How Goal Planning Works For Me

My list of writing goals this year is long and lofty. I’m always ambitious when setting goals for the new year because for me, the busier I am, the more I seem to get done. If I have too much time to procrastinate, I actually achieve less because my brain says, “Oh, I have lots of time; I can do that later.” Then, everything gets pushed to the “for now” space in my head, and I “forget” to get things done. Having a long, full list helps keep my time accountable.

I keep a paper day-planner on my desk and a dry-erase production calendar on my wall. I know this sounds archaic, but I find that physically putting things on the calendar and then checking them off when I’ve done them is a great way to keep my accountability top of mind. My planner lays open on my desk, reminding (and perhaps intimidating) me with daily and weekly progress toward my bigger goals. Plain and simple, if it isn’t in the calendar, it doesn’t get done! 😉

The well-known Pomodoro method sets aside 20 minute work blocks, but I find that far too disjointed. To get into the real flow of any project, whether writing or editing, I need at least 90 minutes. So, I have my planner divided up into two-hour blocks of time. I schedule almost everything… meetings & calls, writing groups, errands, time with friends and family, meals, dog walking, pleasure reading, and exercise into my day, too. Projects for clients go in both the day-planner and on the production board... because you can never have too many reminders when other people are counting on you.  I keep all the important stuff in my digital calendar, too… just in case I need reminders when out and about; but EVERYTHING goes in the paper planner… which I usually pack in my laptop or tablet bag when I go out. I’m a big proponent of planning AND backups! 😉

Keeping a day-planner and a production calendar is a hold-over from my days in journalism, when digital calendars weren’t yet a thing. How I loved my Franklin Planner!  I compare keeping my schedule and goal tracking in this way to a military person wearing a uniform every day. I have a far less stressful morning if planning what I’m going to wear is already decided for me… one less thing to worry about. 😉 If I have chunks of time blocked out to work on particular projects, or get things done around the house, nothing gets forgotten, and I don’t have to worry about what I may have missed. Not to mention, crossing things off in my calendar is a VERY satisfying thing to do. It’s there in pen and ink… solid proof that I GOT STUFF DONE! 😊

Also, I find sharing my list of goals in a public forum is a great way to invite those in my tribe (and the public at large) to keep me gently accountable. If I put it out there for all to read, I’m required to focus on getting the things on the list done with a bit more conviction than if I didn’t tell anyone. It's hard to fudge the outcome if everyone knows the targets.  Also, the threat of disappointing my readers by not delivering is a real thing, and tremendously motivating.

So, here are my Big Five for 2025:

1. Publish Henry Hippo’s New Home (children’s).
2. Publish Tears Remember (Michigan paranormal).
3. Finish Writing Splinters (western).
4. Publish Her Heartstone (folk tale).
5. Complete the first draft of Anonymous (suspense crime novella in 2nd person POV).

If you’re interested in knowing all the details about these goals, and the rest of the year I have planned, feel free to paddle over to the Literary Street Team page of my website. If you feel so inclined, I’d love your gentle accountability nudges throughout the year.
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I’m happy to support other writers with gentle accountability nudges. If that would be helpful to you. Just let me know! 😊

And, for those of you who write with The Creative Slingers of Ink on Monday nights… if you find I’m chatting too much, you have my permission to tell me to stop talking and get back to writing! 😁

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