Back in January, I wrote a post called The Most Important Thing You’ll Write This Year.
That ‘thing’ was a list of your annual writing goals.
Today I realized 2010 is nearly half over, and it made me take stock of where I am, and wonder how everyone else is going with their writing goals this year.
I’m actually quite happy with my progress thus far. Six months ago I had my second child, so everything I’ve done since then has been with baby in arms.
Since the new year, I’ve written more than 50 articles for Write It Sideways and other websites, and approximately 50,000 words of a novel. My main goal was to write and revise a novel this year. While I’m not positive I’ll be completely finished by December, I do know I will have a solid draft ready for revision.
Considering the demands on my time, I’m pleased with my progress. Still, I know there have been moments I slacked off. It would have been entirely possible for me to have reached my goal in time if I’d been more diligent.
How are you doing with your annual writing goals? Have they fallen by the wayside like so many New Year’s resolutions? Have you stuck to them rigidly so you’re completely on track? Or, like me, do you fall somewhere in between?
If you are off-track or you’ve needed to redefine your goals, what went wrong?
Was it because:
- your goals weren’t realistic enough?
- you set too many goals?
- your schedule necessarily changed?
- you weren’t committed enough?
- you gave up too soon?
Perhaps there are some of you who set goals back in January, but have long since forgotten them. Maybe you’ve gone back to your old ways, or you soon became discouraged.
Fortunately, the year is only half over. That means it’s not too late to set new goals and accomplish a lot this year.
If you’re currently wandering from your writing path, why not refocus yourself?
In the next six months, you might be able to:
- write the first draft of a novel
- write a query letter and synopsis, and start your agent-hunt
- revise your novel
- tackle 6 freelance assignments
- write, polish, and publish 3 short stories
What have you accomplished so far this year? Are you still on track to reach your personal goals? Do you need to redefine your goals or set new ones for the second half of this year?
As far as productivity goes, I’ve written more than I thought I would by this point. But no acceptances yet this year. On anything. I’m hoping that will change in the next six months.
Yay for exceeding your goals so far this year, Lydia! Keep submitting–I’m sure you’ll get some acceptances soon 🙂
At the beginning of the year, I’ve set myself a goal to write 65 000 words by the end of the year. I’m extremely pleased to see that I’ve already written 50 000 words in various stories and articles. I think I’m going to adjust my wordcount goal and try to write another 50 000 words in the second half of the year.
As for my other goals, I actually already met some of them, but some are still on my to-do list. Including writing an e-book and starting up a professional website.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your novel 🙂
Sounds like you’re still well on your goal-path. That’s wonderful! Will keep you posted on my own novel 😉
My big goal was to write my first draft by June. I finished it in May. I’m now reassessing my goals for the next six months.
Wow, great job, Southpaw! Isn’t it wonderful to know you now have so much more time for revision this year?
January? Writing goals? It’s all a bit fuzzy now, but I believe I did have one or two. I remember reading the “Most Important Thing” post way back then (thinking “writing/working/goal-setting with a babe in arms – you go, girl!), and perhaps setting some myself. Ah yes – I was going to complete a draft of my WIP by the end of the year!
Slacked off? Yup. Lost sight? Yup. Why? Well, of the choices above, I’d have to pick (e) gave up too soon. But the year’s only half over, so back to it!
Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Danielle
Good to see this was a timely reminder, Danielle 🙂 Hope you accomplish a lot in the second half of this year!
Though I didn’t write them down officially, my writing goals are coming along great. My biggest goal was to finish, polish, and query my first novel (YA urban fantasy, HUNT) – which is now finished, polished, and in the process of being queried! I also wanted to start writing travel articles and send them out to markets – so far so good. I’ve gotten 2 published online (marking the first times I’ve been paid for writing!), and have about 3 more written that I need to get out.
New goals: find markets for the travel articles that are written and write more travel articles. Start: a) dark fantasy short [~6,000 words], b) post-apocalyptic steampunk romance short [~12,000 words], c) the next novel-length project.
You’re doing so well! All the best on your agent-hunt. You’ll have to let us know when you find that perfect agent!
I had to change my writing goals almost as soon as I made them this year – because this year was/is the year of revision for me (three drafts to revise…and more to write, of course). I vastly overestimated my own abilities, and had to slow down and *learn* more before I could pick up the pace. I’m finally starting to have enough confidence to move faster on my goals.
Now my goals include finishing a full rewrite, finishing a revision, completing two more drafts by the end of the year, self-publishing a revised serial novel and submitting the rewritten draft for trad. publication. Lots going on…but I’m feeling good about all of it. 🙂
Jamie, it’s great that you’ve been able to see where your goals were unrealistic, and you’ve stepped back for a little more learning time. You won’t regret it!
Great post! I’m in the process of re-evaluating my goals for 2010 as I always set the standard a bit too high … bit too ambitious … bit too dreamy! I think BIG.
Still definitely determined,
B. Jas
http://www.restlesswriters.ca
Thank you! At least you know to make your goals a little more realistic next time. It’s all a learning curve!