Happy New 2010

As one year melts (literally - it's summer here and the temperature's pushing the mercury) into another it's time to take stock of 2009 and set goals for the year ahead.

2009: personally it's been a good year. I've kicked back and relaxed, had good times with friends and seen good friends go through tough moments. Hopefully I've helped them. Career-wise -it's been a huge learning curve. Having taken a break from paid employment to concentrate on writing I've learnt a few things:

Writing is hard

Writers needs 'stickability', perseverence and a very thick skin

Writers need goals

Goal setting and me are not something usually mentioned in the same sentence! Sure, I've made many resolutions in the past - always the same things: lose a stone in weight, get fitter, get book published - you know the score.

Curiously, I've never achieved them. (Although my son was agog when I said I would have the same resolution this year as for the past 30 years - to lose a stone. "You were 30 stone?" he asked amazed. - LOL! NO! I just never lost that original stone).

I guess the saying is true: "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got".

What I've been lacking, I think, is clearly defined goals and steps to achieve those goals. Apparently they need to be SMART. So, here goes, these are the goals I thought of on New Year's Eve:

Writing Goals:

-Write every week day in school term - think of it as a job, not a hobby

-Finish current ms by end of March

-Submit to 2 publishers

-Finish next mss first draft by end of November ready for editing

-Enter Clendon, Emerald and Emily competitions

-Attend RomAus conference in Sydney

-Blog once a fortnight

Personal Goals:

-Spend more time with hubby doing fun things together

-Finish curtains for lounge

-Finish curtains for bedroom (had material for 3 years)

-Paint bedroom

-Get to UK to see sister's new baby somehow......

-Phone my Mum once a week

Health Goals:

-Walk at least 4 times a week for an hour

-Eat 5+ a day!

-Adopt a positive attitude and be grateful for the good things in life

Day 5 of the new year and so far:

-Have written once (it's school holidays though)

-Had 10 days off with husband and looking forward to another 2 weeks from this friday

-Eaten 5+ a day for last 4 days and feel great!