What are your writing goals for the New Year?

As 2003 ends, and the New Year begins, I set at my computer thinking about what I will do differently this year.

Will I write more? Will I make deadlines, finish that novel, write some poetry or write some short stories?

It's easy to make New Year's Resolutions, but how many of us keep them? I can honestly say I never keep resolutions. I can take a chance and guess that not many of you reading this keep your resolutions either. They're too easy to break.

When we make a goal, it seems more definite than a resolution. That's how it is for me anyway. I will set goals and keep them, as I plod my way towards new writing goals. I'd love to be the next great writer, but how can I obtain that goal? Is it a reachable and obtainable goal?

My answer is yes, I can, but not in a year. I have to make my goals low, but not ridiculously low. I want to maintain and succeed last years goals. I want to make sure I can reach and surpass the goals for the New Year. Once I reach all the goals I have, I will make new goals and stick with them until I complete them.

I might not be the next great Author, but I can make my writing productive and succeed in my writing endeavors.

My main goal this year is to finish at least one of my four major works in progress. I want to edit it and send it out to as many agents as I can this year. As long as it has taken me on this novel, I hope this is an obtainable goal for me <grin>

My second goal is to make more time for my writing to support the first goal. I will devote more time in the day and the evening to reach my goals this year.

My third goal is to seek out appropriate markets for my many articles and short stories I have already written.

And my last and final goal is to learn more about the craft of writing. You never have too much knowledge about writing. I don't care who you are, you can always learn something knew about writing.

These goals are all obtainable for me. I've realized that you have to base your goals on what you know you can produce. Don't over do it. It's not a race to see how much you can write. You want your writing to be quality writing, not junk.

Goals provide a vision for your writing. Maybe it is a short-term goal, or maybe a long-term goal. By writing them down, you empower yourself to commit to that particular goal. It seems easier to make a goal and reach that goal than making a New Years Resolution and sticking to it. Let's face it, how many people write a resolution to loose weight and keep it.<chuckles> I definitely don't keep that resolution. Goals seem to be more concrete than a resolution.

I will set reasonable, yearly goals for myself. If I set them goals high, I will open myself up for possible failure to reach the goal. In short, reasonable goals encourage me to surpass my goals, but if I set goals to high and fail to meet them, they discourage me.

I tack these goals on my door of my computer hutch. I pray that by looking at them everyday, I will empower myself to meet and surpass the goals for the New Year.

What about you? What goals have you set for yourself for the coming year?


Lisa J. Rambo