Goals for 2025

Happy New Year! That means it's goal setting time.

This is rather new to me: setting my goals on the table for all to see. I normally hold them tight to my chest. And if I don't achieve them, no face lost. But I'm hoping that by doing this someone (mostly likely the internet bots) at least will hold me accountable. (Or try to sell me a self-help book or two!)

Anywho, I didn't set a lot of goals last year. But then I only really started writing in earnest again about September/October. So, I thought I'd combine my achievements and new goals into a single post.

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2024 Achievements

My goals were modest toward the end of last year. It was all about trying to get back into a writing habit.

• Start writing execises again

• Start up author blog again

• Join a writing organisation

• Develop a daily writing habit

• Finish a zeroth draft of one of my partially completed stories

Writing Exercises

I've had a small private blog for many years. I always intended it to be a place for writing brief daily observations and thoughts. It's meant to keep my hand at writing at least something on a regular basis.

I resurrected the blog in October and started great, writing little vignettes or three-line observations a few times a week. But I've already dropped off with this goal -- preferring to sink my creativity into my story instead, and just plain laziness.

I reckon I'd call this one a partial success -- I've restarted the journaling, at least, and made 20-odd entries in the past three months. That's 20 more than I've done in the past ten-plus years!

Author Blog

My author blog is a different beast. It's a publicly facing blog, where I post formally about my personal writing journey, tips and tricks I've learned along the way, and books and other media recommendations.

Back in the day, I used to post once a month. I hoped to achieve at least that regularity, but was really aiming for more frequent.

This is a resounding success. I've made four posts over the last two months.

Writing Organisation

I wanted to join a writing organisation to gain access to writing resources, like classes and meets, but also to try to find a new tribe.

I re-joined Tas Writers (formerly, the Tasmanian Writers Centre). Easy win.

Daily Writing Habit

This one's as straightforward as it sounds. I wanted develop the habit of doing at least something writerly on a daily basis -- whether that's story writing or journaling or blogging, or even researching some aspect of craft or story or markets.

I keep a daily task tracker, of sorts, in Excel. If I do anything writing-related in a day, it gets a tick.

While I haven't got a tick for every day, I am already better than halfway -- about 65%. So another partial success.

Zeroth Draft

The story I've chosen to work on -- the sci-fi set in a mining station on an asteroid -- it still only partially complete.

It was originally supposed to be a short story. But as I've engaged with it again, I've found characters and the world really wants fleshing out. It's now looking more like a novelette/novella length story. So I don't even know how close I am to finishing this one.

Look, I'm happy that I am back into writing this one, though I'm not making the sort of progress I'd like. Another partial success.

So that's two wins out of five. Three-and-a-half if you include the partials. Not too shabby for an old dog.

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2025 Goals

I full twelve months to play with means my goals are going to be a little more varied. So, I'll break into short, medium and long term (for the year) goals.

• Short term (by end of March):

  • Journal more frequently -- five times a week

  • Research story markets

  • Finish zeroth draft of current story

• Medium term (by end of June):

  • Read writing craft book

  • Develop daily writing habit

  • Do writing lessons

  • Find writing buddy or group

• Long term (by end of Decemebr):

  • Query publisher for current story

  • Complete story plan for new story

  • Begin draft on another story

Short Term: Journalling

This is my daily writing exercises that I only partially completed in 2024.

I've decided I'll broaden the scope of what I can write here -- now including journal entries. I'll aim for say 20 posts a month.

Short Term: Story Markets

I've been out of the game so long now that a number of the markets I used to submit to, and a number of the means I used to seek out new markets, have gone.

I need new ways find new markets, and I need to find the right markets for the stories I have in the pipeline.

No specific metric here other than maybe find a reliable means to search for markets.

Short Term: Zeroth Draft

Same story I'm working on at the moment -- the sci-fi set on Shepard Station with the augmented reality.

Just need to push through to an ending.

Medium Term: Writing Craft Book

I've read a number of books on the writing and storytelling crafts in my time, but haven't touched one in years.

Pick one, new or old, and read/re-read it.

Medium Term: Daily Habit

That daily writing habit which eluded me in 2024 is something to aim for in 2025.

I'm realistically not expecting to manage every single bloody day, but I'd be happier to do better than my 65% from last year. Let's aim for 80%.

Medium Term: Writing Lessons

I've found writing lessons are great. Not just for teaching me some aspect of the craft, but also at instilling me with motivation to write.

I aim to take at least one class before the end of June.

Medium Term: Find Tribe

One of the big three tips for any successful author is to find your tribe. And I have lost mine.

I aim to find a writing community -- in real life or online -- to help support me and my writing and for whom I can return the favour in some way.

Long Term: Query Story

When I complete a zeroth draft of my sci-fi story, I'll need to find a place for it. As the story appears to have grown larger than a short story, this'll probably mean querying a market for a novelette or novella.

As I don't expect the story to be ready for submission this year. The aim with this goal is to draft a query for the story submission.

Long Term: Story Plan

Once the fire's lit, I need more fuel to burn. And so onto another story.

This goal is to create a plan -- characters, editorial map, beat sheet, plot map, whatever works -- for either an existing, unfinished story or a brand spanking new one.

Long Term: New Story

And finally, to begin writing another story -- again, either unfinished zeroth draft or a brand spanking new one or a first or second draft of an existing story.

Just as long as it's not the same sci-fi story. I need to get the creative juices flowing again.

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2025 Key Words

When it boils down to it, I just want to find the love in being creative again.

I used to love making up stories. I may not have been the best storyteller, but most of the time, they engaged and exctied me. And I think I've missed that in recent years.

With that in mind, I've come up with three key words for the year. These are the guiding principals for my writing and achievements. If I lose my way, these should centre me once more.

• Rediscover

• Create

• Enjoy

All the best for the New Year. And bon chance with your own goals.

All images from pixabay.com