It's a New Year...

And it'll be a better year than last year (yes, optimism - one of my yearly goals - see below). It has to be. Insert the long speech about it being a fresh start, yada, yada, yada. :)

With the new year, I have a long list of goals that I hope to accomplish (writing and non-writing alike). I figured I'd post them all here. If I seem to stop working on the goals (or if it seems I'm about to fall off my mark), admonish me all you please - it'll help. :) Here's the list:

Goals for 2005

1. Yoga - 30 minutes a night, at least 4 times a week - build up to doing the Sun Salutation every morning

2. Wicca - read and work on spiritual things once or twice a week for 2-5 hours

3. Overall writing - spend 60 hours a week on writing (this includes researching, writing, revising, and critiquing) Note: When I find a part-time job, the required time will be dropped down to 40 hours, and if I get a full-time job, the required time will be dropped down to 25 hours

4. New writing - spend 1 hour everyday, at least 5 days a week, writing something new

5. Revising thesis novel - finish 2 revisions and one edit by April 1

6. Revising short stories - spend 5 hours a week polishing short stories (or any other writing that isn’t my thesis novel)

7. Submissions - write up a query letter for my thesis novel and send “package” to agents (“package” depends on submission guidelines); submit at least 1 short story a month, trying to keep all my unpublished stories in circulation at all times

8. Critiquing - critique 1 or 2 things each week

9. Keep track of all financial expenditures for writing

10. Blog - update my blog once a week, making sure I have progress to report

11. Website - complete the unfinished pages, streamline the html so Macs can view my website, update it once a week at least with what I’m currently reading/working on, and update the hints/tips area once a month

12. Organization - keep everything in order, including the house, so I can find things when I need to

13. Back up - make sure to back up my files once a week, and jump drive back up while writing every hour

14. Video games - play less - in other words, pull myself away from Everquest

15. Reading - read at least one novel a month

16. Weekly goals - set weekly goals and meet them

17. NaNoWriMo - don’t fail it next November

18. Cleaning - keep the house decent

19. Move - try to get into our own house, instead of funneling all our money into rent

20. Writing groups - organize writing groups I belong to, and possibly drop some - I should be spending no more than 4 hours a week dealing with groups other than the one I’m listmom on

21. Writing magazines and newsletters - I buy them or subscribe, so I should read them

22. Eating - stop skipping meals

23. Sleeping - get on a better sleep schedule

24. Role-playing - start a role-playing game like I’ve been promising everyone

25. Cross-stitching - finish some of the projects I started

26. E-mails - respond within 2 days

27. Be more optimistic, especially with writing (this might also fall under having more confidence in myself)

It's a long list, but I can do it (#27)! The list will actually go in effect on the 11th, since I leave tomorrow for my week-long residency, which I'm not prepared for. So, that's all I have to say, since I have so much other stuff to get done before I have to be at the airport at 5:30am. :p I'll be oh so tired. I'm already tired just thinking about it. Happy writing!