Goals for 2018

[ysabetwordsmith]

Each year, I think about what I have accomplished and what I want to do next. I have a point system for encouraging progress. These are some of my goals for 2018:

* Actually look at this list of goals, at least once a month, before the end of the year in hopes of meeting more of them and not trying to cram in December.  [1/3/18, 1/17/18, 4/4/18, 12/31/18]

* Place one new book-length project on the market, either by writing a book proposal or by writing a complete book manuscript.

* Experiment with self-publishing a chapbook in ebook and/or home-printed format.
draggon-flye.livejournal.com has volunteered to help with this.

* Finish compiling the manuscript for The Origami Mage collection. Add supporting materials as necessary. Submit completed manuscript to Hunt Press.

* Write at least 400 poems. [MET 12/31/18]

* Continue holding one Poetry Fishbowl per month.  [MET 1/2/18, 2/6/18, 3/6/18, 4/3/18]

* Collate at least three more poetic series into collection files. [MET 3/23/18 Acrostic Magery, 3/23/18 The Yellow Unicorns, 12/6/18 Not Quite Kansas]

* Create more supporting materials for poetic series as necessary, such as character cast lists or scientific notes.

* Supervise reorganization of the Polychrome Heroics material.

* Make more pages for individual threads in the Polychrome Heroics series. [MET 9/17/18 The Big One]

* Launch at least one new poetic series.  [MET 1/3/18: Acrostic Magery, 1/20/18 Yellow Unicorns, 12/6/18 Not Quite Kansas]

* Sell at least one poem of 10 or fewer lines, eligible for the Dwarf Stars Award.

* Sell at least one poem of 50+ lines, eligible for the Rhysling Award long category.

* Finish at least one poem that was partly written and then abandoned.  [MET 3/30/18 "If You Have Almost Nothing," 12/15/18 "The Discovery of a New Dish"]

* Participate in at least one bingo fest.  [MET 1/1/18 Apocalypse Bingo, 1/3/18 Trope Bingo, 1/31/18 Valentines Bingo, 2/28/18 Slice-of-Life Bingo Fest, 4/1/18 Spring Fest, Origfic Bingo 4/7/18, Pro Wrestling Bingo Fest 5/1/18, Winteriron Bingo Adventure 6/4/18, Hurt/Comfort Bingo 6/23/18, Winterfest in July Bingo 7/1/18, Fairy Tale Bingo Fest 8/7/18, Cottoncandy Bingo Fest, 9/1/18, Ladiesbingo 9/2/18, 1000 Words or Less Bingo Fest 9/5/18, Fall Bingo Fest 9/30/18, Family Ties Bingo 11/5/18, Summer in December Bingo Card 12/1/18]

* Continue expanding my connections with intentional community; write at least one article for Communities magazine.

* Run the Rose & Bay Awards for 2018. [MET Nomination posts made 1/1/18, voting posts made 2/1/18, winners posted 3/1/18]

* Keep up with writing records better, updating at least weekly.

* Complete at least one significant outdoor project, such as replanting the forest garden to replace plants lost to drought. [MET planted little bluestem grass in a section of the prairie garden]

* Go through closet to remove clothes that no longer fit, and take them to a charity. [MET 4/19/18 with one bag]

* Keep track of my crowdfunding activity as the year goes on. [MET 12/31/18]

* Keep track of things I would like to receive as gifts. [MET 4/2/18]

* Teach at least one class.

* Fill in the blank: __________. This slot is left open because, during any given year, I usually pick up some "surprise" goals. This time I want to give myself credit for that. [MET 1/17/18]
** Went through one small and one medium box of old papers from the glass room, sorted out a few things to keep, and threw away the rest.  


What are some of your goals for 2018?

Comments

[gehayi]

Not to be homeless because of taxes.

To pay off at least one credit card.

To see Trump impeached.

Not to draw up a list of writing goals, because then I will feel worse when ill health and depression get in my way.

To survive.

Good luck!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I wish you well with your goals.

[catherineldf]

Wow! That's an amazing list! Mine is rather shorter but best of luck to both of us!

[teigh_corvus]

[here via snowflake challenge]

Your first goal made me cackle outright. And as I read through the rest of your list, I grew more and more impressed - this is an amazing set of goals. I hope you achieve them all.

My goals...

Continue to help grow the metals studio at the local city arts facility.

Get back to poetry. Specifically, start on the chapbook of poems about my mother and recipes, and properly participate in National Poetry Month. [It's been too long.]

Write every day.
Write a novel with BBF #1.
Wrap up several of my WIPs so I can MOVE ON.

Wear more earrings.
Be timely. That is, engage with the turn of the year and celebrate all the seasons, not just the winter holidays.
Jettison the Superfluous.

Thank you for asking. ;)

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Your first goal made me cackle outright. And as I read through the rest of your list, I grew more and more impressed - this is an amazing set of goals. I hope you achieve them all.<<

Usually I make about half of them.

>> Continue to help grow the metals studio at the local city arts facility. <<

That sounds awesome.

>> Get back to poetry. Specifically, start on the chapbook of poems about my mother and recipes, and properly participate in National Poetry Month. [It's been too long.] <<

Woohoo!

I write a lot of poetry, and I run the Poetry Fishbowl on the first Tuesday of each month. So I wish you luck with your writing too.

Re: Thoughts

[teigh_corvus]

Hitting half of those goals is still very impressive.

The metals studio is awesome! It's only a handful of months old, as a permanent entity, so everything is new and chaotic. But the level of enthusiasm is good, and the folks there both lovely and inclined towards collaboration. Once we figure out some more of the nuts and bolts bits, it's going to be truly amazing.

It did seem like you write a lot of poetry, taking your goals into account. 'At least 400 poems..." WOW. Can I ask what the Poetry Fishbowl is, exactly?

I wish you much luck and many muses!

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> The metals studio is awesome! It's only a handful of months old, as a permanent entity, so everything is new and chaotic. But the level of enthusiasm is good, and the folks there both lovely and inclined towards collaboration. Once we figure out some more of the nuts and bolts bits, it's going to be truly amazing.<<

Yay! Metalwork is cool.

I actually have some characters into that. Menachem is the blacksmith in Clay of Life. Shiv is a supervillain in Polychrome Heroics.

>> It did seem like you write a lot of poetry, taking your goals into account. 'At least 400 poems..." WOW. <<

:D

>> Can I ask what the Poetry Fishbowl is, exactly? <<

It's a live writing exercise where I set a theme, people give me ideas, and then I write based on whatever I get. I post one freebie in return for the prompts, and an extra if there's a new prompter or donor. (That could be you, if you drop by tomorrow.) Then I post a thumbnail description of each poem with a price, and folks can sponsor what they want. I usually get 10-20 poems written and a handful of new ones posted.

My 2018 goals

[readera]

That list of goals is nice! It looks like a nice mix between easily achievable & challenging. I am doing a general 2018 theme instead of specific resolutions. My theme is Get Organized.

Re: My 2018 goals

[readera]

Goals include: organize my house. Clean out clothes & old dishes. Make & use a household budget. Get a second job or source of income.

Re: My 2018 goals

[ysabetwordsmith]

Those are good goals. :D

Re: My 2018 goals

[readera]

Thanks! :)

Re: My 2018 goals

[filkferengi]

On the organizing front, I recommend starting with something small and manageable. With our first big de-clutter, we started with the linen closet. In just a few minutes, we had it well winnowed down, so it looked like we were in college again [by getting rid of the towels we'd had such college ;)]. By starting small, you actually get something done, and can build up emotional momentum.

Good luck!

Re: My 2018 goals

[ysabetwordsmith]

Doing small things is how I get anything done at all. It doesn't build momentum for me, but at least it accomplishes something.

Re: My 2018 goals

[readera]

Thanks for the advice!

Re: My 2018 goals

[filkferengi]

You're very welcome; I hope it works for you.

Re: My 2018 goals

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> That list of goals is nice! It looks like a nice mix between easily achievable & challenging.<<

I usually make about half of them.

>> I am doing a general 2018 theme instead of specific resolutions. My theme is Get Organized.<<

Go you!

Re: My 2018 goals

[readera]

:)

[pronker]

What a fantastic list - 'write 400 poems' sounds amazing! And the 'finish the abandoned poem' goal will be just so satisfying. I hope you have a party, virtual or in RL, when that one comes to pass.

In 2018, I would like to meet my Copywriting Financial Goal For The Week, which I did just once in 2015, twice. Fannish goals continue to thrill and delight and defy any sort of goal making, ha, beyond writing my Long Story to develop plot. All the snippets written will then fall into place ... hey, I guess that is a goal, after all.

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>What a fantastic list - 'write 400 poems' sounds amazing! And the 'finish the abandoned poem' goal will be just so satisfying. I hope you have a party, virtual or in RL, when that one comes to pass.<<

I usually just pop the finished one into the next sale.

>>In 2018, I would like to meet my Copywriting Financial Goal For The Week<<

Good luck!

[pronker]

In 2018, I would like to meet my Copywriting Financial Goal For The Week, which I did just once in 2015, twice. Faildfaildfaild. I think I'll stick to fannish goals for 2019.