Midyear Writing Goal Assessment

by Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS @SusanNealYoga

Are you meeting your 2019 goals? Now is the perfect time to assess your writing goals, determine what you’ve accomplished, and adjust your goals accordingly. If you did not write your 2019 goals, look at my previous blog, New Goals & A New Writing You. 

2019 Goals

Print your 2019 goals, and begin this session with prayer. Ask God to lead you to accomplish what he desires. First, celebrate your accomplishments. Go out to dinner and make a toast to your victories, or schedule a treat for yourself like a massage. Next, modify your objectives based upon what has transpired in the past six months. Consider new information when adjusting your goals. I recommend dividing your goals into quarterly segments.

I added a new, large task to my third quarter ambitions—create a course with Serious Writer Academy called “How to Sell 1000 Books in Three Months.” While attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, I realized other writers need help with marketing. Many authors asked me what my best practices were for selling my books. I took a lot of marketing classes while working on my MBA and applied that knowledge effectively to my writing career. My best seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates,sold 5000 copies in its first fourteen months. 

Goal Modification

What goals do you need to modify at this point in the year? When reviewing your list of objectives, make sure that they are under the umbrella of your mission statement. My tagline is inspiring others to improve their health so they can serve God better. The branding specialist, Bare Faced Creative Media, helped me define my mission. I posted three potential taglines on Facebook, and my audience chose the one that fit best.

Recently I started writing a children’s book about hatching eggs in an incubator. This picture book manuscript fell outside my overall mission statement. Through my midyear assessment I realized I needed to drop this project. However, another children’s book I am working on, about eating God’s foods, is under my mission umbrella.

Don’t feel like you have to get everything accomplished at once. Spread out your goals. By doing this, you give yourself breathing room and have new, exciting accomplishments spread out through the year. Initially, my second quarter goals included publishing a large-print version of7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. But I have not had time since I attended three writer conferences so far this year. It is best to schedule downtime on your calendar before and after a conference. 

I want to create the book marketing course before I speak on this topic at the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Conferencein August. So the course became a priority over the large-print book. The fourth quarter will be a better time to publish the large-print version. 

Monthly To-Do List
I create a monthly to-do list by dictating items into the Notes app on my iPhone. I segment my duties based upon A, B, and C priorities. I also add errands and household chores to the bottom of the list. Creating a prioritized list keeps me focused on what is most important. 

How do you maintain your focus and prioritize? What have you adjusted in your 2019 goals?

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Tips to help you keep up with your #writing goals from @SusanNealYoga on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS

Susan’s mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ. She has her RN and MBA degrees, as well as a master’s in health science. She is a CERTIFIED HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACH with the American Association of Christian Counselors. She published five books, the Selah award winner 7 STEPS TO GET OFF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES, CHRISTIAN STUDY GUIDE FOR 7 STEPS TO GET OFF SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES, HEALTHY LIVING JOURNAL, SCRIPTURE YOGA a #1 Amazon best-selling yoga book, and YOGA FOR BEGINNERS which ranked #3. She published two sets of Christian Yoga Card Decks and two Christian Yoga DVDs that are available at CHRISTINAYOGA.COM. Her digital product HOW TO PREVENT, IMPROVE, AND REVERSE ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA is a great resource. To learn more about Susan visit her website SUSANUNEAL.COM You can also connect with Susan on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM.