Goals for 2020

Dang. Another decade gone, just like that. But you know what? New beginnings are beautiful.

I’ve thought a lot about what I want to accomplish in 2020, and I don’t have many things written down at the moment. As it stands, I have defined two goals: 

1. 1. Finish my first manuscript by March 31st 2020
   2. Develop an editorial calendar and stick to it for at least a full month

And that’s about it. All the rest of the goals are much bigger but I don’t feel comfortable putting a timeline to for discouragement reasons, for example getting a stable enough writing career that I don’t have to have a day job, getting published, etc. I know those are things I’m working towards in my future, but I have a lot to learn and a lot of things are outside my control. Conversely, finishing a first manuscript and developing/committing to an editorial calendar are goals well within my control and can be done within the immediate future. And I’m stoked about it.

This past National Novel Writing Month, I set a goal in tandem to the normal 50,000 word count to disinclude my brainstorm notes from said 50,000 words. It was a tough goal, but I smashed it. I left November feeling empowered and like I could actually write “The End” in a few months. 

My second goal was inspired by the strong feeling I needed to start trying to be more public about my writing. I’ve always been so close-chested and secretive with it, not really talking about it except with select people. But if I’m going to achieve my potential as a writer, I need to let people know I’m out there and give them a reason to be excited I’m finishing a manuscript with a plan to start querying within the next 18 months or less, if my learning curve is tight. 

All in all, I’m so excited for the year to come. It’s going to be a marvelous adventure of learning, getting messy, and making mistakes (thanks, Miss Frizzle). 

What kinds of goals and aspirations are you working towards this year? Let me know in the comments below! I’d love to talk to you about what you’re doing and how you are doing it.