Monday, January 14, 2013

Goal Setting

As a health teacher, I do a lot with students about setting goals. I know this audience doesn't need to read any of my lectures on the importance of working toward something. Many of my fellow bloggers have already publicly shared their goals for 2013. Putting it out there is a great motivator to help one strive to meet those goals. My turn.

First my excuse for not doing this right at the start of the year. I was too busy with a deadline. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I really did have an artwork questionnaire and other work hanging over my head for one of my contracted books. The fact that my children were home from college and I wanted to spend every possible minute with them is only incidental to the lag time in my goal setting.

Goal #1  Finish my last read through on The Heir of Futhark and send it to my editor. Get the artwork ready. Make changes suggested by my editor. Publish this last book in The Futhark Chronicles on Kindle and Smashwords. My self-imposed deadline is February 28th.

Goal #2 Complete editor suggested changes for my newest futuristic romance novel, The Marine's Queen. New Concepts Publishing has set a tentative publication date as March 29th.

Goal #3 Complete editor suggested changes for First Dragon, the first book in The Morbunda Saga. Crescent Moon Press has contracted this, my second epic fantasy series. I've  very excited about it though I don't know the publication date yet.

Goal #4 Set up blog tours and do mega promotion for all three books above. My biggest challenge.

Goal #5 Use my new camera to take more pictures I can use on my blog.

Goal #6 Complete two more futuristic romances for New Concepts Publishing.

Goal #7 Complete the second book in The Morbunda Sage. It's about half finished now though untitled.

Goal #8 Do some traveling. With my son doing an internship in Colorado Springs from May to November, I'm heading west. Then my daughter is at Boston University. Seeing her every two or three months isn't often enough for me so I'll be heading north on occasion. I have a sister in Washington State. I've always wanted to see those mountains. I have a sister in Mississippi, a very warm place to visit in the winter. I have a sister in New York State, pretty much on my way to Boston.

In case these goals seems ambitious, remember this is the year of retirement for me. I'm going to try and be a full time writer starting in June. I hope it works.

Did you all set your goals? Any place you're intending to visit this year? Is your family spread out like mine?

12 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's true - soon you will have more time for writing.
When you're ready for a blog tour, let me know - as early as possible! But glad to help any way I can.

Katie O'Sullivan said...

Sound like good goals! Would love to host you for a stop on your blog tour - add me to your list!
;-)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thanks, Alex and KatieO. You're so generous. Your names are on my list.

Paula RC said...

wow sound like a busy time for you. My son has just moved out so I guess I will have more free time to work on my writing, though he know I'm always at the end of the phone if he needs me.

Good luck with everything you do in 2013

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I hope you stick to your goals. They sound awesome, and it's a great way to measure your success at the end of the year.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Mountains in Washington and Oregon are beautiful!

Can't hit a goal you never set. Yes, I am big on goal-setting, too.

momto8 said...

good luck!!! have fun too!!!

M.J. Fifield said...

That's an amazing list of goals. I dream of having goals like that.

Excited that The Heir of Futhark is on its way.

LD Masterson said...

Got my goals in place. Good luck to both of us.

Tonja said...

I'm sure you'll achieve your goals - you seem like you've got it together. My new camera is in a bag that's covered in dust.

Michelle Wallace said...

You sound quite organized!
Good luck!

Ava Quinn said...

Whew! Those are some fabulous goals, Sue! Heir to Futhark! Yay!! And a new series. And a romance!! Alright! My tbr pile will be getting heavier.

I loved visiting Washington state. I hope you get out there. And Colorado has been on my wish list of places to visit for some time.

We're hoping to get out to Montana to visit my parents this year. It's been three years since we've been out, which means it's been three years since my father has seen my girls. We're going to try and make it happen this year.