Writing your Goals for 2010

   Every year around this time, I start thinking about my goals and priorities for
   2010 in all parts of my life. Since this blog is devoted mostly to writing, I will
   share my writing goals for 2010 below. Before I do that though I want to focus
   on why it is important to set goals and to state what these are to someone else
   other than yourself.
  
   For a long time, psychologists have said that the practise of writing down
   your goals on paper and having them visible so that you could refer to them
   often can really help you to accomplish them. Apparently, this visual
   representation of your goals helps remind you that these are things that you
   said that you would accomplish.
  
   Secondly, writing down your writng goals can help to reinforce them and to
   make you commit yourself to those goals. Now this doesn’t necessarily work for
   everyone. But it does for most. There is something about the actual ‘act’ of
   writing that poises your mind to focus on these goals.
  
   Lastly, the practise of writing down your goals, especially if you share them
   with other writers or friends, can act as a type of contract between you and the
   others that you are sharing your goals with. It makes you committed to them in
   a very significant way.
  
   This year I have an added advantage. The moderator of one of the critique
   group’s that I belong suggested that we each send our writing goals to the
   members of the group for 2010. She shared hers and then we were invited to
   share ours.
  
   I immediately jumped at the chance of sharing my writing goals because I
   always wanted to do this but didn’t have anyone to share my goals with. I did
   write them down for myself each year, but the act of sharing them with others
   was even a better experience for me. I felt as if I was going to be even more
   committed to my writing goals this year. Thank you Laura!
  
   And to be even more committed to my goals, I will also share them with all
   of you here. 
  
  
   My goals for 2010 are as follows:
  
   1. Write for two hours each day consistently
   2. Send one article out per month to magazines
   3. Write one new article per month
   4. Do a lot more marketing research every month
   5. Write three new picture books and send a query to publishers when I am
   finished the first draft for each of them.
   6. Fill out a marketing plan each week and try to follow it.
  
   What are your goals for 2010?  This may be a good time to write them down
   for yourself and share them with your critique groups.
  
   Have a productive and Healthy 2010!
   Irene