Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year - I've Already Missed One Goal for 2014

Happy 2014, everyone!

I try not to make New Year's resolutions because I have a hard time sticking to them. Instead I set goals. Apparently, I'm not so good at keeping goals either.

A few of my writing goals for 2014 are to: submit something at least monthly, meet all deadlines, and get to critique group early.

On the positive side, I wrote, edited, and submitted an essay for an anthology yesterday. Checkmark! That accomplishes one of my monthly goals.

Another on the positive side: Last October I taught at a writers' workshop. One of the things I asked the students to do was write down their three-month writing goals for October through December. I gave them envelopes to put their goals in and had them address the envelopes to themselves. I promised to mail the envelopes to them around the first of the year. Instead, on December 30 I put stamps on the envelopes and mailed them back to the students so they would receive them around January 1. I'm counting that one as being finished early.

Also regarding my goal to the meet all deadlines. The past couple months I've been judging a contest with two categories--fiction and nonfiction books. I was asked to have my selections by the end of December. There are twice as many novels as nonfiction books. I sent off my nonfiction selections this morning. I'm almost finished reading all the novels and plan to make my selections before my cataract surgery next week. So, I missed having all the books judged by the deadline, but that's not too bad because the awards ceremony isn't until the spring. I'm not getting paid to judge, but still I had hoped to make the first deadline.

About being on time.

Well, I had planned this post for yesterday but Dillard's was having a big one-day sale with 50 percent off sale merchandise.

Perhaps my biggest goal for 2014 should be to focus and not let distractions get in my way.




13 comments:

  1. I still think you did good, Donna. :)

    Happy 2014!

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  2. OMG, you've already accomplished your January goals?! I'd say you earned that shopping trip, Donna! Best wishes for your cataract surgery!

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  3. Donna--I agree with Tammy. You need to shop occasionally. Besides, you can "people watch" while you shop, and get ideas for some characters/dialogue, right?

    I hope you sail through the cataract surgery. And I hope the rest of your novel-judging keeps you engaged.

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  4. Sounds like you are doing great to me. I wrote an essay yesterday and submitted today so I hope I can continue also.

    I can't find your email address anywhere so will say here I got the book and the Christmas card. Thank you loads for both! Sorry to have to say that here.

    Good luck on your eye surgery next week.

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  5. 50 % off shopping should be a goal :) Kudos to you for already submitting!

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  6. Hi, Donna:

    Wouldn't you rather dream big and accomplish half of it than dream small and accomplish all of it? You set big goals for yourself and accomplished more than half of them, so that is impressive, indeed! Sounds like you're doing great to me.

    Hope you had some shopping success, too. Good luck with your eye surgery. Wishing you the best.

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  7. Hi Madeline,
    Thanks. I try.

    Hi Tammy,
    The hardest part of the pre-surgery process is that I have to tell them how much I weigh (sigh).

    Hi Sioux,
    Thanks!. Hope your new year is filled with many blessings and surprises.

    Hi Claudia,
    Yay! It's great that you already submitted this month.

    Hi Linda,
    You are right. I need to add that one to my list!

    Hi Janette,
    That's a great way to look at it. Hope 2014 is a wonderful year for you.

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  8. So...a goal is an aim, and it seems to me that your aim is pretty darn good! ;-)

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  9. And that's why I swore off resolutions and goals this year. I never do what I say I'm going to do anyway.

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  10. Hi Cathy,
    I keep trying.

    Hi Patricia,
    It's easy to get off track; I do it a lot.

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  11. I think you are pretty darn successful at what you do, Donna, whether you make all your goals or not.

    Sending prayers your way that surgery is successful and healing is swift.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  12. Great post....good luck on your surgery.

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  13. Hi Pat,
    You are so kind, and thanks for your prayers.

    Hi Sheree,
    Thanks.

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