Our 2016 Goals

Here at 24 Carrot Writing we are strong believers in setting goals and working hard to achieve those goals. We decided to share our annual goals with you hoping to motivate you to set your own writing goals. We all set our goals very differently. Some of us have detailed goals with calendar dates and self-imposed deadlines. Others have a few thoughts scribbled on a sticky note. We all, however, took time to think about what we want to accomplish in our writing career this year. We would like to urge you to do the same.

​Amanda
Writing:

• Write at least 20 minutes every week day
• YA Novel
  • Finish revision
  • Beta Readers (February)
  • Final revisions
  • Research agents (February)
  • Query and Submit (April)
• Outline and write Chapter Book by October
• Revise 3 Picture Books
• Write at least 2 Picture Books
• Write 6 early reader stories
• Get at least 50 rejections (4 submissions a month!)
• Write 2 short stories for magazines

Craft:

• Attend local workshops
• Attend NESCBWI Spring conference
• Log books I read
• Research agents
• Annual Writing Retreat
• Take a break from all the Mo’s

Francine
​Writing:

• Write 20 minutes a day minimum
• Submit Contemporary YA Novel "Beneath..." (includes researching agents/editors and establishing/maintaining up-to-date tracking system); Revise when it sells!
• Historical Fiction YA Novel - First draft Feb-May, Second draft Sep-Nov
• Contemporary YA Novel "Marcy" - Rewrite Jun-Aug
• Monthly blog for 24CarrotWriting.com

Craft:

• Attend SCBWI Mid-Winter Conference in NYC
• Present at/attend NESCBWI Spring Conference 
• Attend NESCBWI Encore! 
• Attend two local writing workshops 
• Annual Writing Retreat
• Plan/Coordinate four "meet and greet" gatherings for NESCBWI
• Plan/Coordinate two workshops for NESCBWI (spring/fall)
• Update personal website and breathe new life into Facebook Author page
• Develop Powerpoint Presentation/Deliver 5-Year Planning Workshop
• Develop Powerpoint Presentation for Journaling Workshop
• Brainstorm/Outline "TBD" Workshop

Annie
Writing:

• Finish 1st draft of MG novel (by June)
• Finish 2nd draft of MG novel (by September)
• Revise/polish and submit MG novel (by December)
• Write one new PB per month 
• Revise PBs written last year
• Polish and submit 3-4 PB manuscripts
• Write monthly blog entry for 24carrotwriting.com

Craft:

• Read, read, read in the genres in which I write!
• Participate in monthly PB critique group
• Hone my craft at least twice a week thorugh writing exercises  
• Attend NESCBWI writing conference
• Attend at least 3 PB/MG workshops
• Regularly review writing resources/workshop materials to hone writing skills
• Annual writing retreat
• Update/maintain my author website

Kelly
Writing:

• Give my writing the WRQS! in 10 of 12 months this year (http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/give-your-writing-the-wrqs)
  •  Write 10 new Picture Books/Chapters in a New MG novel
  • Revise 10 PB/Chapters
  • Write 10 Query letters for existing manuscripts
  • Submit 10 manuscripts to agents/editors
• Revise 2nd draft of MG novel
• Use NaNoWriMo to draft a new MG novel
• Write monthly blog entry for 24carrotwriting.com

Craft:

• Read in the genres in which I write and catalog books read in Goodreads/ write reviews of at least 6 books read this year
• Attend NESCBWI conference
• Attend at least 4 PB/MG workshops
• Participate in monthly PB critique group
• Update my author webpage quarterly
• Annual writing retreat (can we make it happen again - fingers crossed)
• Read agent, editor and writing blogs and industry publications

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