So here I am with my end-of-year review and a new goals post. I have switched to quarterly planning, which works so much better for me than yearly goals. Thank you, Sarra Cannon, for showing me the way!
This year was HUGE for my virtual assisting/freelance editing business. I landed several new clients in very quick succession which was absolutely awesome. My workload increased a lot, which required adjustments and better planning. However, I am ecstatic that I was able to make this happen. That was my biggest goal: increasing my client base and by extension bringing in more money.
I have also learned so much from my clients, stuff that I can apply to my own publishing efforts. So it’s a win-win.
Health wise…ugh, a lot of stuff went wrong this year. Not going to get into it, but suffice to say it was tough and stressful. However, I’ve survived it and I am looking forward to a new slate.
Since it’s my intention to jump back into ROW80 again, I figured I would put everything into one, handy-dandy simple post.
But first, let’s look at what I did (or didn’t do) this year:
~2nd round of edits/release secret project (early 2018) – DONE. Except it was delayed by unavoidable issues until 12/7. Very happy to have it finally out in the world!
~Revise and release Fireborn – DONE. Released August 1st.
~Get serious about exercise and DO SOMETHING – Nope. I remain a couch potato. 😦
~Take pictures regularly (once a month, 1 a day for x amount of days, etc) – Nope, and I really wish I could have.
~Get moving with dictation again – DONE. Not dictating currently, but I did purchase the latest version of Dragon Naturally Speaking and I also bought a digital recorder for transcription. Just need to actually start doing it.
~Progress on Covenant – DONE. I don’t have the exact figures handy, but I think I got it up to around 25k.
~Progress on When She Sleeps – This has been put on hold.
~Start Survivor Rewrite for reals this time – Nope, but one of my goals for Q1 is to JUST DO IT.
~Do something with Death Dancer/Pirouette – Nope. But as soon as I can, I’ll start working on this. I have Plans.
~Get better with planning – My mom bought me a planner for Christmas last year, so I used that for deadlines/appointments/modified bullet journal. It worked great, so
I asked for another one. And got it. Also, Sarra Cannon’s quarterly planning system worked wonderfully as well. I believe this planning system is the only reason why I was able to release the secret project this year. I was focused in a way I haven’t been in awhile. Being that I am a head planner (that is, I do all my planning in my head), this is a HUGE accomplishment.
~Start writing every day again, even if it’s 100 words – Nope. Time seems to get away from me sometimes.
~Figure out Reaper Girl #3, Faeborn – DONE. I have a premise. And apparently I’d forgotten that I’d called it Faeborn. Oops.
As for how many words I wrote this year: 75,000, which was my modest goal. I was hoping to write more, but given how busy I was and how awful my health was at times, I’ll take it. 🙂
Alrighty, so what’s on tap for Q1 and #ROW80? I’m glad you asked.
~Loosely plot Immortal Faeborn
~Book ads for Gain with Pain, Reaper Girl, and Fey Touched. Put together a tracking system.
~Start manifestation journal (first entry: 1/5/19)
~Put together modified Kanban board for Q1
~Purchase Energy Oracle deck. Start pulling cards daily and journaling.
~Progress on Oubliette or finish
~Do All The Things related to TDP Anthology (to be released sometime in Q1)
~Begin rewrite of Survivor. Continue working on it on Sundays.
~Catch up up on ARCs
~Take Sundays off work when possible
~Start back on MyFitnessPal. Log food 5x a week minimum.
~Water 5x a week
I think that’s it for now. 🙂
Links to the books:
Weaver of Words 
The exercise ones…. May your health be better enough now that you will feel motivated to keep at them, even when you might not be as inspired to. Otherwise, great goals, Erin.
Thanks, Eden! I hope so too!
Great goals. It’s great that you’re also making goals to get and stay healthy. Good luck 🙂
Thanks, Rob!
I’m pretty bad following jealth
I’m pretty bad following health goals. I think keeping it simple it’s the way to go. Best of luck with this round.
Thanks, Lila! I’ve been having trouble too. I am hoping to get things together this round. 🙂
Hello, there, stranger! MWAH!!!!
I’m sorry your health was awful, but delighted you’re back. Mom that I am, I worried about you, even though you’re not one of my spawn!
I do miss the chocolate consumption update – but so cool that Fireborn and the secret project are out in the world at last! Go you!
Thank you, Shan! I appreciate you thinking of me. I kept wanting to post something, but time just got away from me! Oh, crap, I forgot the chocolate consumption reports! I will most definitely add those back in. 🙂
I’ve always loved reading your posts (even without the chocolate, though your joy in it makes it so much sweeter!).
You are like a breath of fresh air in my life – and, as we come up on the first anniversary of Jim’s death, that is invaluable!
Thank you so much, Shan! I always love talking to you. 🙂
Hi Erin. Glad to read your health is better now. Good luck with your goals for this round. ^^
Thanks Rui Chan!
Hi Erin, I am coming back to ROW80 in 2019 after a long break caused by my health. I really like your idea of the quarterly goals. Things undulate so much for me through the year, it seems like a sensible approach.
Congratulations for your achievements from last year and the very best of luck for 2019. Take very good care of yourself.
Thanks, Cate! I used to set yearly goals and that was just too overwhelming. I set quarterly goals last quarter and I found that I could focus much better. I think it’s the idea that there are less goals to focus on. I really like this system and will continue to use it. 🙂
Best of luck to you too!