This is the first IWSG day of the New Year. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page.
Can you believe it’s 2016? Looking back, I didn’t accomplish much with my writing last year. I have nothing to show except the articles I wrote for Southern Writers Magazine and four very rough novella drafts.
2016 MUST be different.
Do you choose a word for the year? This year my word is IF.
IF I focus on my goals, I can and will accomplish them.
I think I set myself up for failure because my goals list is too long and I don’t set a deadline for each project. That’s going to change; every goal has to have a deadline.
Here are my goals for this year. I have to work out some of the deadlines.
I have five articles to write for Southern Writers Magazine. I’ve chosen my authors to interview and will soon send them their list of questions. I need to look at my calendar to note my deadlines.
One Fine Day – Working title for my novella – Deadline is March 1. I have nothing but a rough outline so this is ‘new’ writing.
The Little Girl in the Bayou – Mystery Short Story—submission deadline March 15th. The story is complete, I just need to check it over and make sure word count and theme match up with publishing guidelines.
Novella Series—Rewrite and Edit 4 rough drafts by July 1st.
Listen to the Butterfly – Nonfiction book I’m working on. Determine date for completion and race toward it.
Even though I have so many other projects I yearn to complete, this is all I’m planning to focus on through July then I’ll take another look at how I’m progressing.
What are your goals for 2016? How do you monitor your progress? Got any tips for me? I’m a loosey-goosey writer who haphazardly plots, researches, writes, and blogs. Any and all suggestions are welcome!
Let’s make a deal: Let’s leave 2015 failures behind and move forward with our dreams and goals. Hopefully, 2016 will be a good year for all of us.