2010 Goals and Resolutions

I’ve been thinking about this whole Goal and Resolution thing. Looking back, I had no way to predict where I’d be today back on Jan. 1, 2009. That’s part of the creative process, it can’t be predicted, only channeled. I don’t know where I’ll be at the end of this year. So I guess my question is, “what will make me happy when I look back on January 1, 2011?” (career-wise)

First and foremost, I want to know that this whole “writing career” thing is progressing. I want to know that all this effort and sacrifice is getting me somewhere. If I don’t have an agent or a publication deal, then I should feel like it’s just around the corner. If I’m not better off than I am right now, then I really will reconsider this whole thing. Not that I shouldn’t reconsider it right now…but I know I’m still improving and learning all the time. I kind of see the process unfolding in front of me, but I want to see it to completion. And make some money.

So I’ll write some things down, but, what I really want is to feel some measure of success by the End of the Year.

First, let’s distinguish between Goals and Resolutions. Goals are quantifiable and measureable. Resolutions are just good intentions. However, I reserve the right to revise both goals and resolutions due to changing circumstances. It will be interesting to see how close I come to them this time next year.

Resolutions.
I, Iapetus999, resolve in 2010 to:

1. Be a better father and husband. Spend more “quality time” with the family.
2. Eat healthy and exercise. Get back to the gym and the pool.
3. Stay focused on my writing and not get too distracted by blogging.
4. Increase the amount of critiques I do.
5. Clear all the clutter out of the house.
6. Try to avoid disasters.

Goals

1. Lose weight. Here’s the plan. On Jan. 4, I will “re-start” my diet with two weeks of “induction.” That means no beer, caffeine, or carbs for two weeks. No comments, please. My goal is to lose 8-10lbs in January, then ~5lbs/month until I’m down to my goal weight (200).
2. Complete the current Steam Palace revision by April 1. This will be hard since I’m already 2 weeks behind due to holidays. Which gives me 13 weeks to finish a 19-week plan.
3. Attract an agent and/or publisher for Steam Palace. This implies that I actually send out queries (gasp) and/or manuscripts.
4. Get back into running (tendonitis permitting). I want to build to my weekly goal of 25 miles, and complete a half-marathon by EOY. This may require that I lose the bulk of the weight first, because I suspect losing ~30lbs will help the tendonitis a lot.
5. Write a new book for NaNoWriMo. Who knows what it will be. This also means I need to start plotting around Sept 1.
6. Complete a draft of The Immortals. It’s a very complicated story with a more detailed world than anything I’ve done before.
7. Go to at least one writer’s conference.
8. Go to at least one convention where I can push my novel.
9. Take a vacation at some point. (or is writing all day a vacation in itself?)

That’s probably more than enough. Good luck to everyone in 2010!