It’s almost over
I don’t think I’m alone in viewing December as a period of reflection. When a new year approaches, I often find myself looking back at where I’ve been and forward to where I want to be in another year’s time. As a glass-half-empty kind of gal, my natural inclination is to look at what I didn’t accomplish. But this year I’m trying a different approach. I’m looking at what I did get done so I can make measurable goals for 2014.
Planning ahead
I’m going to take the next two weeks to make a road map for my writing. Twelve new months means twelve new writing goals. If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll work those down to weekly action steps. I’m a planner, so knowing where I want to be and having a rough sketch of how to get there is important to me. It keeps me accountable and focused.
But if that’s not you, if you’re more the fly by the seat of your pants, to heck with the resolutions type, then by all means do that. Don’t let the calendar bully you into something that doesn’t fit your work style. Whether writing is your dream job, your actual job, your hobby, or your time-filler, it’s up to you to decide how and where you’ll set your goals.
What lies ahead for you? Perhaps you’ll resolve to redesign your blog or comment on 10 posts every day. Maybe you’ll plan a weekly guest feature or commit to bringing on guest posters. Maybe you’ll boldly decide to share your fiction pieces over at the speakeasy. Perhaps you’ll add Saturdays to your posting schedule and join us on the moonshine grid. The possibilities are endless.
Let’s start a conversation. Did you hit a 2013 goal you’re especially proud of? Are you making big plans for next year? Tells us about it in the comments. Right after you submit your piece for this week’s challenge, that is.
Odds, ends, reminders
- The badge you will need to add to your planned submission is over in the sidebar
- This immediate past Sunday is the earliest your submission can be dated
- Your post can be no longer than 600 words
- Personal essays or traditional blog anecdotes only
- There are no weekly prompts; the topic is yours. Be compelling
- The grid is open from Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. to Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
- There is voting. Voting will take place Thursday from midnight to 10:00 p.m. US eastern
- The challenge grid is limited to 50 bloggers
- The winners’ post will be published by noon on Friday
- No self-promotional posts are allowed on the yeah write grid, including those containing links to other blog events and Internet contests
Yeah write #140 is open…
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This year has been a bit rough. I started my new blog back in May/June, which has been awesome, life has been super busy though. Next year brings a lot of change – I’ll be leaving Japan in summer and moving to… I don’t know where, and doing… I have no idea what. It’s hard to make resolutions when you can’t see what’s coming, but at the very least I hope to reach shodan (black belt) in Aikido before I leave, and continue to develop my writing! Best wishes to everyone! (^o^)
Oh where do I start? I want to change the whole blog design but I can’t put my finger on what I want just yet. Plus I’m not a designer and have no software or skills. ha ha I’d also like to figure out a way to fork over heap loads of cash to get my non-fiction manuscript published that I finished in August. lol
You go girl! I’m pretty good at goal setting — on following through — no so much. I have a few ideas for projects and like you, I need to spend sometime and reflect on how to get this done in 2014. Or some of it….
I just want to say that I am so happy to be here everyone! I haven’t linked up with you guys in quite a while. I’ve had a rough 2013 and I’ve been in a funk. Pulled away from my writing and isolated myself. I was sick for a long time and was just diagnosed two weeks ago with a chronic illness (which is what I wrote about this week). I started writing again and I’m finding it cathartic.
I’m looking forward to a healthier, more balanced 2014. My only resolution is wellness for now.
Your post made me realize I didn’t actually have any goals for my blog this year. I feel like I accomplished a lot, especially with #31dbbb, but I didn’t plan for it. Like you, I’m a planner, so that was unusual.
Next year, I want to experiment with new link-ups and prompts. I would especially like to do more prompts for photography. I think that would be fun. But of course, I won’t stray far from good ol’ yeah write 🙂
I like to reflect in December too, Michelle. 2013 was a big year for me. I branched out from writing solely my blog to other websites; I got to go to BlogHer; I wrote a third of a novel, I got laid off and I had a chance to pursue a dream career of mine. All in all, probably one of the best years ever. For next year, I’m planning to do some of the traveling I’ve always wanted to do, finishing the novel and strengthening my freelance career by diving into book editing. I can’t wait. 🙂
Another great post Michelle!
Milestones for 2013: Hit the big 5-0, completed two writing courses, published in print for the first time.
Goals for 2014: Reading that first published piece in public at the AWP conference, publishing more, finish writing a memoir. hit the big 5-1.
Excellent goals both accomplished and for the future. I can’t wait to read your memoir. Congratulations on the achievements!