Yearly Review

Next week I celebrate the end of my first year as a freelance writer/tutor.  I also start a new contract as a part-time gallery co-ordinator.  (More about that next week).  Two reasons to complete a yearly review.  If you find yourself at the end of something or at the start of a new project, you might like to join me in taking a look back at your past work.  In the process, I hope that you will pinpoint key elements and themes in your creative output.  These should enable you to decide what to accept and what to reject in the future.  So, let’s begin.

Where are you now?   Summarise  your current position.

I combine part-time teaching with my practice as a writer.

Where have you been?  Think – work, training, completion, publication.  List the highlights of your writing year.

For me it has to be: passing the M.A., joining Lapidus, setting up a blog, completing two sketchbooks, taking three months off to write a 20,000 word story, working on the Redcar Memories project, teaching Life Writing courses and breaking into magazine publication.

Where do you want to go?  Set yourself seven writing goals.

Next year my focus will be on continuing to build in areas developed this year such as Life Writing, Lapidus and Wordart projects.  I also aim to maintain this blog, win a competition and find a publication route for my novella Soul Twins.  My most important goal is to have fun doing this.

What do you need to achieve these goals?  Consider the gaps and/or supports you will need to get from where you are now to where you want to be.

Either develop a plan of action including tasks involved, target dates, resources and a record of progress.  Or go with the flow.  Or something in between.  Vision maps work for me.

How is it going?  Ask yourself this question and review your plan at regular intervals.

Next review 31st December 2011.

I look forward to hearing how you got on.

 

 

Advertisements