New Year, New Goals—Will I Do Any Better in 2024?

In 2023, I had two primary writing goals—to publish When Heart Shall Fail (preferably in the first quarter of the year) and to draft the next (and last) book in my series on the settlement of Oregon. I published When Heart Shall Fail, but not until around Memorial Day.

I did not get the next book drafted—I’m still working on the first draft. As of the end of 2023, I had about 77,000 words written, but my complete first draft needs to be around 120,000 words. I drafted 95,000 words of the first draft of Safe Thus Far during the thirty days of NaNoWriMo in 2020, so I know I can write faster when I have the time to concentrate. But recently, I just haven’t had the time.

As I reflect on 2023, I realize I got a lot done, just not as much as I wanted, particularly on my writing.

Now 2023 is in the past. I must look ahead to 2024. I have set new writing goals for this year. My primary objective is to get my current work-in-progress published by the end of 2024. That is a stretch goal, but that is what I am shooting for as of January 3.

To have any hope of publishing the book this year, I need the first draft finished by the end of March. It took me seven months to write the first 77,000 words of this draft. At my current pace, the remaining 45,000 or so words will take me into late spring. Completing the first draft by the end of March already looks like a pipe dream.

Moreover, I see what else lies ahead of me during the year in other areas of my life apart from my writing. My full list of goals and sub-goals for 2024 is several pages long. I might wish I could hole up in my office and write for several hours a day—then my goal of publishing this novel in 2024 would be relatively easy to meet. But given that I am responsible for caregiving, that I have a granddaughter and other relatives I want to spend time with, and that I manage our finances and other necessary household tasks, writing has to fit in with other priorities in my life.

I’ll get the first draft of my novel done this year, but getting it close to publishable shape may be all I can do in 2024. Or not even that, if life throws more roadblocks in the way than I now foresee.

My other writing objectives for this year include continuing related activities—posting on this blog weekly, sending out a monthly newsletter, and serving as a good critique partner in the group I’ve been a part of for over a decade. I know I need to do some additional marketing of my books as well, though those goals are less well defined.

Independent authors (authorpreneurs) like myself must set our own goals, as any entrepreneur must do. If we don’t set goals, there is no one else to keep us focused, no one else to hold us accountable. I try to be realistic and yet to push myself.

And now, back to Scrivener to draft another thousand words today. Or tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

What are your goals for 2024?