Below are some goals I’d like to focus on this year regarding my writing. I always keep it very simple and allow myself to deviate or go with the flow. If I’m too strict about my goals, I inevitably end up failing and not getting anything done. I am quite regimented in other areas of my life, but not as much when it comes to writing. That’s just not how my creativity works. So, even though I’ve written them out below, I don’t hold myself 100% accountable to completing any of them. I’ll talk about why further down.
This year, my goals include:
Revise and send my YA novel to critique author friends. This story sprouted in me rather quickly and I’m surprised at how easy the writing has been. I guess it’s true, the more you write, the better you get at it. The setting is in 2005, and I’m not sure if it qualifies as historical, but I’ve been doing lots of research to get my facts right.
Revise and finish my second middle-grade book. It’s another historical fiction book with a female main character I adore. I also had a lot of fun researching her life, despite the limited information available. After the revision, I’ll send it out for critiques as well. If I’m lucky both of these books, the YA and MG will be ready for submission to my agent in a few months.
I also have some children’s books I need to fine tune as well. I’m not sure which ones I want to focus on at the moment, but I’m leaning toward my holiday story, which is proving to be harder than I ever imagined. People often think writing for children is easy, but it’s NOT!
Edit my Christmas screenplay and start on my second Christmas screenplay. I had the fortune of attending a Holiday Romance Screenwriting class in December and LOVED it. Years ago I took Screenwriting at Santa Barbara City College and enjoyed those classes as well, but this was specifically for the Holiday market, which is my favorite genre and time of year. The class inspired me to pull out a screenplay I wrote several years ago and do some revising. I’ve already finished ACT1 and am finishing up revising ACT II. I also connected with some great screen writers from the class who I am now in a critique group with. My goal is to have the first screenplay ready for submission by the spring or summer.
As I read over these goals, I remind myself not to be overwhelmed and to ultimately do what I can at my pace. Day by day. One step at a time. I know me and some days, actually a lot of days, I simply don’t feel like writing for various reasons. As the young people say, life be lifing! If I reach 50 or 75% completion, that’s a win in my book! I’ve learned to give myself grace and allow myself REST when necessary without guilt and self-imposed deadlines.
And, if I should wander off course from these goals completely, then that’s okay, too. At all times, and in all places, I’m simply doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
My 2024 word is CALM.
Peace and Happy New Year!