Today, I’m going to talk about my goals for the new year. I don’t think I did one of these posts last year. Last year was…I don’t know what last year was, exactly. An exercise in treading water, I guess.
Whenever I think of treading water, I always end up thinking about that one episode of Magnum, P.I. (the original with Tom Selleck and his mustache) where Magnum had to tread water in the ocean for a really long time. I don’t remember how he ended up in the ocean or why he had to tread water (besides, you know, not drowning) for so long, but he was and he did, and for some reason, that episode made a real impression on me. Or, at least, parts of it did. (I think there were also sharks?)
In my last post, I talked about how I was feeling so creatively tapped out that I was, in fact, tapping out of writing until my situation changed. In that same post, I also used the phrase ‘in theory’ because I am historically bad at taking time off. I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to hold out. I once managed to make it through an entire summer.
This time, I made it two whole days.
Granted, I haven’t been doing a lot of writing—just scribbling down the odd thought here and there, really—but it’s been enough that I feel I really can’t claim to be on hiatus, and then we got down to the end of last year, and I started compiling a list of writing-related goals for this year, and…yeah. I’m not on hiatus. I’m not on a break.
I’m treading water.
Which means I’m intending to do enough to keep my head above the metaphorical water, but I’m not putting pressure on myself (or attempting to not do that, anyway) to swim all the way to shore. I have goals in various projects, but I am trying to take a no-pressure approach to them. If I make progress on these projects, great. If I don’t, well…that’s okay, too, because I wouldn’t be making any progress on anything if I were on a true hiatus.
Will it work? Dunno. We’ll have to wait and see.
Anyway, if you’re interested, here are my goals:
The 2024 Writing Goals
—Finish the second draft of the Terrible Romance Sequel & send it to the beta readers
As of this post, there are twenty unfinished chapters in this story. I’m going to try to chip away at that number and those chapters to see if I can’t just get this draft done. I have two betas eagerly awaiting the manuscript (one of which is my beloved goddaughter, to whom I can’t say no), but I am not going to think about that. Much, anyway. Probably.
—Figure out how to wrangle that damn wayward fantasy series of mine
This series (namely Books 3, 3.5, and 4) feels like it has become a huge quagmire, and I’m not sure what to do about it. The beta round for Full Circle (book 3) didn’t go as I had hoped, so I want to make changes to the story, but nothing I’ve written so far seems to be any better than what I already have, so I’m not sure how to proceed. I like the concept for Adventures In Babysitting (Book 3.5) but fear I lack the ability to make it work. It’s stalled out at the moment. Threnody (what I’m currently calling Book 4) is really in limbo because I won’t know what to do with that until I make decisions about Full Circle.
So this goal isn’t really about finishing manuscripts or hitting word counts or anything like that. I mean, if I should happen do so any of those things this year, I will be incredibly psyched about it (or as psyched as I ever get about anything I write, I suppose I should say…), but that’s not the plan. It’s more about just making a decision as to the fate of these stories and this series.
—Maybe finally put together that collection of work haiku I’ve been talking about for, like, a million years
I was making decent progress on this project a couple of years ago, and then things just kind of…stopped. Perhaps this year I can get it jump started again. There are some pieces of the project that haven’t been started yet, but a lot of it is done and just needs to be sorted out and assembled in a format that maybe resembles a book. Maybe I can make some progress on this project while the back of my mind continues to puzzle through the first two items on this list.
—Attempt to make some attempt at marketing at least once a month
Yeah. I know. I don’t really have high hopes for this one, either. I just feel like I should include it. For old times’ sake.
Do you set goals or make resolutions for the New Year? What are you working on in 2024?
Thanks for stopping by, everyone. Be safe and well.
You don’t want to drown but you don’t want to exhaust yourself either.
Sometimes a new approach is all it takes. I wish you good luck with it all, as always! 🙂
And I remember those work haiku and you talking about putting them together in a collection. Sheesh, how long have I been hanging around the blogosphere?! 😮
Sometimes, we just can’t stay away. I like that you’re not pushing yourself, because that would probably end up with you even more burnt out. And I totally feel your pain with your fantasy series, as someone who has completely revamped the plot of my book six times. I understand.
I hope the stars align and a helicopter of an idea swings by to retrieve you from the water.
Sounds like the first and third items would be better places to start. Give you brain time to ponder solutions for the second one.
What a great comparison you made here today. I know exactly what you’ve described. This writing/not writing/loving writing/hating it is just like treading water.
Happy New Year.
My new address: https://substack.com/@cleemckenzie Stop by and say hi!
I hope you can figure it out. If you ever want to talk about it, hit me up.
I know that Magnum episode well. It not only hit me hard when I first saw it, but I used to watch it on the Fourth of July because it takes place on that day. And there is a shark, but only one, and it’s much more a moving story than anything scary.
I just looked it up, and it’s Home from the Sea, season 4/1, and got an 8.6 at IMDB. Well worth the watch for anyone who hasn’t seen it.
Sounds you like got a good, healthy plan for this year, where you don’t wear yourself out, but can take time to float on your back and make up haikus about the clouds.
I remember that episode of Magnum PI! I don’t remember why he was in the water, but it was such a cool episode about resilience (at least that’s how I remember it). I wanted to learn how to tread water after that – for some reason it hadn’t been covered in any swim lessons I had at school. Then, recently, I listened to a podcast in which the host was talking about treading water being a great form of slow exercise. I’m all for slow exercise. Anyway, if you are maintaining status quo and making small moves toward each of your goals, I think you’re doing great!
I’m sorry you didn’t get that hiatus from writing that you probably do need. But whatever works for you. (Have you considered writing something completely new? Don’t think about it. Just start it and see where it takes you.) Good luck with your goals. You might surprise yourself and get more done than you expect.
I think a no pressure approach is a good idea. I’m (sort of?) doing that, for now, at least. I may be harder on myself once I have some sort of plan in place.
Good luck with all of your goals!
They sound like good goals to me. When it comes to marketing once a month month is about all I can stomach too. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
I have tentative plans for what I’d like to do in 2024, but I don’t trust the year after how last year went, so we will see what happens.
I completely fold under pressure (internal or external). I can only see a project through if I focus on the next step – and let my brain play with this.
All that to say, I’m always so impressed with your approach and tactics. Here’s to that creativity bubbling over!
I like the idea of a low pressure approach. I may need to steal this idea from you for this year because I just can’t see how I’m going to be able to fit writing in at all otherwise. Best of luck with your goals!