You might have noticed that we're well into 2007; have you started your goals for the year? As you may know most folks create their new year's resolutions with the greatest of intentions only to dismiss them within the month. Why is this? One reason is making bigger than life expectations. They start by setting goals like: finish that novel by the end of the month. Life poses challenges and if you don't balance your writing time in, you'll find yourself along the wayside. With a blink of an eye, you'll realize a year has zoomed by without having accomplished anything worthwhile towards your goal. Yes, I'm in the group and I can reasonably expect that most of you reading this article are too! How can you succeed when so many fail? Starting right this moment, set goals aiming to get your career off the back burner and fired to action!

1. Begin on your most important goal. Publishing your work!

2. Limit your goal to one that you know you can achieve in a certain amount of time. Six months to a year is good. If it looks like it will take longer, then take steps to make it simpler. Goals that take too much time are doomed to fail. Concentrate on one attainable goal at a time. As the old saying goes, you must crawl before you can walk. If you can't think of a plausible writing schedule, get a notebook and handwrite a list of no more than four things to accomplish daily. Remember take small, small steps. Do this everyday and pretty soon a pattern will emerge. From that you can create a plan more in sync with your unique personality and lifestyle. When you accomplish one goal this encourages you to tackle more challenging goals.

3. Write down your goal along with the tasks/steps you must take and set a deadline for completion. Here's a three-fold plan of action to give you an idea of the big picture:

• Short-term goals - Arranging time to write
• Mid-term goals - Writing so many pages a month, setting time to read materials relative to what you're writing, checking out critique groups, conferences, and whatever you feel like you need to do to prepare your manuscript for publication.
• Long-term goals - Complete your manuscript. Summation of short and mid-term goals which may include attending a conference, taking a writing course, reading, market research, and revising your manuscript to editor's standards.

4. Make specific goals that are measurable. Have you mapped out all the tasks needed to achieve your goal? Just thinking you're going to write that novel in 30 days flat is not realistic or measurable.

5. Break down your goal into manageable bite-sized pieces and when you can expect to accomplish them. Block time everyday towards your writing project. Committing just two hours a daily for five days equals ten hours a week or forty hours a month. Keep doing this until it becomes a habit. When you reach this stage you'll be less inclined to procrastinate. Give it your level best. Schedule your errands around this time not vice-versa.

6. Break down tasks into subtasks (those are the tasks that needs to be done daily or weekly). Then make a checklist to track your progress. Think of it like balancing your checkbook on a regular basis. Account for everything in writing, not in your head or on notes scattered here and there. Otherwise you'll bounce on your rear-end.

7. Enlist the support of other writers or a critique group by sharing your written goals and action steps to complete them. You're much more likely to succeed when you know that your friends are counting on you to get it done and on with the show.

8. This may sound silly, but the simple act of having your friends mark off tasks completed towards your goal is very rewarding. Nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and friends cheering for you. Always reward yourself by doing something fun like treating yourself to your favorite ice cream.

9. Follow your plan down to the penny and hopefully by next year you won't be in the same old rut because you didn't carefully follow through. The key: Stay with your goal and don't quit.

Sometimes a manuscript gets stagnant no matter how well you've maintained your goal to complete it. Let it rest for awhile and always keep momentum by starting on something new and refreshing.

Here's a simple tracking form elaborated from one of my favorite newsletters to help myself get started.

GOAL: ___________________________________________________________
Tasks/subtasks:______________________________________________________
Deadline date:__________
Daily/Weekly progress journal; Keep a notebook or your favorite scratch pad at all times to jot down new ideas as you think of them.
[ ] Completed/accomplished:

Summary Report:

Title and summary of manuscript:
Follow-up: Reflect on goal completed and note any ideas
Manuscript accepted? Rejected? Why?
Log in date of manuscript submission: ________
Market and editor information:

Repeat for each goal. Time to get busy! Cheers for a productive and prosperous year!