2011 Goal Wrap-Up

I set these goals for myself a year ago. Now that the year is over, it's time to see how I did!

Blog Goals

• Continue blogging ahead and try to have blog posts scheduled for at least one week ahead.  COMPLETE! I have posts scheduled a couple months ahead of time.
• Consider which additional blog tours I want to participate in.  COMPLETE! I don't do many blog tours, but I've read some great books this year thanks to blog tours.
• Set a budget for contests, and stick to it! COMPLETE! I didn't do as many contests this year as last year because I frankly couldn't afford to. Hopefully that will change in 2012.
• Set aside one day twice a month to focus on the blog. Schedule blog review posts, brainstorm topics, etc. FAIL. I do set aside time to work on the blog, but I didn't keep to this schedule. I did do it for a few months, though!

Writing Goals

• Set aside at least three hours a day to write and revise. FAIL. I decided to change this goal to be word count based, vs. time. Since I write and revise super fast, I don't usually use the full three hours a day. I was diagnosed with tendonitis earlier this year, so I have to limit my time on the computer. I hope to work longer in 2012, when I'll get a laptop, which I hope will be a bit easier for typing, since I can do it in bed. 
• Start putting out feelers so I can find a critique partner whose style is similar to my own. COMPLETE. I now have a critique partner, Kelly. We work really well together and I'm so glad I have her! :)
• Research my two long-term "out of the box" projects. The first is a historical/time-travel, the second being a contemporary YA that will take a lot of research regardless. COMPLETEish. I scrapped the historical time travel, and the contemporary YA changed focus. I did finish it and it's in the second draft now.
• Attend at least one SCBWI event or online Writer's Digest event/course. FAIL. I let my SCBWI membership lapse, mainly because I just didn't get much out of my local chapter, which is why I joined. I will probably re-join later, or join RWA, which also has a YA branch.
• Spend time researching agents and the querying process, so when I'm ready for it, I'll be prepared.  COMPLETE. I've signed up at query tracker and have started my own database with agent info.

Reading Goals

• Read at least eighty books in 2011. In 2010 I read about sixty-five, which is an all-time high for me, but I want to go further! COMPLETE. I've read over 100 books this year!
• Expand my reading list beyond YA. YA will still take up a good chunk of what I'm reading, but I don't want to risk burn-out. I think that could happen if I don't start reading other genres. COMPLETE. I branched out to romance this year, and I'm so glad I did.

So, not to pat myself on the back, I think I did pretty well this year! :D How did you make out on your yearly goals, if you set them?