New Year: New Direction

The new year brings with it the possibilities, and, quite frankly, probably more goals and far-reaches than you really want to think about.

But perhaps your new direction isn't in the abundance of goals that you may or may not follow through with, but a change of heart and focus when it comes to your writing direction.

Allow me to explain what I mean.

Perhaps you want to publish your first novel this year, just as you wanted to publish your first novel last year. And maybe you're thinking, "I could have this goal every year and nothing may happen." 

Maybe your repeated goal is to write every day, but you find yourself wishing for more time, or you're working a full-time job to pay the bills and you hope to be able to let it go and write full-time; a goal you've had for the past five years.

A change of heart in the first goal might look something like: "I am going to work toward publishing my first novel this year, and I'm going to do it by writing every day, taking criticism and making changes when necessary, and looking into self-publishing." 

A positive attitude works!!

If you're in the second goal thought processes, you may decide to write: "I am going to write when I can and I'm going to do this by eliminating or decreasing my television watching by _____%."

If you've decided that your job is no longer working for you and you'd like to quit it to write full-time, do a bit of studying to see how this can be accomplished. Frankly, most writers have to work outside the home, even if it's a part-time job, so perhaps the answer isn't in leaving your current 'away' job, but finding ways and means to write while you're off.

Concrete goals are wiser thinking because you are specific in your requests to follow and complete your goals. Your heart is saying, "I am going to accomplish my goal because I am going to do this and this to make it so," rather than, "I am going to publish a book this year," and leave it at that.

A new direction in writing is best accomplished with positive thinking and specific ways you are choosing to direct your life.

For example, one of my writing goals this year is to get my name out through booth set-ups at conferences and craft fairs. This is best accomplished by scheduling these events early (I have already scheduled 3 of the 7 planned for this year).

Because I have found that person to person selling creates greater interest in my books, I have decided to make it a priority. Yes, I will continue with my blog and social networking, but I will be adding interest to my books by increasing the amount of times I share my books one-on-one during the year in a real life setting.

What is your new direction as a writer for this year? I would love to hear it.

Kathryn

Goals For the New Year



What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

Setting some writing goals yet?

Probably not.

But I can assure you the time is nearing to write a few down.



Photo by: BazaarBizaarSF, courtesy of Flickr

Do you want to publish your first book?

Get that fifth draft ready to send to the publisher?

Take a trip to Fiji, where you can write to your heart's content?

You've probably heard the saying, "A dream unwritten is just a wish," so I'm going to put it out today that you write down at least one writing goal and that you place that goal somewhere where you can see it.

Got it?

Good.

No?

I will be publishing two books next year. The first is the updated version of Marketing Your Book on a Budget, coming out in January of 2014. The second, book two of the Susan Cramer mystery series: Sunny-Side Up by the summer. I may even get the third parable ready; The Gift: A Parable of the Ring by November.

And now that I've told you, and my dreams are written down, you can bug me to high heaven if I don't follow through.

So what do you resolve to do?

Writing in the New Year

What do you want for your writing in the new year?

I've previously written about organizing your writing life, but when it comes to actual writing, I wanted to share a bit more about goals and their realization.

I remember the day I realized that my goals needed to be written down or displayed for me to keep focused on them so that they might become a reality. I can also pinpoint the day I pulled my dreams off the wall.

What did the Lord want for me in the new year? What would be his focus if only I could ask him?

Photo by: crschmidt, courtesy of Flickr

The incredible thing is, I can ask him. And I want to place a little bug in your ear too. You can ask him.

When it comes to wanting what I want when I want it, I'm not always the best judge of when that should be. Making a list is good, but then relying on what I want without asking God for confirmation is like hiking up a mountain not knowing what trail will get me to the sought after lake.

This year has been a year of tremendous growth for me. I began a new business. Published 4 books, and pretty much spent endless days marketing what I'd written. And I've had some great success. This success has included the people I have met and the connections I have made as well as the money I have made.

I have learned that the inspirational or self-help book comes with the greatest joy, both for myself and for those I share it with. That with writing comes more opportunity to speak. And that writing, for me, will always be fulfilling, no matter what I choose to write about.

Photo by: Darcy McCarty, courtesy of Flickr 

This next year, I hope to make my journey in writing more fulfilling and focused because of who I'm taking with me up the mountain. And I hope you consider your own writing after you've written it down or displayed it for all eyes to see.

I hope you ask.