Weekly Goals

Monday always brings to mind my goals for the week. As you know, I believe goals are super important and ultimately, the keys to success. I tend to keep a floating list of them near my computer for quick reference. Unaccomplished goals from last week get transferred to the new list and new goals get added.

So far for this week I have:

1. Write 30 pages minimum
2. Start newsletter article
3. Organize thoughts on using social media as an unpubbed and pubbed author

Then there are all the non-writing things, like laundry, cleaning, groceries, etc. My favorite part of my goals list is crossing them off.

What's on your list of weekly goals?

Wow. It's Monday.

The cookies have been eaten, the fun and games are over, Christmas is behind us and it's a new year, full of new obligations (and some old ones). Time to get back to work. I have tons on my To Do list today, including emails to be sent, errands to be run, some sort of workout to be done, pages to be edited, and goals to be written. Goals are SUPER important to me. Having no real plan for the year could be disastrous.

What's on your list today? Have you already started back to work or are you still on vacation?

Goals

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about what goals are, how important goals are and about my goals for 2010. Come chat!

How many words a day?

Okay, writers, time to fess up. How many words on average do you write a day? I've come to the very sad conclusion that I am a slow writer.

Sad because I'd love to be one of those writers who can whip out an epic novel in 2 months. But I'm not. I keep my daily goal low because of that and even then I don't always hit it. However, I like to think that my 4 pages is equal to someone else's 10, because I write pretty clean and fairly close to final draft readiness. Not always, mind you, but often enough that I'm taking credit for it turning out that way.

So tell me, how much do you write on average per day? Do you believe the writers who say they write 30 pages a day? How is that even possible? Or is really down-n-dirty fast draft kind of stuff that needs days of revision? Talk to me!

Goals

How do you set your writing goals? Daily? Weekly? By the word count or number of pages?

I take the number of pages I'd like to accomplish over a given period of time (400 pages in 4 months, etc.) then break it down into a daily page goal based on writing five days a week. That way if I write an extra day, I can get ahead or have a day or two to catch up if I fall behind.

I'd love to hear what the rest of you do.

Happy New Year!

I hope you had an awesome New Year's Eve!

Here are my resolutions and goals for 2009:

Resolutions:
1. Organize my time more.
2. Work by some sort of schedule.
3. Exercise more and get into better shape.
4. Eat better.
5. Lose weight.

Goals:
1. Finish two books.
2. Deliver both books to my agent.
3. Pitch a new article to the RWR.
4. Find a new place to sell shorts/articles to.
5. Send that new place at least one short/article.
6. Develop a new proposal.
7. Read another 50 books.

Please Pass The...WHAT?

I had a great, albeit too short, weekend. Saturday was spent at a booksigning that took place at a local mall. Much fun was had by the five writers/authors in our group, even though we started the day by having lunch at a rather curious place. The restaurant we ate at featured a menu where every plate was 475 calories or less. Great! However, there wasn't a pat of butter to be had in the whole joint. They don't stock it, cook with it or serve it.

My dislike was immediate. I almost don't trust a restaurant that doesn't use butter. Granted, the food was really good. I just couldn't get past the butter thing.

I made up for that on Sunday afternoon when Hotrod and I indulged in the chili and cornbread I'd made for lunch. Mmmm...boys and girls, I can cook. Just saying. I also finished one book and started another. I am pushing really hard to make that 50 book year end total.

My one and only major goal this month? Write "The End" on my WIP. That means approximately 133 pages. Very doable. No NaNo, no fast draft, just regular writing. Any of you doing NaNo? Any other big monthly goals?

So It's March. Whatever.

I know you're wondering about the golf pic, but hold your horses and I'll get there.

I didn't accomplish all my February goals. I'm still 96 pages from finishing Date With The Devil. I blame my family's two week stay for about 70 pages of that not getting written. Then I decided to redecorate the master bath. That was good for another 20 - 30 pages, so you can see the goal was achievable, just didn't happen.

I did sell a short story, which was not one of my goals, so that goes under little surprises. Also, instead of developing the YA idea I had, I ended up getting two more potentially great YA ideas and playing around with them. So far though, none is as complete as the first.

March is going to be a busy, busy month.

1. Finish DWTD

2. Expand ONE YA idea, pitch to agent

3. Write article for RWR (due April 5th)

4. Design and sew at least part of dress for Faery costume ball at RT.

Besides that, there are chapter tasks to accomplish and, lo and behold, another family visit. This time on Hotrod's side. And on Friday, joy of joys, we're headed to the Honda Classic to watch a round of PGA golf. I'm all aquiver. Actually, if it weren't for the fact that I get to buy a new golf-watching-appropriate outfit, I'd be digging my heels in. I have stuff to do, for pete's sake!

Gotta keep Hotrod happy, though, you know? He is the reason I get to write full-time after all. I do love a man who lets me spend his money.

No POV today

I think I've said what I needed to say about POV. If you have questions, feel free to post them.

Instead, I want to say Happy February! And talk about some mini-goals. Debbie Macomber recently spoke to our chapter about goals - she is SO focused. I don't think I'm made up that way, but I want to get better at it.

So. Goals. February. Here they are:

1. Finish first draft of Date With The Devil

2. Begin article for RWR

3. Brainstorm/plot new YA book, Deep Blue

4. Come up with pitch blurb for Deep Blue

Doesn't look like much but considering I'll have five family members in my house for eight days and my husband's birthday falls on Valentine's Day, there will be some minor complications. Additionally, I'm doing the workshop for my chapter's February meeting, there are crits to be done for my CPs, YA research books to be read (I'm on my third one right now as I try to get a handle on this new genre venture), and all the general stuff living entails: dentist, groceries, house cleaning (hah!), laundry, etc. Oh yes, forgot to mention I'll be taking on the role of mentor in February as well as part of the Romance Divas mentor program.

So. What are you doing in February?