Final 2020 Goals Review

We came to the end of 2020. Thank goodness for little favors. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I have aged five years over the last 12 months. Enough said about that. Let’s look at how the year went. Here were the goals I set before all the craziness happened.

Goal 1: Develop one of the ideas from my stash.

As I mentioned in October, the closure of one of my publishers caused me to shift gears. All these ideas came out of my participation in STORYSTORM over the last several years. The idea I would like to flesh out is a humorous Christmas story.

Goal 2: Decide which of my completed stories to submit next. 

Still undecided. They didn’t garner interest in some Twitter pitches, so I’m not sure if my pitches were off or if the story ideas just aren’t of interest. I planned to sit down over Christmas break to review them, but work got in the way.

Goal 3: Edit The Sisterhood and submit to the agent I met at a conference. 

Still working on the rewrite of this one. Only on Chapter 4. 😦

Goal 4: Finish additional material for the new version of A Christmas Kindness.

It was great to see the second edition of this book published. It is currently listed in the Critters Writers Readers’ Poll. You can vote for it here.

Goal 5: Acquire and edit three manuscripts for 4RV Publishing. 

It just ended up being two manuscripts this year, but I have edited manuscripts for several other authors as well. I am proud of myself for keeping my toe in this end of the business. My editing services are also in the Critters Writers Readers’ Poll. You can vote for me here.

Goal 6: Write for Guardian Angel Kids.

I am still not over the unexpected and sudden closure of Guardian Angel Publishing. It makes my heart so sad for all the Angels. You can purchase copies of the three books they published for me on my books page. After I go through my stock, they will be unavailable until I find a new publisher.

Goal 7: Write five chapters of Amelia’s Mission. 

This poor story. I even figured out the ending to it now, but just haven’t had time to focus on it with everything else going on. At least writing group happens once a month, so even if I don’t have time to polish it I should be able to move forward with this story.

Now, I am off to bed to finalize my 2021 goals. Hope you accomplished what you wanted to in 2020. Feel free to share your accomplishments. Happy new year!

2020 Goals Review

Typically, I review my goals quarterly, but 2020 has given all of us a run for our money so far. Between the pandemic, a brief slow down in the real estate market, and the loss of my father-in-law to COVID-19, my goals got buried as I struggled to find a new normal. It’s time now, though, to stop the negativity and focus my attention on moving forward. Here is my list from January and an update on my progress:

Goal 1: Develop one of the ideas from my stash.

Progress: None, however I did float around to one of my publishers that I had more story ideas similar to two of the books that have already been published.

Goal 2: Decide which of my completed stories to submit next.

Progress: None, though that is because of Goal 3.

Goal 3: Edit The Sisterhood and submit to the agent I met at a conference.

Progress: The first draft of a full-length novel was completed before I ever wrote a children’s book. It simply has never seen the light of day. Even edited once or twice, it needed help. I had been reading it to my writing group, which provided some good feedback. I also pitched it last fall to an agent at a conference who expressed interest if some work was done to it. That work started a month ago. My sister/co-author and I are on Chapter 3 right now.

Goal 4: Finish additional material for the new version of A Christmas Kindness.

Progress: Done and in the hands of my publisher. I am waiting for word from the editor.

Goal 5: Acquire and edit three manuscripts for 4RV Publishing.

Progress: I have worked on one totally new manuscript this year, completed edits to the first novel I acquired for them, and hope one more comes to fruition in 2020.

Goal 6: Write for Guardian Angel Kids.

Progress: Sadly, this will remain an uncompleted goal. Guardian Angel Publishing announced that as a result of slow book sales thanks to the pandemic, it is closing its doors after 15 years. I am so grateful for the faith they had in bringing three of my books into the world. We don’t have word if Guardian Angel Kids will continue, but I don’t think so.

Goal 7: Write five chapters of Amelia’s Mission.

Progress: None. Since my focus has been on the additional material for A Christmas Kindness and The Sisterhood, I simply haven’t had time to think of poor Amelia. With my limited amount of time, I know I need to dedicate what I can to one project.

Did you set goals for 2020? Where are you at right now? I hope you’re happy with your progress.

2019 Goals Final Review

 

Welcome to January 2020! My, my how quickly the last year passed. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season. We loved spending time with our family and friends. Today is back to work for me, so I wanted to write out my final 2019 goals review.

GOAL 1: Submit Clever Tom to an agent

As I mentioned in November, I reconsidered this goal. With my real estate goals and caregiving duties, I simply can’t commit to an agent right now. In mid-December, I submitted this to one of my publishers. Fingers crossed.

GOAL 2: Participate in STORYSTORM

Knocked this out of the park. Ended up with more ideas than required and took less than 30 days to finish.

GOAL 3: Contribute to Guardian Angel Kids 

This goal will be added to my 2020 list.

GOAL 4: Write 10 chapters of Amelia’s Mission

Ended up writing three new chapters due to editing a few manuscripts this year. However, I spent the last two days reading all the chapters I have, editing them, and preparing to get more written in January.

GOAL 5: Maintain my blogs

Never an issue, because I love blogging. I see 2020 as a year to consolidate some of them, so I’ll consider that over the next couple of weeks.

I’m satisfied with my progress in 2019. I’m approaching the new year with high hopes and determination to make even greater strides.

2019 Writing Goals Update

Well, the first quarter of 2019 has come and gone. My, it has been busy. Each quarter I take a look at my writing goals to see where I stand. This gives me a chance to pat myself on the back and also make any necessary adjustments. Here’s where things stand:

GOAL 1: Submit Clever Tom to an agent

I figured the first quarter would be the key to getting this done, but it seems life had other plans–like real estate work and editing a manuscript for a publisher. I’ve been writing down some possible agents to research. I’ve also set myself a deadline of next week to have at least two agents to pitch this project to and also to draft the query letter.

GOAL 2: Participate in STORYSTORM

Done and won! There are now 30 new story ideas to review and consider. Some I am really excited about. Others, not so much. I’m on the fence about participating next year, but that is a decision for the final quarter of 2019.

GOAL 3: Contribute to Guardian Angel Kids 

Sometimes I wonder if I am trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I’m not a short story or article person. That said, I want to see if I can put something together by July to contribute to the December issue.

GOAL 4: Write 10 chapters of Amelia’s Mission

This is going to be a tough goal, but I’ve written one chapter and started another. Maybe vacation in July will bring me closer to this goal.

GOAL 5: Maintain my blogs

I’m not doing too bad here. This blog and Books Can Be Deadly are the two that suffer the most. The Book Connection and An Imperfect Christian Mom get most of my attention.

The first quarter brought some progress. Maybe not as much as I would have liked, but the key remains time blocking. I need to avoid social media too. I’m still working on that one.

How are your goals coming along? Anything you are struggling with? What is one of your accomplishments?

STORYSTORM 2019 Winner and The Giver Graphic Novel

 

Though I finished early this year, I am now an official STORYSTORM 2019 winner! I have 31 new ideas to turn into stories. I’m excited about several of these.

Browsing through my inbox today, I discovered that Lois Lowry’s The Giver was adapted into a graphic novel. Check out the cover!

 

The Giver is a modern classic and one of the most influential books of our time.

Now in graphic novel format, Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal–winning classic story of a young boy discovering the dark secrets behind his seemingly ideal world is accompanied by renowned artist P. Craig Russell’s beautifully haunting illustrations. 

Placed on countless reading lists, translated into more than forty languages, and made into a feature film, The Giver is the first book in The Giver Quartet that also includes Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

In this new graphic novel edition, readers experience the haunting story of twelve-year-old Jonas and his seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment, through the brilliant art of P. Craig Russell that truly brings The Giver to life.

Witness Jonas’s assignment as the Receiver of Memory, watch as he begins to understand the dark secrets behind his fragile community, and follow the explosion of color into his world like never before.

Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 – 9
Series: Giver Quartet (Book 1)
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (February 5, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0544157885
ISBN-13: 978-0544157880

Purchase here!