As promised, here's my list:

My Writing Goal for 2010:

Finish my novel and begin the submission process.

What I'd also like to do:

*Take the Poem-A-Day Challenge in April (Still working towards that chap book!)

*Publish two articles

*Write one new short story

*Send out 52 submissions--one per week!

*Submit my short story collection for contests and/or publication

For those who remember my last list (hopefully few of you), you'll notice that it looks a lot like last year's. When faced with the fact that I didn't really accomplish much off my 2009 goal list, I delved deeper to the heart of the matter. To begin with, I had been excited about my goals. (I love making goals every January!) So why had that enthusiasm faded? For me, when I start getting too many things on a list, I start to feel overwhelmed. In feeling overwhelmed, I avoided looking at my list. And the longer I avoided looking at my list, the more I didn't accomplish anything on it, which produced feelings of guilt. (The "what's wrong with me, I should do better" feeling.) 

So, this year I decided to try something different. I am shooting for one main goal--the novel. That's most important. Yet, at the same time, I didn't want to squelch that enthusiasm of a brand new year full of possibilities. Thus the "what I'd like to do" list. The fact that I didn't make them goals makes me feel less intimidated by it. If I only accomplish the novel goal, I'll be happy as a clam. (Are clams really happy?) But at the same time, I've got a list to inspire me, not overwhelm me. I'm happily sneaking a peek at it as I write.

Did you have trouble accomplishing your goals last year? Don't make your list in haste. Really think about your strengths and weaknesses and create a list tailor-made for you!

No, I'm not talking about hockey. It's that time of year again when I make my writing and website goals for the year. And I have added pressure--I have to bring mine in to the Scribes' Tribe on Thursday night (my critique group meeting). Of course, maybe we'll get that 3 - 5 inches of powder the weather guy's predicting, and then I'll have another week to think about it. Either way, I'll have 'em soon. Until then, here's the flip side--things I accomplished in 2009:

1) Changed my website design. (Perhaps you noticed?)

2) Edited three books.

3) Edited four partial books and various short stories and articles.

4) Gained three new clients. (And, importantly, kept my regulars.)

5) Wrote ten new poems. (I'm on my way to a chap book.)

6) Began the process of revising my novel. (Yay!)

7) Was on an editor's panel for Saturday Writers, my writer's guild.

8) Taught two writing sessions at Saturday Writers meetings.

9) Published "Lonely Stretch" (a short story) in Cuivre River Anthology, volume IV.

10) Celebrated with three of my clients as they published their books, (which I edited).

11) Wrote and edited three newsletters for Saturday Writers.

Okay, so some goals fell off the list, and others found their way on it. The point is that it's good to review accomplishments, particularly before embarking on a new list of goals.

So watch for my goal list within the next few days!