This is an accountability tool for the way that I approach and tackle my goals. I normally use my planner for this kind of work, but I think it’s also useful to lay it bare here, since I’ve written about this process a few times. This is a check-in on how I’m tracking toward the goals that I set at the beginning of the New Year.
Grow my social media platform reach to 10K people – 10K is aggressive. I know that. But it’s the arbitrary threshold that publishers and platforms look for. When I started the quarter, I was at 5,933 across all of my platforms and accounts. This is probably the hairiest of the goals that I set out to create, and I’ve gotten it up to 7,493 as of March 31st. I’ll still be working on this in the next quarter. Most of this growth was on Threads and Blue Sky. I’m playing with the idea of making a post for how to build followings on those networks – would that be interesting to anyone? Please comment and let me know if so.
Gain teaching experience on my resume – My first Morbid Anatomy class starts April 15, the second comes out in late June. I’ve got 2 more in development for after that.
Audition for performances of some sort (storytelling? voiceover?) – Well, I’ve signed up to be cast as an extra, I’ve been attending storytelling zooms and I’ve told two stories so far! So this is sort of a check, but definitely still a work in progress.
Submit book proposals to publishers for 2 non-fiction books – Okay, this is a longer update. I’ve been a busy bee when it comes to writing.
- The burnout book – This proposal went out to about 20 publishers, and I’ve gotten a few nibbles but nothing officially signed yet. I need to finish writing the book for next steps with one publisher and to query the last handful of publishers that I’m interested in reaching out to.
- A book about unicorns – This was not on my list for Q1, but it happened anyway! Similar to the burnout book, I’ve got nibbles but nothing official. Please keep fingers crossed.
- A collection of fairy tale retellings – Yes the goal was for non-fiction, but this is on sub now too. I’ve got one nibble here, and failing that, I might self-publish this one. We’ll see.
- I’ve been giving the Dissertation a rest, and haven’t reworked it or its draft proposal yet. I do have a mentor working with me on this, and I’m excited about it, but that’s a Q2 project for sure.
Complete longer-form fiction to query publishers – I completed the fairy tale retelling collection! I think in Q2 it will be a combination of novellas and revisiting the mythology retelling novel I had edited last year
Add 6 more books to my “Proud of Myself” shelf – Technically, upon review, this goal of six items was for the whole year, not just Q1. For Q1, I have Two entries, which is solid toward an annual goal of six. The new books on the shelf are the hard copy of my dissertation, and Queens in Wonderland. To stay apace for 6 this year, I’m going to need to get some acceptances here in the next quarter.
Plan 2024 garden, order trees and seeds – About 2/3 of the seedlings are started, the new bed and supplies to build it are order, and I’ve already planted the new baby plum tree. Our last frost date is in mid-May, so I am trying to grow many of my seedlings far longer indoors than I have in previous years. The short growing season has meant that my harvest has been pretty slim the past few times I’ve tried to grow things.
Take 2 small road trips, visiting dear friends – I did one of these! Josh and I went to California! We got to see a number of my cohort mates, as well as some places where he grew up. The second one of these technically falls into Q2, as it’s the weekend of the eclipse in April. But I’m looking forward to seeing my friend Carol and the eclipse!
Open streams of income to support my writing for longer-term – I have a lot of potential income streams, but they haven’t really started paying off yet. It’s okay, I’m still pretty safe in terms of finances. I did get a roommate this month, which has been a fun experience. After all the other guests, I feel like this has been a pretty easy process. But we haven’t gotten past the 2 week mark yet, which is when I get cranky. The classes at Morbid Anatomy do pay, but that won’t hit my bank account until I actually teach the class in April.
Know the plan & budget for which conferences I intend to attend for Storytelling, Mythology, and Writing –
- In February, I attended SW PCA ACA conference in Albuquerque
- I’m registered to be a Zoom attendee for the National Storytelling Network in July.
- I’ve submitted abstracts to present at 2 more conferences, one in late May via Zoom, and one in November that will be in Albuquerque
Read at least 13 books – According to Goodreads and Storygraph, I’ve read 7 books this year. I’m tracking the books that I am reading cover-to-cover, which is difficult with non-fiction. A number of books for research I “crack” – I open it to the specific section I need, and skim around for the details. I don’t really read the whole book. So, it’s been an interesting challenge to read more linearly, and to read more fiction.
Thinking about Q2 Goals
So, in my goal setting post, I mentioned having North Stars, and how using those to guide my goals is one of the key ways I choose what to try to achieve. Earlier this month I did a little mind-mapping exercise to try to envision what happens beyond those stars. What happens when I reach one of them? Then what? So in my Q2 Goal list, I’m keeping that in mind, as well.
My Q2 2024 goals are:
- Grow my email lists and social media platform to 10K people (only 2507 to go!)
- Teaching classes at Morbid Anatomy, and perhaps at least one other venue. I’d like to get at least 2 more classes on the calendar at Morbid Anatomy for Q3
- Take at least 2 classes (I’m signed up for 1 already, and I want to take a Morbid Anatomy class)
- Get at least one book onto a publisher’s 2025 calendar and sign the papers
- Audition and Perform – continuing to pursue some form of this, be it storytelling or acting
- Reimagine and reenvision the dissertation as a book, complete its book proposal packet, and start submitting by June 30
- Complete at least one novella and get it in the submission process
- Re-read all editor’s notes on the novel revision, and begin the rewrite process
- Attend the NSN conference zoom, and submit at least one more call for papers in Q2
- Build more income streams, and have an idea of what making a living looks like in this new world
- Take one or two more trips with Josh
- Plant and tend garden (it’s a bigger one this year!) plus all the annual fire season safety work
- Attend a live music performance
- Read 13 books this quarter (for a total of 20 for the year by 6/30)
Notice a few things here, building on that original goal-setting process. I’m not beating myself up for missing some goals. It’s great if I meet them, but more important to keep an eye on the long-term one. So, while I still want to hit 10K reach with my platform, and I’m just sort of keeping on keeping on with that goal, I have forgiven myself the 6 books I didn’t read in my book-reading goal, while still hoping to acheive the pace I originally set. If I miss the goal again next quarter, I’ll revise the goal to be more realistic.