a week after the technical new year. [grin]

So, for fun and maybe for accountability — and because I like to think my readers would find this interesting — here are my writing goals for 2014:

1. Write or do story-developing  on A Time to Speak (book 2 in my Time Series) every week. Why is it the thing I love to do most — writing — always ends up neglected? It’s as if I feel this pull to deprive myself of things I enjoy. Time to squash that bug. Writing every week is actually going to be my most challenging goal. That’s why I’m so excited.
2. Complete first rough draft of A Time to Speak — Current status: 21,000 out of approximately 150,000 words. Too lofty? Nah. I have a whole year, after all. If I stick to my other plans of writing/developing every week, this should be a cinch, right?
3. Create and stick to a writing schedule. How is this different than setting goals? Well, creating a schedule and sticking to it often has to be re-evaluated every week or so, adjusted, and then re-attempted. At least, that’s how it goes with me. Right now, I’m thinking of devoting 9:00 – noon to writing in the mornings. It may end up being biweekly, but we’ll see.
4. Journal twice a week. I love journaling, but as busyness increased, my journaling slunk away into a lonely corner — especially because I’m still old-school and journal by hand. But I’m determined to step up my consistency. This road to publication is far too exciting to forget. I’m relying on my paper memory to keep it all recorded.

That’s all! I’ve seen goals from other writers committing to 1,000 words a day or 5,000 words a week, or writing 7 days a week. I don’t think I can start getting into word-count goals yet. I need a cushion.

So tell me, what are your 2014 goals? They don’t have to be writing-related (though if they are, I may browse and then steal one.) I’d love for you to share one (or ten!) goals you hope to accomplish this next year.

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