Resolution Time: Goals and Reading Challenges for 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010 at 9:51AM
Last year I made a list of personal and writing goals. Some I accomplished, some I didn't, and some kickass things I never anticipated happening...did. :) Results were reported here. So I figured I should stick with tradition and set some new goals for the coming year. I think the power of intention and putting stuff out there really can be effective. (Especially when I hold myself accountable to the results publicly, lol.)
So here goes...
Writing Goals:
Complete Book 2 in the Exposure Therapy series way ahead of my June deadline.
Draft at least one additional full length novel.
Sell Wanderlust. (rollover from last year) --It's still under consideration at Harlequin, so if it doesn't sell to them, my alternative goal is to break down the book and rewrite it as a full length to submit to other pubs. I'm not ready to tuck those characters or their story under the bed. :)
Attend RWA Nationals in NYC. --I attended last year's and now can't imagine not going. But logistics with kiddo are going to take some working out.
Attempt to write a short piece (short story or novella) --I am totally intimidated at the idea of writing anything shorter than category length (55k), but I think writing something briefer will be a good exercise for me.
Blogging Goals:
Continue to keep up a regular blogging schedule and hopefully not bore you all. :)
Perhaps start or join a group blog and do more guest blogging.
Reading goals:
Read 50 or more books.
--Last year my goal was 100 and I failed miserably--I hit 40. So I figure this one is more reasonable. :) I'm going to do this by way of the following reading challenges:
This means I will read more books in 2011 than I read in 2010. If you want to sign up for the challenge, hop on over to The Book Vixen.
and
Erotic Romance Reading Challenge. Sign up for this one here. I plan to read 20 in this genre.
I need to read more in this genre since I, um, kind of write it. My books have a lot of suspense in them and I need to beef up my knowledge of suspense elements. So I plan to read at least 12 of these. Sign up here.
Each of these separate challenges will all count toward my total 50 (outdo) challenge. For a list of all kinds of reading challenges, you can go here.
Personal Goals:
Potty train the kiddo (a rollover goal from last year)
Be in a size ten or lower by the time I go to previously mentioned RWA Nationals.--I've been on Weight Watchers for a month, so I'm already started on this one. :)
Have a better work/life balance.
So those are mine. What are some of your goals for the new year? Are you joining any writing or reading challenges? What goal do you most hope to accomplish?
Hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
Reader Comments (17)
Good luck! I'm sure Wanderlust will sell. And with your current progress bar on book 2, I'm sure you'll get there on that one.
I think you should definitely start a group blog. So many of my favorites closed this year. :(
Good luck with all your goals! May 2011 have even more unimaginable goodness than 2010!
Great list of goals, Roni! I have a loooong list, but mostly just hope to start querying my two novels -- the first by Feb 1st.
Best of luck to you in 2011...glad to have found your blog~
I realized today that I haven't made any lists or plans for the new year. Not good. But I do hope to edit more and do a lot more reading.
I too should brush up in the romantic suspense genre since that's my thing too. Good thing is, I'm currently reading one such novel by Beverly Jenkins.
Wow, your goals humble me, they are awesome! I only set five and now I'm feeling like I should go back over my list! LOL! I blogged about it last Wednesday. Best of luck, I know you'll reach your goals!
Happy New Year, Roni!!! May 2011 be your best year yet!
Those are some great resolutions! I like that you pick realistic goals-good luck!!
Thanks for participating in my Outdo Yourself reading challenge!
Good luck with your goals :)
Happy New Years, Roni! Good luck with you goals : )
Thanks for joining the E-Book Reading Challenge! Have fun... and good luck with all you want to accomplish in 2011! :)
Thanks for this post. Gives me a great start to get some of mine down. :)
Because of wonderful people like you who have unselfishly shared their journeys and posted such great and important helpful hints, one of my goals is to have one of my WIPs publisher-ready by December 1, 2011. Also top on my list is weight loss. Good for you for starting already! And looking at your accomplishments this past year, it's a sure bet you're gonna succeed in whatever you choose to do this coming year!
Good luck, Roni!
My first goal is to boost my writing to 7,000 words a week, splitting it between short stories and my novel in progress. I've kicked that off this week. Just hit it and have two more days to add more words. I might hit 10,000 words this week. I'm really pleased with that.
The second goal is to get more material submitted. I read Dean Wesley Smith's blog and he has a way of counting points submitted to people that can actually buy stories. One point for short stories, three points for partials, and eight points for a full request for a novel.
http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=2617
I'm at one point going into the year and I'm setting a goal of hitting 25. I'd love to get it higher, and I might, but I'm being a bit conservative.
I'm thinking of going to the national RWA next year. This year, I'm goin back to the summer national SCBWI conference in LA. I'm addicted to it.
I like your reading goals. My goal for this year is to devour YA and romantic suspense novels, as well as erotic romance (preferably of the romantic suspense variety). I'm not setting specific goals. I'm just reading whatever entices me at the time.
What a wonderful list -- I haven't really set goals for 2011 other than "do not completely screw up new infant baby I made in 2010." :)
I failed my 100 book goal last year, too... 68 / 100 wasn't terribly close, so I think I'll decrease my goal to 50 books in 2011.
Sadly, I'm not going to set writing goals this year. *walks away with head down.*
Though I have not set a specific number goal, I am trying to read more books and screenplays since I write both. In addition, allow me to help you with one of your New Years resolutions....since you mentioned guest blogging more, I would love it if you'd do one my site (it's a support group for wannabe writers, actors etc) Email me at silverscrnwriter@Gmail.com if you're interested!
I'm a bit late to this particular party, but better late than never :) I loved this post and the idea behind it so much it inspired me to make my own writing goals for this year (and of course I linked to your blog - all credits to you!). So thanks for inspiring me!