GOALS FOR 2015

Here at 24 Carrot Writing we are strong believers in setting goals and working hard to achieve those goals. This year we decided to share our annual and monthly 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.

Francine:

• Continue the practice of writing at least 20 minutes per day.
  
• Finish the most recent draft of my YA novel, research agents and editors, and begin sending it out in March
  
• Complete the first and second drafts of new YA novel/project (First draft: June, Second draft: November)
  
• Attend SCBWI Winter Conference (February), NESCBWI Spring Conference (April), and three-day writing retreat (November)
  
• Attend one picture book or middle grade writing workshop
  

Annie:
Writing:

• Finish 1st draft of MG novel (by July)
  
• Finish 2nd draft of MG novel (by November)
  
• Write 1 PB draft per month using ideas from PiBoIdMo 2014
  
• Research PB agents and submit minimum of 2 PB manuscripts by end of December
  

Craft:

• Attend NESCBWI conference
  
• Attend at least 3 PB/MG workshops
  
• Use reference resources to complete at least one writing exercise per week or review writing resources/workshop materials to hone writing skills
  

• Read in the genres I write!
  

Kelly:
Writing:

• Submit all active/ready PB manuscripts to at least 10 agents/editors each
• Write 24 Carrot blogs and book pics
• Write 6 new PB manuscripts
• Revise 10 PB manuscripts
• Finish MG novel
• Start new MG novel
• Document 12 new PB ideas

Craft:

• Read weekly blogs and newsletters like KidLit 411, CBI, SCBWI
• Participate in ReFoReMo and NaNoWriMo
• Take 5 local and online classes. 
• Attend NE SCBWI Encore

Amanda:
Writing:

• Write at least 20 minutes a day on weekdays
• Write 3 new PB manuscripts
• Revise 8 PB manuscripts
• Submit ready manuscripts to agents/editors 1x a month
• Finish YA novel first draft by October then start revising

Craft:

• Attend local craft workshops
• Attend NE SCBWI 
• Get to know SCBWI website  - use it as a resource
• Learn how to use Goodreads as an effective resource
• Participate in ReFoReMo and PiBoIdMo
• Research agents

 Please share your annual writing goals with us in the comments.

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