Every year, the 24 Carrot Writing crew shares our yearly writing and craft goals.  We hope that in reading our plans for 2018, you may find a starting point for your own 2018 goal list.

Our 24 Carrot Writing blog goal is that you set your 2018 goals, use the 24 Carrot Writing method to hit your targets, and find inspiration and motivation in our blog throughout the year.

Kelly 

Writing:

• Write  minimum of 8 new PBs in 2018
• Revise 2 PBs every month 
• Write or revise a query letter every month
• Revise MG novel 
• Write KidLit Book Group Discussion Guides for The Loft
• All complete submission ready MS must be out on submission - practice boomerang method (blog coming in February 2018) 

Craft: 

• Attend The Loft KidLit Book Group minimum of 8 times
• Attend Whispering Pines Writing Retreat
• Take/Attend 4 writing workshops/craft chats (The Writers' Loft and/or SCBWI)
• Submit 10 new or revised manuscripts to Critique Groups
• Read 100 PBs and 12 MG/YA books
• Write 12 blog entries for 24 Carrot Writing
• Attend minimum of 10 book launches and/or author events of fellow writers
• Read industry blogs and newsletters

Annie

Writing:

• Finish rough draft of MG novel (by July)
• Work on 2nd draft of MG novel 
• Write 4 new PB drafts
• Revise/edit 4 PB drafts based on critique feedback
• Write minimum of 20 minutes/day five days per week
• Submit 3-4 different PB manuscripts to at least 10 agents each 
• Submit completed MG novel to agents/editors
• Write monthly blog

Craft:

• Attend NESCBWI conference
• Attend at least 3 PB/MG workshops or critique groups
• Work on marketing for my PB debut in October
• Participate in monthly critique group
• Read 10 PBs per month
• Read at least one MG per month
• Update/maintain my author website on regular basis
• Attend at least 6 book launches/author events

​Amanda
Writing:

• Office hours: Tue, Thu, Fri (9 – 2)

Revise:

• YA Novel
• 4 PBs
• MG

Submit:

• Make a sub plan for YA and SUBMIT
• PBs: Boomerang submissions of all submission ready PBs

• After NESCBWI – draw up submissions plan to conference agents and editors
• Submit MG when ready

Write:

• Plot and write parts  II and III of MG trilogy
• Figure out if 3 PBs want to be a CB

Craft:

• Organize folders

• Attend local workshops 
• Attend NESCBWI Spring conference (Sunday?)
• Volunteer for and attend Encore
• Research agents and magazines
• Attend annual Writing Retreat
• Participate in Loft Book Group
• Read for research and log books
• Build author’s website (Summer)
• Participate in monthly online critique group
• Participate in Loft Critique groups

Francine
Writing:

• Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (or minimum of 20 min/day if life gets in way)
• 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.
• Write monthly blog
  

Craft:

• 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)
• Attend/present at NESCBWI conference
  
• Participate in monthly critique group

At it's core, 24 Carrot Writing is all about setting goals.

We are sharing our 2017 goals in the hopes that it will help you set your 24 Carrot Writing goals for the year.

Everyone's writing plan and work patterns will be different. We hope you find ideas and inspiration in the yearly goals we are sharing and can map out your own goals for the year. 

The possiblities are endless and the slate is clean. Set your goals.  Make your plan. Then jump out of bed every morning ready to put your plan into action.


Kelly
Writing:

• Give my PB writing the WRQS! in 8 of 12 months this year (http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/give-your-writing-the-wrqs)
  • Write 8 new PBs
  • Revise 8 PBs
  • Write 8 PB Query Letters
  • Send 10 PB submissions a month
• Revise 3rd draft of completed MG novel

• Finish first draft of new MG novel
• Write monthly blog entry for 24carrotwriting.com

Craft:

• Read in the genres in which I write and catalog books in Goodreads/ write reviews of at least 6 books this year
• Attend a craft class, chat or Writer’s Loft event every month
• Participate in monthly PB critique group
• Update my author webpage
• Read agent, editor and writing blogs and industry publications

Francine
Writing:

• Complete 3 drafts (with critiques in-between) for my historical YA novel "Untitled"
• Complete 2 drafts (a complete rewrite and a solid revision) for my realistic contemporary YA fiction novel "Marcy Schroeder..."

• Write monthly blogs for 24carrotwriting.com
• Research/send 8 submissions per month for my realistic contemporary YA novel "Fractured" 

Craft:

• Attend SCBWI Mid-Winter Conference in New York City  Feb. 9-12
• Attend NESCBWI Spring Conference in Springfield, MA  Apr. 20-23
• Plan/Coordinate 2017 NESCBWI Encore! II at MWCC in October
• Plan/Coordinate four "meet and greet" gatherings for NESCBWI
• Attend monthly critique group meetings
• Attend Annual Writing Retreat
• Finish designing and publish my updated author website; breathe new life into Facebook Author page​
• Revise PowerPoint Presentation for 5-Year Planning Workshop
• Develop PowerPoint Presentation for Journaling Workshop
• Brainstorm/Outline/Develop PowerPoint Presentation for Bullet Journaling for Novels Workshop
• Read! Craft, Genre, Pleasure!

Amanda
Writing:

• Write at least 20 minutes every week day
• Have one designated writing day (Writing Wednesday)
• YA Novel
  • Critique group revision (February)
  • Synopsis and Query revisions (January and February)
  • Research 10 agents (January and February)
  • Query and Submit (February and March first batch)
• Second Draft of MG "Claire Argent..."  by May
• Revise 3 Picture Books
• Write at least 2 Picture Books
• Submit submission ready piture books, at least one a month.
• Send novel queries out in batches of 10. (February, April, June, September, November)
• Submit to magazines

Craft:

• Attend local workshops
• Attend NESCBWI Spring Conference
• Attend annual Writing Retreat
• Research agents and magazines
• Participate in Loft book group
• Read for research and log books
• Build author’s website (Summer)
• Participate in monthly critique group

 
Annie
Writing:

• Finish 1st draft of MG novel (by March)
• Finish 2nd draft of MG novel (by June)
• Complete final draft/revisions of MG novel (by September)
• Polish and submit MG novel (by end of November)
• Begin outlining/drafting new MG (fall 2017)
• Write 4 new PBs and revise based on critique group feedback 
• Revise PBs written last year
• Polish and submit 3 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
• Work on my craft through writing exercises  
• Attend NESCBWI writing conference
• Attend at least 3 PB/MG workshops/classes
• Regularly review writing resources/workshop materials to hone writing skills
• Annual writing retreat
• Update/maintain my author website on regular basis