Happy New Year, everyone!

Every year on January 1st, I reflect on my goals from the past year and set new goals for the new year. I organize them into subtopics because it helps me have more of a handle on the different facets of my life.

Here’s how I did on my goals for 2013:

Writing Goals
1. Write! 400 words. Every day. No excuses. {I wrote more than 146,000 words this year, but I’m still working on establishing a solid writing routine… I’ll consider this goal halfway checked}
2. Revise thesis manuscript and send to agent. {Getting there… still revising, don’t want to rush the process!}
3. Complete YA manuscript.
4. Resubmit story collection to prizes & small presses.
5. Write a new one-act play.
6. Write a full-length play. {Started, but not completed}
7. Finish Verna novella & put out as an ebook. {Didn’t get around to this one}
8. Write three blog posts a week.
9. Read three short stories a week.
10. Read 40 books by end of year.

Write On! For Literacy Goals
1. Send out a newsletter every other month. {Sent out 3 newsletters, not 6}
2. Teach a summer writing camp.
3. Teach a winter writing camp.
4. Teach a college essay writing camp.
5. Speak to 10 classes/orgs/radio shows.
6. Make Pimple an ebook.
7. Hold a Holiday Book Drive.
8. Compile writing camp ebook/online program. {Still working on this!}

Professional Goals
1. Apply to fellowships & Ph.D. programs.
2. Submit to a literary magazine every other week.
3. Submit a query for a freelance article every month. {Sent out 8, not 12}
4. Apply to at least 3 conferences/workshops.
5. Submit to Literary Awards.
6. Update & expand teaching website.
7. Put 10% of every paycheck into savings.
8. Put $1,000 into Roth IRA at end of year.

Healthy Life Goals
1. Exercise/yoga at least 3 days a week. {Started doing zumba, too!}
2. Do core work 6 days a week. {Still working on making this a habit}
3. Stretch every day. {Working on this}
4. Meditate at least 3 days a week. {Currently once a week and building up to more}
5. Continue with meal planning & healthy cooking schedule.
6. Clean apartment every weekend.
7. Chronicle weekly acts of kindness on blog.
8. Send a card/letter to Gramps every other week.
9. Call Grandma & Grandpap every other weekend. {I’m living with them now … crazy how much can change in a year!}
10. Count my blessings every night.

Here are my goals for 2014:

Writing Goals
1. Establish writing routine. 400 words. Every day. No excuses.
2. Revise thesis manuscript and send to agent.
3. Complete memoir manuscript.
4. Complete 200 pgs of new novel.
5. Write a new one-act play.
6. Write a full-length play.
7. Finish Verna novella & put out as an ebook.
8. Write three blog posts a week.
9. Read at least one short story a week.
10. Read at least 40 books.

Write On! For Literacy Goals
1. Send out a newsletter every other month.
2. Become an official nonprofit organization.
3. Teach a summer writing camp.
4. Teach a winter writing camp.
5. Teach a college essay/app seminar.
6. New ebook of work by young writers.
7. Compile Writing Camp ebook/program
8. Hold a Holiday Book Drive.

Professional Goals
1. Apply to fellowships & Ph.D. programs.
2. Send out 52 submissions.
3. Submit 12 freelance queries.
4. Launch tutoring business.
5. Publicity: 10 talks/blog posts/radio shows.
6. Conduct 5 writing workshops.
7. Put 10% of every paycheck into savings.
8. Put $1,000 into Roth IRA at end of year.

Healthy Life Goals
1. Exercise 3 days a week.
2. Do core work 5 days a week.
3. Stretch every day.
4. Meditate at least 3 days a week.
5. Smoothie and/or salad every day.
6. Send a card/letter to Gramps every other week.
7. Participate in She Reads Truth.
8. Complete Year of Wooden challenge.
9. Journal at least once a week.
10. Pray & count my blessings every night.

Questions of the morning:

• What are your goals for 2014?
• How do you organize your goals and stay motivated throughout the year?