“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all,
and then stands back to see if we can find them…
The often surprising results of that hunt--
that’s what I call Big Magic.”  - Elizabeth Gilbert
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by Annie Cronin Romano
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Goals.

It’s a word that’s thrown around quite a bit, isn’t it? We are always supposed to have a plan. We need to know where we’re going. We have to visualize the finish line.  

At 24 Carrot Writing, our primary focus is to keep you motivated and on track via solid goals and self-recognition and to give you the support to do this. The importance of goals and the skill of goal setting has been the thread of this month’s blogs. But what if the idea of setting writing goals makes your stomach churn? What if you are one of those folks who won’t make New Year’s resolutions for fear of breaking them? You’re probably not about to set any specific writing goals because you may not meet them. Setting writing goals can be intimidating.  But it is a vital step in the writing process, because it sets the tone of accountability. 
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So if you were not planning to set any writing goals this year, I urge you to rethink. Don’t be afraid. We are not going to let you out of it. Strive to be realistic in your goals. As Amanda Smith wrote in her blog (“Doing the Necessary” January 12, 2018), look carefully at where you are now in your writing journey and what is a realistic next step. 

And I am going suggest one additional step for those fearful of the goal setting process. Add a forgiveness clause at the end. Yes, you read that correctly. Forgiveness clause. This clause should state that if you do not completely meet any of your goals, you will not self-flagellate, wail, or grind your teeth. You will not put yourself down or state that you should give up on writing because you’d have better success selling steaks to a vegan grocery. Basically, this forgiveness clause will cut you some slack for any twists and turns that may take you off your intended path and keep you from sitting down on that pity pot. 

You may not meet all your writing goals. I may not either. But if you don’t set them, you have no plan. No direction. You won’t know where the finish line is. And that can make starting the race pretty disconcerting. So give yourself the gift of a plan for your writing this year. Do your best to stay on track. But know that even if you don’t meet every writing goal you set, you are moving closer to the finish line by drawing yourself a map of how to get there. And that is a key step in your writing success.

~ by Amanda Smith
This sparkly, brand-spanking-new year is just begging for some bright, shimmery writing goals. With goals we will soar. We will fly! We will publish all our lovely books!

We will crash and burn if we neglect to take a moment to root our new goals in our current progress. For success it is paramount to build a bridge between last year’s product and this year’s dream. How do we construct this bridge?

St Francis of Assisi said, "Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Ask yourself, from where you are right now, what is necessary to move forward.  Towards the end of December, I pulled out my yearly goals and checked off the tasks accomplished. I reflected on what worked, and what didn’t. I took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the big-ticket items – a novel revised, a synopsis written, a second draft of a new novel completed. I contemplated the items that didn’t get checked off. What will these projects look like in the new year? Are they still a priority?

Asking these questions helped me determine what is necessary for me to move forward. These immediate tasks include final revisions on a YA novel; deep revisions, even possible rewrites on two picture book manuscripts after input from critique groups; and revisions on a middle grade manuscript.

Once I have finished these tasks, what will be possible? What is the practical next step?  I could submit the picture books and the YA novel. So, another goal is to come up with submission plans for those manuscripts.

​Then there is the dream, the challenge: What is the one thing you want to accomplish this year, but the sheer thought of it scares you to death? What is the impossible?  Make that a goal. Mine is to plot and write the remaining two books in a middle grade trilogy. Yup, my boots are shaking.
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Now that you have dreamed necessary, practical and are-you-kidding-me?, it’s time to fit those goals into the year. I use a goals calendar.

• Cross off days that will be unavailable for writing. This visual representation of your possible writing time gives you a clear scope of the year and helps you plan projects in the right season. I have learned I cannot plot and draft in the summer when my kids are home, and that the fall and spring are better for more intense projects. Also keep family vacations and business responsibilities in mind. If you have a book coming out in the fall, you will mostly likely not be drafting during that time.
• Tightly plot out the first 6 months of the calendar. Pencil in the last half of the year, because life is unpredictable.

Don’t forget to reward yourself with proper, meaningful carrots along the way! 
​Yes, we will soar. We will fly! And we will do the impossible. 

By Kelly Carey

It’s that magical month of January when an entire year of possibilities lies before you. The perfect time to set your writing goals and become a 24 Carrot Writer.

Remember, to become a 24 Carrot Writer, you need one writing goal and one craft goal each month. 

​Writing goals ask you to draft a new picture book, revise three chapters of your middle grade novel, complete a character bio on your main character, or outline a plot for your new young adult novel.

A craft goal needs to focus on the business side of writing and can include attending a SCBWI event, taking a writing workshop, reading in your genre, researching agents, or writing a query letter.

For a refresher on setting your two goals visit the 24 Carrot Writing homepage or read http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/two-goals-a-month-lead-to-24-carrot-writing.

To help you stay organized and map out your 24 Carrot goals, you can use the 24 Carrot Writing Goal Sheet.

Here is a blank 24 Carrot Goal Sheet all ready for you to print off and populate with plans for each month, motivating carrots, and a whole crop of 24 carrots for you to earn. Use the link below to download the sheet to your computer.

To use the 24 Carrot Goal Sheet, first document your January goals and motivate yourself with a January carrot. 

It might be tempting to go ahead and set goals for the entire year. If you do that, use pencil! Things can pop up, plans can change, and you'll want your writing goals to be flexible. You may wake up on the first day of March with a great new plot idea, and your Writing Goal for March should take advantage of that feeling. On the Craft Goal side, you may find out about a new workshop being offered in June, and that will become your Craft Goal for June.

You may also accomplish more than your two 24 Carrot Goals each month. If you do, that's great! But your 24 Carrot Writing Goals are your golden goals - the ones you do first, jettison last and strive diligently to achieve.

If you hit your monthly 24 Carrot Writing goals, color in the carrots next to that month. 

In the example below, both January goals were hit and the writer colored in the carrots next to January. This writer is now a two carrot writer, and has set their February goals, and picked a motivating carrot.

If you miss a goal, just cross out the carrot and move that goal to the next month.

Don’t beat yourself up over missed goals. This industry can be tough enough and there is no need to let a missed goal derail your progress. Each month will bring the opportunity to earn two more carrots.

Keep the worksheet visible as a constant reminder of what you want to accomplish each month.

It’s still January and you have the chance to be a 24 Carrot Writer this year. If you finish the year a 14 carrot writer, or a 10 carrot writer, or a 2 carrot writer, we will be here to celebrate your accomplishment.

Use your 24 Carrot Writing Goal Sheet to keep track of your success.

Now go set those January goals!

By Francine Puckly
 
Happy New Year from all of us at 24 Carrot Writing! We hope your holiday celebrations were filled with laughter and joy, friends and family, and a little quiet time to reflect on all that you accomplished in 2017. We are excited to have you join us as we seek the possibilities 2018 holds for each of us!
 
One of my goals for 2017 was to give myself the gift of time to celebrate the holidays (sans guilt) and to muse about opportunities forthcoming in 2018. I spent many long morning walks, as well as afternoon teas, pondering this wonderful but oftentimes frustrating creative life I have chosen to lead.
 
I dug up two precious nuggets of truth over the many miles I wandered. The first is that I’m wildly inaccurate with my goal estimations as it pertains to the time a project will take. I mean, I’m not even close. I’m way off the mark when I guess at how quickly I can complete everything—a blog, an outline, a chapter, an entire draft. So laying out Gantt charts with detailed deadlines is no longer a practice I choose to embrace. It works for many, many people, but it results in failure for me. The second discovery is that I spend too much time alone. I need to be around people, even if we are all working independently and may never speak to each other. In order to grow contentment and joy in my life, these are my focus areas for 2018.
 
But what does this mean as I set my goals? It means that it is important to me that I be a writer. That I show up for work every day and take my job seriously. I have scheduled hours of work Monday through Friday. It’s my job. As long as I show up to my job, I will accomplish much. How much? It doesn’t matter this year. I’m just going to go to work everyday and see where it takes me.
 
And where, exactly, is my place of work? I have plotted out various writing locations that involve seeing other human beings (libraries, cafes, and bookstores). My portable office and daily packing list are ready to go (the-portable-office.html).  
 
Keeping the 24 Carrot Writing categories of Writing Goals and Craft Goals in mind, my work falls accordingly:
2018 Writing Goals:

• Revise current contemporary YA manuscript
• Complete Draft 1.5 of a new historical piece
• If time permits and inspiration strikes, rewrite a contemporary YA manuscript that has been resting in a nearby drawer.

2018 Craft Goals:

• Manage social media, blogs and website (weekly)
• Read novels and research materials that support my projects (weekly)
• Expand my workshop repertoire/develop new presentations (monthly)
• Invest in workshops and talks that will fill my educational well (monthly)

 
That’s it! It’s simple, it’s thorough, and most importantly, it’s doable!
 
I wish each of you joy as you set your creative goals and the luxury of time to focus on all that you love!
 
Happy Goal Setting and Happy New Year!
~ Francine

~ by Amanda Smith and special guest Tara Lazar

​Christmas favorites 
Even though my kids have outgrown picture books (to the extent that one can outgrow picture books), we have a box of Christmas picture books we unpack early every December. We rejoice in their arrival, greet them like the dear friends they are, and snuggle with them on the couch. Reading these books together is the quiet in the midst of a busy season. It is often the time I connect with my children's hearts, and it helps us reflect on why we celebrate this season. Allow me to introduce you to our favorite Christmas friends.

Although we have only a few days left in this year’s Hanukkah celebration, there’s still plenty of time to curl up with great stories. I’m delighted to welcome picture book author Tara Lazar to share her family’s favorite Hanukkah pictures books with all of you. Books by Tara include The Monstore, 7 Ate 9, Little Red Gliding Hood, and Way Past Bedtime. Take it away… 

Hanukkah Favorites
​From the time my daughters were born, we read to them every night before bed. When each Jewish holiday rolls around we seek out books to explain the holiday, share our traditions and just have some cuddly fun together. There is a saying in Hebrew--L'Dor V'Dor--which means "from generation to generation". We pass down our traditions to each generation, and to us, reading is just as important as eating latkes with applesauce during Hanukkah.​ (OK, maybe the latkes come first...)

When Mindy Saved Hanukkah by Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Barbara McClintock (1998, Scholastic)
Like the Borrowers, the Kleins are little people who make their home with the belongings of regular-sized humans. A thimble is a flower pot; a postage stamp serves as artwork above the matchbox couch.
The Kleins live within the walls of the Eldridge Street Synagogue. When they realize they need wax for Hanukkah candles, they remember seeing a stray candle by the Torah in the synagogue. Papa ventures out, but discovers a fierce Antiochus of a cat in the sanctuary. After he is injured, the only family member deemed fit enough for retrieving the candle is Mindy.
The illustrations by Barbara McClintock show gorgeous scenes of the synagogue from perspectives grand and small. The love, joy and feisty spirit of the Klein clan echoes the story of the Maccabees and makes this a meaningful, heartwarming tale.

By Francine Puckly
 
As I reflect on the year as it comes to a close, I am reminded by how important it is to be encircled in a loving, supportive writing community. I am grateful for the daily and weekly buoying by my 24 Carrot Writing peeps, my New England SCBWI team, my accountability genie, and many other writing friends and partners. These wonderful people are my sherpas—leading me up, up, up as I scale the mountain. They encourage me to keep going when I want to turn around and ride a toboggan back down to the bottom and forget the whole thing.
           
But I have other guides on this journey. Voices from the past. Voices in the present. A stack of books by other writers that I read, reread, and then read again. These mentors offer practical, detailed advice about perplexing aspects of drafting and revising, precious guidance in making plots and characters spring to life, and words of wisdom and encouragement when the journey feels long. I would be lost without these “friends” who accompany me on this pilgrimage as well. 
           
So just in case your loved ones are still asking you what you’d like for Hanukkah or Christmas, here are 30 of my favorite books to add to your Writer’s Book Shelf:
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 Finding Your Way and/or Thoughts on the Journey:

1. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
2. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
3. The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
4. If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
5. On Writing by Stephen King
6. How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author by Janet Evanovich with Ina Yalof
7. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
8. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle
9. The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear by Ralph Keyes
10. Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande
11. Why I Write by George Orwell
12. The Right to Write by Julia Cameron
13. Write Away by Elizabeth George

Drafting and Revising:

1. WordSmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life by Douglas Wilson
2. The Plot Whisperer by Martha Alderson
3. On Writing Well by William Zinsser
4. How to Write Bestselling Fiction by Dean Koontz
5. Writing Irresistible KidLit by Mary Kole
6. Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton
7. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
8. Second Sight by Cheryl Klein
9. Story Genius by Lisa Cron
10. The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
11. The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers by John Gardner
12. Stein on Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies by Sol Stein
13. Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and For Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose
14. Beginnings, Middles, and Ends: Elements of Fiction Writing by Nancy Kress
15. Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin

Scriptwriting:

1. Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
2. My Story Can Beat Up Your Story: Ten Ways to Toughen Up Your Screenplay from Opening Hook to Knockout Punch by Jeffrey Schechter

Did I say 30 books? I think we all deserve a holiday bonus this year, and here it is!

The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
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 Invite a few of these writing masters to guide your journey in the new year!
~ Francine

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​Here's one for the ultra-unique column. For the writer who has practically everything, give the gift of interior design! Visit usgearlaunch.com to find stairway stickers to give your staircase a true
​library feel. Just make sure the recipient doesn't
​live in a ranch!
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​Do you like to unwind with a drink after an evening of writing? At uncommongoods.com, you’ll find glasses inscribed with some literary classics, including Hamlet, Sherlock Holmes, and Les Miserables.
 

By Kelly Carey

Last week Annie invited you to give your writing the gift of compassion. This week, let’s continue the gift giving.  

Give your writing self the gift of encouragement.

This summer, I took a class taught by Charlesbridge editor Karen Boss. At the end of class, Karen asked us to write ourselves  letters.  The letters were an opportunity to chat about our writing hopes, dreams, and goals. Karen collected the letters and tucked them away. Five months later my letter appeared in my mailbox and it was the most wonderful gift.

I had totally forgotten about the letter and what little nuggets were scribbled on the page. What I found was a pep talk from the person who knows and understands my writing journey the most. In the letter, I reminded myself to believe in my writing skills, gave myself advice on how to set goals and keep at them, and included encouraging words along my road to publication.

I have read the letter half a dozen times and each time my writing spirit feels invigorated and motivated.  My very own words have given me a wonderful new soundtrack to play in my head whenever I need to banish self-doubt or that nasty negative voice that likes to make noise and derail my creative energy. My letter has become a powerful tool on my road to writing success.

I am going to encourage you to send your writing self a letter. Be positive and encouraging in your letter. Seal it up and tuck it away, or give it to a writing friend or a critique partner and ask them to mail it in five months (maybe just in time for your six month June Year’s Eve goal assessment).  Five months from now you will be grateful for the words you put on the paper.