2018 had more good things than bad. Even though I didn’t hit all of my goals, I’m happy in general with the year.
2018 Writing Goals Review
Write three days per week at a minimum. RESULT: This is a 70/30. Most of the year I wrote at least three days per week, sometimes more, but I wasn’t consistent.
Read more. RESULT: I definitely read more, so I count this as a win. I still need to better the quality of my reading list. In 3rd and 4th quarters I read so many duds that were not worth mentioning.
Write at least eight flash fiction pieces or short stories. RESULT: Epic fail! I didn’t write any flash or shorts. I’m disappointed in myself for this. At the beginning of 2018 I was gung-ho about doing this, then motivated to write shorts escaped me all year.
Publish my 2017 flash fiction on my website. RESULT: Win! This was done early in the year.
Finish drafting and editing my third [now fourth] novel. RESULT: Win! I finished writing the draft in February/March.
Publish third [now fourth] novel. RESULT: 50/50. In my heart this is a win… I decided to push the publication of the fourth novel to February/March of 2019. Technically the book is done—edits and all. I decided to move it to 2019 because I’d published Tattoo Switcheroo and Cerberus Confidential a month apart in August and September, then published in e-book format Hound Dog Confidential and Through the Villain’s Eyes in October and November. I want to have more stuff to drop in 2019. I’m a slow writer (by indie standards), so saving up my finished work helps me to have more back-to-back releases in 2019.
Finish writing the prequel novella for the Primordial Realms series. RESULT: Win! Tattoo Switcheroo was published in August.
Edit and publish the prequel novella and use it as a free reader magnet. RESULT: Win! Tattoo Switcheroo was edited and published. I’ll do the whole “free reader magnet” thing when the entire series is complete.
Outline and draft at least fifty percent of the fourth novel in the Primordial Realms series. RESULT: Winner, winner, chicken dinner! The novel isn’t finished, but it is more than 50% drafted.
Brainstorm and outline a new series that will be written to market. RESULT: Nope! Didn’t do this at all. I have a ton of ideas for new novels and have outlined a few, but nothing that will stand as a complete series.
Overall tally: six out of ten goals completed. Although I feel like it was 7 out of 10. What derailed 2018 was having to chop up Hound Dog Confidential into two novels and the re-editing of those books plus Through the Villain’s Eyes. This soaked up a lot of time, energy, and money that I hadn’t expected to expend. I’m glad I did it, however, no matter the loss.
What goals did you or didn’t you accomplish in 2018?
I hope you liked this month’s blog post. The books in my urban fantasy series, Primordial Realms, are available at Amazon. Free on Kindle Unlimited! Please let me know your thoughts by liking, commenting or subscribing.
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stacy benedict 