At the end of 2011 I posted my goals for 2012…on my blog. Right there in the open for everyone to see. It was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating things I’d done, in terms of being open and putting myself completely out there. Later in the year I revisited those goals to see where I was.
Surprise, surprise! I accomplished, or began making headway, on many of the goals I established for myself and then shared with others. It worked so well, why not do it again? At least, that was the plan. But by the end of the year I was hard at work on many of those goals so I kept putting off setting my goals for 2013. While I am still busy working on many of the projects I set in motion in 2012, there are several other personal and career goals I want to achieve this year, but have yet to make any real progress. So, it seems it is time to stop tarrying and bring back the goal list. Below is a broad overview of my goals for 2013.
2013 Goals
- Adopt a healthier lifestyle – Joined WeightWatchers today.
- Make more time for family & friends
- Complete two manuscripts
- Edit two manuscripts
- Search for agent representation
- Publish two books – Already in motion w/ Carina Press
- Join or start a group blog – Already in motion. Contemporary Romance Cafe launches May 1st.
- Continue progress w/ education – Making excellent progress
- Self-publish 1-2 pieces
- Submit to at least four contests this year
- Pursue freelance magazine writing opportunities
- Make time to travel
It sounds like a lot (okay, it is a lot), but I believe it is doable. What about you? What are your goals for the rest of 2013?
That is very ambitious. Publishing your goals to strangers does help force you to meet them though. I started the A to Z thing as an impulse to force me to write something every day for a month. That is public goal enough for me at present. Baby steps. The overarching goal is to be able to put “novelist” behind my name as well. We’ll see what happens.
Participating in the A to Z Challenge was an impulsive decision for me, too. I’d been doing a very poor job of posting regularly to my blog, so I figured this challenge would be just the thing to whip me into shape. After a month of posting nearly every day, posting once or twice a week from here on out should be a walk in the park.
BTW, I laughed so hard when I saw your website URL. So funny. I love it!
I really need to sit down and reevaluate my goals like this. It’s so good to keep ourselves on track– all the steam and motivation we had in January– and the clear visions get so easily muddied. Let me know what you think of WW and how you do. I have GOT to do something in this area too. MUST.
I’ll definitely let you know. Went to the first meeting yesterday and it was great. I love the list of routines they suggest. Each is small and easily attainable, but can have a huge impact over time. The one I need to concentrate on most is getting up and walking around at least five minutes every hour. So hard for writers because to be productive we need to have our butts planted in a seat for hours.
I think this is a wonderful way of keeping up with your goals. Writing them down somewhere for the world to see does make it a more solemn promise than just thinking them up in your head. Good luck with your goals, and with the rest of the challenge! =)
Thanks for visiting, and for the encouragement. Sharing your goals can be terrifying, but the added accountability is truly motivating.
You always amaze me at how you openly post your goals, and I know you do it for the exact same reason I can never bring myself to do it….accountability. Once you put it out there, it’s out there and it helps you stay accountable to them because everybody knows about them. Unfortunately, I prefer to sulk in silence when I don’t meet some of my goals. No one knows them, so no one will be the wiser if I fail. One day, when I grow up, I’ll be just like you and lay it all out on the line.