U.R.A. Writer, M.D.: Time for Your 4TH Quarter Checkup!

The clock is still ticking ...we’re in the fourth quarter of 2010 and already sailing into the holiday season. Then it won’t be long and we’ll find ourselves plopped into 2011!

During the first quarter of this year, we talked about goal setting for the upcoming months. So, as the year winds down, when we can carve out a quiet moment, let’s step back and celebrate what we’ve accomplished, review what we’d have liked to have accomplished, and plan what we need to do to prepare ourselves for the coming year--a fresh start!

To have a more complete understanding of today’s blog, be sure to check out the earlier post for more detail on realistic goal setting.

1) Looking back over the past year, did I set CLEAR writing goals? “I want to write a book” is, for most people, nothing more than fuzzy, wishful thinking.

2) Was my writing goal for this year attainable? Did I set myself up for disappointment because it was too ambitious given the circumstance/situations in my life? Spend a little time reviewing and whittling down the unattainables and replacing them with realistic objectives.

3) Was my writing goal for this year measurable? Or did I sabotage myself by not setting deadlines, not establishing short-term goals that could be celebrated along the way? How might I now be able to break down my big overall goal into manageable, measureable pieces so that I have a regular sense of accomplishment in the future?

1) Were my goals God’s goals? Did I faithfully and expectantly seek God’s input? Do I need to renew my commitment to prayerfully seek his guidance? To thank him for the challenges I’ve overcome and each mini-goal met along the way?

2) What’s my self-talk been like? Cup half full or half empty? This week I heard someone say “We’re designed for success--but program ourselves for failure with our words.” Am I my own worst enemy? How can I make a concerted effort to renew my mind the Biblical way? (Check out Joyce Meyers’ “Power Thoughts” for practical help in this area).

3) Did I do my homework? Did I take concrete steps to increase my knowledge of the writing craft and the publishing industry? Think about what you can do in the coming days--editor and agent research? An on-line class? Reading a book on understanding goal, motivation and conflict? Attending a workshop or conference?

4) Did I regularly review my goals? Did I keep them posted at my desk or on the bathroom mirror where I’d see them daily? If I wrote them down, but have no idea what I did with them, it’s time to rewrite them and commit to prayerfully reviewing them on a regular basis, keeping them at the forefront of my mind.

5) Did I set TOO MANY goals? Did that scatter my efforts as I tried to hit too many targets? Did a feeling of being overwhelmed lead to procrastination? Spend a little time trimming that goal list. Remember, if I accomplish all I’ve put on there, I can always add to it!

6) Did my checklist of deadlines and bite-sized mini-goals help me to meet them on a daily or weekly basis? Remember, a daily/weekly short-term goal is the fuel that keeps me moving toward the BIG goal. It’s important that I monitor my progress so I can see how far I’ve come. It keeps me motivated!

7) Looking back, when setting this year’s goals did I realistically consider the obstacles and challenges I’d be facing in the coming months? Did I build “margin” into my projected timetable to accommodate them? What did I learn this year through these real-life experiences? How can I apply what I’ve learned when setting future goals?

8) Throughout the year did I reward myself for meeting a goal? This is important and all too often neglected. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a big, expensive reward or even a material thing at all. Just a token “special something” to celebrate--an hour at the park with the kids or allowing yourself to sit down and read a good book for an uninterrupted hour. Just some RECOGNITION of the hard-earned accomplishment.

9) Did I compare my accomplishments--or lack thereof--to others? Did I devalue my accomplishments and where God has placed me on the writing journey? I recently read where too often we “compare up”--seeing what others have that we wish we could have, too--but that we too seldom “compare down” and focus on what we’ve been given that others would love to have.

Today, take a little time to reflect on your past year. Share with us what you’ve accomplished, what you’re looking forward to accomplishing next year, and what steps you intend to take to meet your goals in the future. What about this writing year are you THANKFUL for?

If you’d like to be entered in a drawing for a copy of my February 2011 release, SECOND CHANCE COURTSHIP, please leave your e-mail addy in the comment section (remembering to use “at” and “dot.”)

May all of you--our friends here in Seekerville--have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Glynna
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Glynna Kaye’s Steeple Hill Love Inspired “Dreaming of Home” is a 2010 “Carol Award” and “Maggie Award” finalist, as well as a first place winner of the “Booksellers Best” and “Beacon” awards. Her next books(also set in Canyon Springs, Arizona)are “Second Chance Courtship” releasing February 2011, and “At Home In His Heart” debuting August 2011!