Planning... and evaluating...and planning some more - Lynn Cahoon

I studied Covey early in my business career and got hooked on the idea of goal setting, evaluating, and re-setting goals.

Probably you're also hearing a mixture of my training experience in that last sentence. Plan, develop, present, evaluate, revamp. What good is a great plan if it doesn't work? I'm also a big fan of continuous education - a term for people like me who are always taking on a new task or theory to learn more.

The Addie Model...

But I think with all that, I learned a new lesson this year. And that's one of focus. If you've followed my writing career, you know I moved from cowboys to warlocks to small town to cozy mystery. It's a logical path, knowing my personal history.

It also confuses the crap out of anyone trying to brand me as a certain type of writer.

So this year, my main focus is to stay focused. I have four series going - one that is one novella away from being complete. That will be done in 2015. I'm taking my unsold Harlequin targeted series ans self publishing them. Look for the Castle View series (an Idaho set trilogy) and the Country Fairy Tales series to arrive in 2015 as well.

On the cozy mystery side, I've got one more Tourist Trap mystery on contract to write in 2015 (hopefully I'll have three more releases in this series in 2015), then hopefully, my publisher will sign on for three more. (If this happens, my writing schedule for 2015 will change dramatically from what it is now. But that's a good thing.)

I have a cozy series with one book written (set in Idaho) which I'd love to see available for readers this next year, but I'll have to see where the Tourist Traps go for book #7.

And, I have this idea floating around in my head....

Juggling the priorities, juggling the writing, and re-evaluating goals and plans as Lynn's writing world changes.

So, I've got my first goal plan for 2015 done. How about you?

Remember, a goal is a dream with a deadline....

Want a chance to win five mysteries from five different authors including me? Check out my author page tomorrow for instructions. Leave a comment to win.

What are Your Writing Goals?

For some, I know the answer is to get published. Achieving that goal is easier than ever these days--there are so many more small publishers out there than ever before, if you have a good manuscript you'll probably be able to find a good match for it.

If you are already published, is making a lot of money what you're hoping for? I know there are some mystery writers who do very well financially. Unfortunately, the percentage of those compared to the rest of us is small.

When I add up how much I spend attending conferences, attending book fairs, and paying for things like transportation, food and lodging when I'm away from home, tools of the trade (computers and printers because yes, they do break-down and need to be replaced), and other writing expenses, I must confess these all come to a much higher total then my royalties and the books I've sold on my own.

So what is my writing goal? If it was just to make money, I lost out on that a long time ago.

Because I can't seem to help myself when it comes to writing, it's a habit or maybe even an addiction that I can't quit, then I have to look a bit farther to see what my goals really are.

First, to finish whatever book I'm working on and to make it the best I possibly can.

Second, to have a good relationship with my publishers. (Believe it or not, I've been reading lately about authors who actually have been making derogatory remarks about their publishers on-line. How dumb is that?)

Third, to promote each book when it's published to the best of my ability and in as many different ways as possible.

Fourth, to have become friends with people who read my books even if it is only an online friendship. (This is something that was not possible in the past, but so much easier to do nowadays with the Internet.)

Fifth, to be helpful to other writers when asked. I love to spotlight other writers and their books on my own blog: http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

Okay, that's five goals. And, to be honest, sure I'd love to be making lots of money with my writing. I wouldn't mind having someone love one of my books enough to option it for a movie. It doesn't really matter though, no matter what, as long as I'm able I'm going to keep on writing.

So, tell me, what are your writing goals?

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com