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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

To Make a New Year's Resolution or Not

The approaching New Year brings up the age-old question: what are your New Year's Resolutions? The owner of my local gym sees a boost in memberships right after January 1st. Unfortunately, when the initial enthusiasm wanes, attendance cools off.

Last year, I didn't make any resolutions. Instead, I set some goals for my writing life. Here's my 2008 list:

1. Start a blog. (Yay! Here I am.)

2. Write and get some devotionals published. (A Secret Place and RevWriter Resource accepted a total of 3 devotionals between them.)

3. Get an agent. (Maybe next year.)

4. Finish editing my novel. (I did, but then discovered it needed more work. Back to the drawing board.)

5. Set up a website. (Does getting a domain name count?)

Hmm, what am I aiming for in 2009?

1. I'd like to get that website up and running. I've heard a lot of good things about Homestead.

2. Keep plugging away at my novel.

3. Improve my blog.

4. Write more devotionals. (I already have one scheduled for March.)

5. Clean and organize my office. (Trust me. You don't want a picture.)

What are some of your writing goals for 2009? Are you satisfied with the progress you made in 2008?

Thanks for making the launch of Christian Writer/Reader Connection such a delight.

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15 comments:

  1. AnnieDecember 31, 2008 at 10:25 AM

    A good list! I wish you a very joyful New Year and pray many blessings from the Lord to you.

    Oh, and I'm hoping to get your socks (ahem) in the mail today. Sorry for the delay. Two weeks of snow made it impossible to get anything done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan J. ReinhardtDecember 31, 2008 at 11:09 AM

    Hi Annie -

    Thank you. I pray you and your family have a healthy, happy, and blessed New Year.

    Whenever you get the socks in the mail is fine. I'll wear them next Christmas. :)

    Ah yes, how are things in the frozen northwest? We've had cold, but pleasant, weather. Our problem is more with all the crazy illnesses going around.

    Have you made any New Year's resolutions or goals?

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  3. SarahDecember 31, 2008 at 11:26 AM

    My goal is to query more magazines about some articles I wrote. I really need to get on the ball with that.

    Another goal is to go to a writer's conference. I'm looking into the Blue Ridge conference. It might coincide with some other plans, but we'll see.

    Your list is longer than mine. I need to get more ambitious! :)

    Happy New Year!

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  4. Susan J. ReinhardtDecember 31, 2008 at 11:32 AM

    Hi Sarah -

    Getting some print and internet clips is an excellent goal. You'd be amazed what a boost it gives you to see something published.

    I've been attending the Philadelphia Conference for five years. With my current work situation, everything is up in the air.

    Keep us posted on your progress. :)

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  5. Jessica NelsonDecember 31, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    LOL
    If I made goals in 2008, I don't remember them.
    Your blog is already great, I think.
    I'd like to get to some conferences this year and maybe get an agent. We'll see. :-)

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  6. Jessica NelsonJanuary 1, 2009 at 8:39 AM

    Hmmm, I thought I left a comment but guess not.
    So here's another. :-)
    First, go you for having such detailed plans. That's awesome. Everything sounds entirely doable! When you're done revising your story, what will you do next?

    Oh, and I'll pray you guys get better soon!

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  7. Susan J. ReinhardtJanuary 1, 2009 at 6:12 PM

    Hi Jessica -

    I notice it sometimes takes awhile for comments to hit my email. Why? I have no idea.

    Thanks for the encouragement. I heard an author say to enjoy this time before you get a contract, learn your craft, and have more than one manuscript ready.

    Last summer, I thought my manuscript was publishable, but several situations caused me to back off. I want my manuscript to be at its best. I don't want to produce a dynamite proposal, query letter, etc., but have an agent gag when they get to my book.

    So, it's one step at a time. I'm aiming high, but I don't want to be unrealistic.

    Thank God, Mom is feeling better. It takes time to recover when you're older. The medication is beginning to kick in with me, but I'm sooo tired. This is the first time I've been on the computer all day.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. quietspiritJanuary 1, 2009 at 7:40 PM

    My goals forthe new year are as follows:
    Specific
    1. Finish Surreal World
    2. Blog Seasonal Devotionals (Thanksgiving, Christmas done in 2008)
    3. Possibly do the GIA newsletter. (This is a faithbased non-profit ministry I volunteer for.

    Measurable

    1.Write/Input 300 words a day.
    2.Find 2 Outlets a month for my work.


    Attainable
    1.Clear out ancient things from work area
    2.Recycle old magazines
    3.Shred and recycle old papers


    Realistic
    1.Study writing craft books
    2.Study books pertaining to topic I am writing on.


    Timely
    1. Set deadlines for myself
    2. Set Writing Hours
    3. be realistic about schedule

    Other:
    1.Attend at least one Writers Conference.

    I know this is a long list but I have thought about this since it was posted on TWV2.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Susan J. ReinhardtJanuary 2, 2009 at 6:43 PM

    Hi Quiet Spirit -

    That's an ambitious list! I particularly related to the whole clean-out section. My office is a disaster area.

    I also liked the way you separated the measurable, the attainable, etc. How can you know you're making progress unless you have some way to measure it?

    Thanks for joining in the discussion.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  10. Susan J. ReinhardtJanuary 3, 2009 at 8:27 PM

    Hi Jessica -

    Thank you for the compliment about my blog. There's always room for improvement. Any suggestions out there?

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  11. ShaunaJanuary 4, 2009 at 5:17 PM

    ~HAPPY NEW YEAR~ Just wanted to remind you the Happy New Year offer ends Mon. Jan. 5th at noon for the free 8x10 print. Spread the word for people to post and e-mail David Bowman by then :) Have a beautiful Sunday! ♥ Hugs! Shauna

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  12. KevinJanuary 4, 2009 at 5:20 PM

    Susan: I discovered your blog via Jessica, whose blog I follow. Your list is tremendous, a great inspiration to me.
    After attending the Indy Writers' Conference at Wesleyan Headquarters, I made the goal to write, research, or read to improve my craft for one hour a day. I've not attained it, but having it there has helped. So far I've sold 2 humor articles and won a contest. I have also sent out two sets of greeting card verses for consideration. What I am 'stuck' at is getting the courage to send out my book query letter. I've written it, just haven't given it wings yet. Any suggestions?
    Thanks for your blog, Jeanette Levellie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Susan J. ReinhardtJanuary 4, 2009 at 5:59 PM

    Hi Shauna -

    Welcome to my blog. Happy New Year.

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  14. Susan J. ReinhardtJanuary 4, 2009 at 6:06 PM

    Hi Jeanette -

    I'm glad you discovered my blog through Jessica, and enjoyed the post.

    When working toward a goal, I break it down in smaller chunks. Your desire to spend an hour a day studying the craft might start off with 10 minutes and then gradually increase. It takes 21 days to establish a habit.

    As far as the query issue, check out Mary DeMuth's blog, "Wanna Be Published." There's a link on my blogroll. A number of other blogs have posted on this subject. A Google search should yield some other good sources.

    Happy New Year! I hope you'll stop by often.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  15. Susan J. ReinhardtJanuary 4, 2009 at 6:21 PM

    Jeanette -

    I was over at your blog and posted a couple of comments. I'm not sure they went through.

    A big thank you for linking to my blog. :)

    Blessings,
    Susan

    ReplyDelete