This is now an annual event. My writing buddy Mhairi and I get together at the start of 
the new year to set ourselves ambitious targets, so that even if we don’t fully succeed in these, we still come out ahead. This year, we weren’t able to spend New Year together, so I had to wait until she was able to travel up from Lincolnshire to reflect upon our previous year’s progress and compile our current list. This is what I’m trying for in 2020:-
• Write at least 200,000 words on first drafts.
• Have Mantivore Warrior completed and edited, ready for publication by the end of April.
• Start my series of writing tips and advice by writing, editing and publishing two books this year – Characterisation: Do Your Characters Ping Off the Page? and Scene Setting & Description: How Much Is Too Much? I have ten years’ worth of course notes and writing advice currently insulating the loft and it seems to me that I could put them to better use.
• Get the manuscript for Bloodless, written. This is the first book in my Beth Wheeler murder mystery series, which is a spinoff from The Sunblinded Trilogy.
• Continue teaching Tim and provide necessary support for his continued progress.
• Continue to improve my fitness by continuing to attend Pilates and Fitstep classes. Also include one stint a week on the fitness bike and go for one walk a week, weather permitting.
• Sort out my sleep patterns. I was doing better – and then when Himself’s sleep masks needed sorting out, I slid back into my bad old ways. Partly because sleeping next to Darth Vadar was something of a struggle… But there’s no excuse now! And I’m still unsure why I’m finding it so hard to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
• Do more speaking engagements and see if I can join a panel at a conference – preferably Bristolcon.
• Join Chindi – a local support group for indie authors. I had an invitation to become a member a while ago, but I simply didn’t have the time. Now it would be a good idea to go along and become part of a group of people whose aims and ambitions are similar to mine. It can be a lonely road…
• Digitise my books of ideas – they are currently a disorganised mess that are difficult to access.
• Get the garden sorted out, so it once again is a source of pleasure and creativity that I love spending time in.
• Continue reading and reviewing at least 100 books during the year, though cutting down on my blogging schedule. There are only so many hours in the week and if I’m upping my writing rate, then I need to give myself a break.
Brainfluff 
I like your variety of goals. Writing, personal life, health, professional, all very doable. Good luck Sarah.
Thank you for your kind encouragement, Carla:). I’m hoping that I can make all these things happen during 2020.
Stay positive.
:)))
I’m always amazed at the amount of books you’re able to read and still work so hard at your writing. Maybe a lack of sleep has something to do with that?😁 In any case, good luck with your goals!
Thank you, Tammy. Yes… I do need to sort out my sleeping patterns! But reading would always still be a priority – I need my daily fix of escapism into other wonderful worlds, not just my own:)).
Wow. That’s some list. Best of luck with your goals, Sarah!
I am absolutely amazed by how much you manage to pack in one year! You should be teaching time & career management in a Business School, believe me 🙂 good luck with everything!
Thank you for your kind good wishes and encouragement, Steph. Though do be aware that these are my aspirations for 2020… Hopefully I’ll be able to achieve at least a fair proportion of them:)).
So many goals Sarah, very impressive. I wish you well with all of them and hope your sleep pattern improves – although I’m kind of the same insofar as going to be too late is concerned.
Lynn 😀
It’s not good, is it? I didn’t end up sitting down to eat until gone 10 last night…
Ooooh, I love the writing tip series idea! And I do hope you join a panel at Bristolcon. It sounds like the perfect place to join a dialogue and be seen by gobs of sff readers. Love it! I hope your sleeping habits work out, too. Considering Bo was sick at the beginning of this month, and now I’m getting over it, we’re neither of us sleeping all that hot yet. Here’s hoping our mucus is gone by spring!
Thank you, Jean. Right now all the plans for Bristolcon (and everything else which involves groups of people) are completely up in the air… But I am in the early stages of writing my first How-To book and am thoroughly enjoying myself.
I hope the mucus has finally dried up – I know how difficult it is to get rid of such illnesses when small children are ever-present germpots… Thinking of you now the schools are all shut!
Even churches are shut down because groups are supposed to be limited to ten. As one friend of mine put it. “So, I guess everyone has to give up everything for Lent.” No kidding! But you keep writing those tips, and enjoying yourself mightily. I’m going to do my best to find where writing time will fit into our schedule here. We’ll make this work! xxxxx
I think it is such a shame that people aren’t able to get the spiritual comfort they need. And best of luck squeezing in those precious slices of writing whenever you can. Making this work over the coming weeks and months is now our main task, I feel. Stay safe and take care, my dear friend.xxxxxxx
Many, many thanks–and you stay healthy, too!