Life of A Writer

Right now I'm debating with myself about planning a little time off from my hectic writing schedule. Mind you, I just finished the last task on my aforementioned writing schedule, so I haven't had any sleep yet. Nevertheless, what good would it do to cuddle up next to hubby on this cold winter night and try to sleep? Honestly, none whatsoever, because I would just gaze at the ceiling as I try to decide if it would be a good idea to clear my hectic schedule so I can complete and launch a couple personal projects that I have planned for this new year. Oh yes, did I forget to mention that one of those personal projects was among my writing goals for 2008 that I never got around to working on. Okay, I confess, I believe I wrote a few pages of the fiction story I was working on for that project, but it ended up on the back burner with everything else due to time constraints.

Anyway, I'd love to finish and launch the project I started last year, and then I'd like to finish up my plans for the new blog that I promised myself I'd launch this year. However, in order to do all of this, I've determined that I'm going to need to devote all of my time to these projects. Moreover, if I decide to clear my writing schedule, I need to decide how much time I need for both projects.

Okay, I've decided that I will take some time off from my hectic writing schedule, but how much time will I need. I figure I can complete and launch both projects in a month's time, but I wonder if that will be too long to put everything else aside. Maybe I should go with two weeks instead, but I'm not one-hundred percent sure if that would give me enough time to complete the projects. One month or two weeks? I guess I'll ponder that question a while longer and let you know my decision when I figure it out.

In case you're wondering -- especially if you're one of my clients and reading this right now -- I will NOT, I repeat, will NOT leave my clients unsatisfied and risk my entire writing career for these personal projects. Once I decide how long I'll need to tackle the projects, I'll write all the content for my clients in advance. As for my blogs, I'll write that content in advance as well, and then I'll schedule it for advance publication. Since I do have one client whom I write a recap for, my schedule won't be totally clear. The two television shows I write the recaps on airs a day apart, so I'll watch those shows and write the recaps for the client. Once I've submitted the recaps, I'll return to the personal projects. That shouldn't be so bad, should it?

Have you ever had a personal project or two that was long overdue, but you couldn't seem to complete them because of a hectic writing schedule? If so, how did you solve the dilemma?

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Since my work has slowed down a bit and I seem to be caught up, I now have the time to fill you in on my writing goals for 2008. Yes, I know what you may be thinking, "Oh no, not more writing goals! Will they ever end?" Actually, they've probably already ended, except for mine. Sorry, I'm a late bloomer, but those paying clients had to come first, right?

First, I'm going to evaluate last year's goals, and then I'll list my changes (if any) as well as my new goals for 2008. I've found it's better to assess my previous goals before making any changes and setting new goals. This also gives me the opportunity to pat myself on the back for the goals I did manage to meet. If you're still with me, then here we go…

The Evaluation:

For 2007 I had hoped to obtain another steady writing gig, increase my writing income to $1000 a month, publish at least 50 articles, finish the second edition of On the Net Resource Guide for Writers, start writing my romance novel (Fair Catch), complete my e-book on building a successful e-zine, blog more regularly and increase my blog's readership. Unfortunately, out of those eight writing goals for 2007 I only accomplished four of them, and I achieved the first writing goal at the end of 2007.

The results were as follows:

I gained three new clients, thus meeting my goal to obtain another steady writing gig. However, as it often is in a writer's life, I lost the steady client I already had, and as a result, I had to hustle to gain new clients, because I made my biggest freelance writing mistake. This was the writing goal that I accomplished at the end of 2007.

I didn't meet my goal for a $1000 a month income since I lost that one client. If I hadn't of lost the client, I would have met the goal.

I met my goal to publish at least 50 articles. In fact, I published over 100 articles in 2007!

I worked on the second edition of On the Net Resource Guide for Writers, but it took the back burner to paying clients. Therefore, I failed to meet this writing goal as well. Although, I can say I'm halfway there.

Since I'm still in the process of revising On the Net Resource Guide for Writers, I have yet to begin Fair Catch, my romance novel that I plan to turn into a Christian romance instead.

As for the e-book on building a successful e-zine, I did complete an outline and started writing the first chapter.

Finally, I met my goal to blog more regularly (as you can see), and my blog readership increased to an average of over 300 visits monthly and over 400 monthly page views.

My 2008 Writing Goals:

1. Obtain two steady writing gigs.

2. I want to make more money than hubby so he'll stop complaining (and they say women complain too much). In order to do this, I need to make at least $1700 a month.

3. Publish at lease five articles in regional and/or national magazines.

4. Send a minimum of 50 query letters.

5. Continue working on On the Net Resource Guide for Writers Second Edition, so I can launch it in 2008.

6. Complete and publish the e-book on building a successful e-zine.

7. Increase my blog readership to a minimum of 1400 visitors per month.

8. Launch my writing e-course for freelance writers.

9. Break into Writer's Digest magazine, which I'm already working on.

10. Increase my marketing efforts through Amazon by taking advantage of the blog, so you'd like to guides, list manias and etc. I currently have written one so you'd like to guide, and I wrote it in 2007.

11. Blog more regularly on my new blog: Discover Southern Illinois.

Phew, that's a lot of writing goals for 2008! If I can manage to meet all those writing goals this year, then I'll be one busy woman -- but a happy one. I didn't reveal all my writing goals for 2008, because those are surprises for you. So stick around with me through 2008 as I reveal those surprises throughout the year. Do you want immediate notification? Subscribe with your favorite reader or by e-mail. Trust me, you don't want to miss these! There will be something in it for you.

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At the beginning of this week, Jennifer Mattern posted another weekly writing challenge on her blog, and I decided to take part in this one. After all, it's time I re-evaluate my writing goals anyway. With that said, I've been spending way too much time on writing articles and not enough time on the projects that I have had sitting on the back burner for a while now. The following is my new set of writing goals:

1. Write only two articles a night (I'm a night owl writer).
2. Once a week complete at least two chapters in the second edition of On the Net Resource Guide for Writers.
3. Each night write nonstop, for one hour, on the Creating a Successful E-zine e-book.
4. Every other night send two query letters for different articles to editors.
5. Every night check job boards for writing gigs, and reply to only the gigs I'm qualified for.

That should sum it up. However, if I have a client I'm doing a project for, I would have to get that job done first, and then I will go back to my list of writing goals. My clients ALWAYS come first.

At least once a month, I plan to let you know how far I've come with my writing goals. In fact, if I finish any of the books I'm writing, you'll be the first to know. Yes, you're that special to me.

Do you need to re-evaluate your writing goals? On the other hand, maybe you don't have a list of writing goals yet. Either way, I'd like to invite you to take part in Jennifer's writing challenge, and if you happen to post your goals on your blog, comment and let me know; I'd love to read your writing goals, too.

Remember, never give up on your dreams -- work toward them!

PS: For those of you waiting to read the article I mentioned last Monday -- the one for aspiring writers looking for ways to build their portfolio -- good news… it has been published. Therefore, you can read Tips to Jump-Start Your Writing Portfolio when you have a little extra time. Enjoy and don't forget to leave your comments! Oh yes, I sure would appreciate it if you could also rate it, which will only take a few seconds. And by all means, if you know of another writer who may also benefit from the article, feel free to e-mail it to them (click "Email to Friends" at the top of the article).

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