My writer productivity skyrockets when I set monthly writer goals, and it’s time to share…
Let’s Set Goals {November 2020}
My writer productivity skyrockets when I set monthly goals. At the beginning of each week I break them down into daily tasks that will work within my current schedule. Do you know how great it is to finish projects? Of course you do! For me, monthly goals makes it all possible.
Every month I share how I did the previous month as well as my new goals. Let’s get to it!
How Did I Do? Jill’s October 2020 Goals
- Writing
- Write first 50 pages of new novel. CHECK. I had fun exploring new characters!
- Revise a different novel. CHECK. I have 3 phases after finishing a draft. Revising is when I read for plot issues. Editing is tightening up the actual writing. Polishing is the final finesse.
- Take notes on 3 fiction workshops (videos). CHECK. I actually took notes on 5 fiction marketing workshop videos and virtually attended 2 webinars. Pretty good for me!
- Health
- Exercise 5 days/week and add strength routine twice a week. NO CHECK. I exercised 5 days/week but did not add the strength routines.
- I’m trying tips from Mini-Habits for Weight Loss by Stephen Guise. It’s very intuitive. I was getting frustrated counting calories. We’ll see how this goes! I’m really liking this laid-back approach to my health. I’m no longer counting calories. I’m paying attention to the quality of my food but that’s about it!
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- Other
- Get my crochet project back out and start working on it. NO CHECK. Yes, I got the project out, but did I start working on it? Not even close.
- Continue reading fiction for a minimum of 20 minutes every weekday. CHECK. My brain was all over the place this month, but this helped rein it in.
- Take pictures of the glorious fall colors! CHECK. Love taking walks in nearby parks!
Writing-wise, I had a great month. Health-wise, I’m more relaxed and really liking it. I even tried a few new workout videos last month. As far as personal goals? I’ve been distracted. I’m looking forward to the holidays, though!
Jill’s November Goals
- Writing
- Edit/polish/submit full manuscript of book 1 in new series.
- Revise/edit/polish proposal of book 2 in new series.
- Start reading a book on Wyoming history I purchased this summer.
- Health
- Exercise 5 days/week.
- My mini-habits for this month: add one vegetable and one fruit each day and get off the couch for one minute in the evening. I’ve been doing these for the past two weeks, and I find when I get off the couch, I tend to stay off it for about 30 minutes. I end up stretching or walking in place or fidgeting, which is all good since I spend so much of my day sitting!
- Other
- Start Christmas shopping
- Continue reading fiction for a minimum of 20 minutes every weekday.
How did you do last month? What challenges are you facing? How can you meet them? I’d love to hear your goals for November! Leave a comment!
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I love reading about your goals. You inspire me to make goals and to stick with them. Thank you.
Thanks, Melissa! I’m the same way–seeing other people tackle their projects always inspires me to get moving!
Melissa, yeah, isn’t she great? So honest, and that makes me feel okay about not getting it right every time. Or most of the time.
I like the way you write out your monthly goals so I did mine like that. But I didn’t accomplish much of anything. I will try again this month.
Sandy, it’s been a weird year. If you went back you’d probably realize you accomplished a little from each list. Every bit of progress adds up!
Sandy, the reason you didn’t accomplish that much is because you were busy reading my books, so there’s that.
How are ya anyway.
Kathy B.
Kathy, I have been reading a lot of books. Partly because I’m not sleeping well. So I do a lot of reading when I wish I was sleeping. But there is always time to read your books!
Sandy
Well, I did okay on my writing goals. Finished the nonfiction book revisions and will turn it in tomorrow. Got the novel back from two beta readers, waiting on the third, but have a good idea of how I want to revise it. Turned in galleys for Christmas novella, and began researching next novel series and next nonfiction book.
Personal life not so great. Didn’t walk enough, too many things hitting too many fans. Didn’t do great on the diet either. I didn’t go off the wagon, diabetically speaking, but didn’t do great either, i.e., anything I ALLOW myself was allowed, if you get my drift. Gained eight pounds in the first few months of COVID. And now we’re headed into the Holiday Season, such as it is. Whoopee.
MY NOVEMBER GOALS:
Writing: Turn in the nonfiction book and hope we’re done.
— Finish the revisions on the third book in the Western Dreams trilogy, looping in the suggestions of beta readers.
— Do PR for my Christmas novella.
— Continue to research the next nonfiction book.
— Continue to research and play with plots for my new series.
— Work on blog posts to keep in reserve. I pretty much used them all up with my July release.
— Revamp my Web site. I don’t even know what’s on there any more.
Health:
— Walk five days a week.
— Eat salads for lunch at least three days a week.
— Get my diabetes numbers down before my annual physical in December. They’re not bad but they’re not great either.
House and home:
— People have been coming to help us with the wood and it’s almost done. Raking is a problem. I need to get someone to help with that and we’ll be done.
— Pre-holiday cleaning. Okay, regular fall cleaning. Okay, spring cleaning I didn’t do in the spring.
— Get control of paperwork.
Eh, I’m watching the leaves come down like rain outside my window and two fat squirrels chase each other on the hill outside. “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. ” (Desiderata). And here in the midst of a pandemic and the fall of Western civilization, I can say the same.
Kathy Bailey
“Pre-holiday cleaning. Okay, regular fall cleaning. Okay, spring cleaning I didn’t do in the spring.” Kathy, I hear you. Oh, do I hear you!
I’m glad you’re looking at the things you DID accomplish instead of focusing on all that’s left. Honestly, it’s way too easy to get down on ourselves when we set big goals and don’t achieve them. When I applaud myself for every little bit of progress, I’m more likely to feel good at the end of the month, even when I don’t hit all my goals.
Hang in there.