New year 2018 planning

It's common for New York City to come to mind when you think of New Year's Eve celebrations.

It's the most popular city for travelers to ring in the New Year, according to travel price comparison site Expedia, and the longtime host of one of the biggest New Year countdown parties in America, right in Times Square.

But as an already expensive destination, airfare and accommodations in New York City are even pricier during the holidays.

Luckily, a fun New Year's Eve getaway doesn't have to cost you a fortune.

The four things to get right

REFLECTIONS

If you get those two things right, you’ll be in a great place…..until something doesn’t work. And at that point, relationships and routines won’t get you where you want to go. You’ll need a facility for course correcting, and that’s what reflection does.

Do you take time – daily, weekly or monthly – to review your life?

For years I’ve used a simple planner (one I created myself) that helps me reflect on the upcoming week. I spend Sunday nights filling in my “zone” activity, highlighting my roles (and goals for each role), and writing out my “big three” things for the weekend

New year 2nd planning

As you can see, the four things aren’t single objectives. I don’t have that list for you because that’s something only you can craft. But what I can tell you is that these four will help you get more done in 2017 than anything else.

I don't like resolutions. Resolutions tend to start out bright and shiny, and then become dull when something gets in the way or it just becomes too hard. Whether we're talking about losing weight, being more organized, or improving the quality of our lives or our writing, resolutions are make-or-break: an all or nothing mindset. Most resolutions fail because we aim too high or are unrealistic when we set our goals.

Instead, I love setting goals and making plans to accomplish those goals. January is the perfect time to create new goals. It is the blank slate, the fresh page on the calendar, the promise of beginnings; the perfect do-over. Forget your past mistakes and start again. Make this the year you become a better writer by setting realistic goals and making a workable plan.

Setting Goals

Decide on a realistic goal for your writing. Don't let yourself check your emails until you get a rough draft written. Make a goal to keep ten submissions in play at all times. Finish a new chapter every three days. Choose whatever mini-goals get you closer to your prize.

Set a monetary goal. Choose an actual figure. Write down how you plan to reach it. List the markets you will have to write for and make monthly goals. Make it as realistic as possible. If you don't know what you are aiming for, how are you ever going to achieve it?

Although some writers may say that money is not important, I disagree. Money is a tool that can be used to better our lives and also to reward us for our hard work. A plumber is not going to say, "Oh, you don't need to pay me. I just do it for fun."

Using monetary goals as a guideline, you can see how far you have come in your career. It can also prod you to keep reaching for higher paying assignments or a market that once was out of reach, or to try something new that you had never considered.

If you want to spruce up your writing, look for classes, books and online courses. Check out Writing World's impressive lineup of articles to improve every area of writing. No matter what genre you write in, you can always learn more.

Another common goal is to be more organized. This is very important in the business side of writing. You need to track your submissions, payments, publications and even taxes. Creating a system that is workable can be challenging.

I use a simple, very inexpensive system of file folders, notebooks and backup disks. When I write a new article, I write the title on a piece of paper. I also write the word count, the day I wrote it, and where it is saved. I save it on floppy disks and a backup CD. After letting it rest for awhile, I go back and revise it.

Every time I submit the article, I write the date, place I sent it to and any pertinent information like payment, response times, column titles or editor's names. I also write the same information down in my master notebook. That way, I keep a record of where the article has been. When I receive an acceptance or a rejection, I mark it on the paper and in the notebook.

Another way to organize is to group types of writing into folders. If you write in many different genres or subjects, this is an easy way to keep track of your submissions. You can also create folders on your computer and keep everything online. Remember to always back up your work.

Making a Plan

It's great to make goals, but in order to accomplish them you have to have a plan in place to reach them. Once you've decided on your main goal, write it down. Make it as specific as possible. Just saying you want to write a book someday is too vague. Planning to have a book completed, revised and submitted to a publishing company by December 31st is a specific goal.

Now break that goal down into monthly and even weekly goals. In order to finish a book in a year, how many chapters or pages do you have to write each week? Set a time-table that works for you and fits into your schedule. The more realistic you make your plan, the easier it will be to accomplish each step along the way.

Plans are great, but sometimes things happen to throw them off track. List some of the things that might derail your plans and how to overcome them. If you've made goals and plans in the past that failed, look for the specific reasons. Maybe you gave up after a few months because you didn't see any results. Perhaps a goal was too hard to reach or the steps weren't working. Figure out ways to revise your new plan.

If you are prepared ahead of time for setbacks, you can still accomplish your goals. Now when the computer breaks down for a week or the whole family is sick, you will be ready with Plan B.

When you start to accomplish your mini-goals, reward your hard work. Plan a night out with a friend or give in to a decadent dessert at your favorite coffee shop. Really reward yourself when you land that coveted assignment, or one of your short stories is accepted.

Pat yourself on the back; tell your story on the many "Brag Boards" for writers, and share your good news with your friends and families. With all the rejections, disappointments and hardships of writing, a little good news can be an excellent motivator for weeks or even months.

Support for your goals is another important tool in creating a workable plan. Whether you have a writing buddy, an online chat room for writers or a monthly writer's group, connecting with other writers is key. They can cheer you up when you get a rejection, celebrate when your book proposal is accepted or offer helpful critiques when you're working on your latest assignment.

Writing is a privilege, a joy and a way to connect with others. It can also be a fulfilling and financially