So, it’s Saturday…and the day after Christmas.
It’s time to start thinking about the new year, because really, waiting until next week…too late.
So here’s my plan for the year…would love to hear yours.
I have to write 260,000 words next year. That’s contracted work. Four books and a novella. There just happen to be 260 weekdays in a year, so if I write 1000 words every weekday, I’ll be hunky dory. Yup…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Seems so easy, but of course, that doesn’t take into consideration plotting time, revisions, promotion, etc. It’ll be a challenge, but hey, I’m glad to be working, so you will not hear me complaining.
What about you? What are your writing goals this coming year?
And if you’re not a writer…what about readers? I constantly hear about the incredibly large To Be Read piles…any plans to carve some more time for yourself so you can get through the books you know you want to read?
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold nearly thirty books to three publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, spoiled dachshund, enormous guinea pig and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
ANOTHER WILD WEDDING NIGHT
Hard to Hold
Love Me If You Dare
Wild For Him
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I don’t actually have much of a To Be Read list unless you count the books that I have yet to buy, because I seem to make time to read the new books to my collection (usually by ignoring course readings for university).
My main reading related goal is to put a dent into my list of books to buy – it just keeps growing, I need to find a way to prioritize the items on it.
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I do have a large to be read pile.
My goal for this coming year is to go back to college and receive some training in a field that I’ve never tried before.
I was let go from my position at a large corp in April of 2009.
I believe this was a blessing in disguise to branch out learn something new and try some thing else. I am intimidated by the prospect of going back but I’m excited also. Wish me luck
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I bought myself a big diary with a page per day and I aim to fill each page every day with writing to push myself into writing every day. I am to have submitted at least one short story to a magazine or competition by the end of the year. Pretty small goals but at least I think they are achievable for me.
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1,000 words??? hehe 1,000 words will get you a tazering hehe
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I am a reader not a writer…and I have joined so many reading challenges in 2010 that I hope it will help me knock out some of my TBR pile.
I have both a To Be Read pile and a To Be Bought list…so for every one I buy…I want to read one off the other list…yeah like that is going to happen…LOL…not when I buy piles of books at a time!!!
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:newyear:
Julie…since I am not a writer…I am a reader…yes, my goal is to get through my TBR pile. I did just get a ‘you are such a GREAT customer and here’s 5 bonus bucks”….will that happen (to get through my TBR pile)? I also placed an order via eharlequin on Christmas day ( I am not worried). My goal would be more reading. Fortunately, my husband is wonderful about my reading habit. It could be worse, I guess. I am lucky, my boys see me reading and they LOVE to read (seriously, even my boy with autism is a pretty good reader, just ask his teacher).
I also want to continue to find new authors….this is probably why my TBR pile is big (I find a new author, enjoy it, need the whole series, or the other books by that author). It’s a madness (but a great madness!!!).
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My goals are to get down in writing all of the stories in my series that are crowding my head and seeing the two books I have on submission in print.
Margay
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I just moved my tbr pile to a bigger book case- 4 shelves, 2 rows deep, 4 across and at least 10 high. Yeah, i really need to buckle down and do some reading. Unfortunately, I also have my ereader and they are beginning to pile up on there too.
So my goal is to read and add to them!!
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My number one goal is to hear back from Brenda about my Blaze. If I get a contract I will start working on the plot for my next Blaze. If I don’t get a contract, I will probably move on…
After that, I want to finish the book I’m working on at present. I have an Urban Fantasy about naiads I want to write, a mainstream historical and a women’s fiction book I worked on plotting this month in an on-line class taught by Shirley Jump. It was an awesome class–The Rule of Six
I don’t know if I can write all of those books next year but I’m going to give it a try. :newyear:
Cher :meepcold: :snowfight:
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With the coming New Year I hope to have more ‘me’ time.
I didn’t have hardly any time for myself in 2009 and I am hoping to reconnect and start taking care of myself in 2010. My health is showing signs of neglect.
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My goal is to get a publishing contract in 2010. Despite the broo ha ha with Harlequin, they are my target publisher. Wish me luck!!!
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Mine too, Wendy!
Cher
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Good luck to you Cher!
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Thank you, Wendy
Cher
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Julie, I am excited to know you will have new books coming on.
Please keep us posted! 
Just remember to take care of yourself, stay healthy so you can keep writing. 
:newyear:
I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday. I read a lot! Also managed to watch a Christmas DVD & some of a DVD from Netflix, ate, munched!! It was good. :SmallSanta: My only goal as a reader is to keep reading and maybe read more than I did this year. For the last 3 years I have joined The Challenge at eHarlequin but I am burned out on writing reviews so I am just going to read. My dream is to take a special trip but I won’t say much now as it is to early to tell it if will work out. I’ll keep you posted!
Enjoy the weekend.
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:snowguy: We have been getting snow here all week. Would anyone like some? Glad to pass it on!
I am a reader and proud of it!
Hear! Hear! My TBR pile is so large and I keep adding to it all the time.
Ok, my goal is to read at least one book a week this year. That means I should clear out 52 books off my 300 plus TBR pile.
Also, I vow to keep a journal of all the books I read this year. I heard somebody else does that and I thought that was so cool!
So those are my goals for this year. Oh, and losing about 30 pounds!
Help! 
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I’ve only read about 85 books this year, so my reading goal is to try to read more books in 2010 and read at least 2 books a month from my TBR pile.
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My goal is to write and get something finished, I’m still learning as I go. I also hope to get to the monthly Tara meetings.
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bottom line…if I pick up I have to be able to read it….from beginning to end…I read approx 1 book every 2 1/2 hours when I’m reading…and i’ll read till 2-3am and still get up at 5.. i pay for it later but i CAN’T STAND not knowning what’s gonna happen in a book….lol
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I’am an aspiring author so my goal is to complete my book I’ve already begun, to edit and polish it, then send it out, following publisher or agent guidelines, and pray it is accepted.
In the interim, I will draft a second novel and I will, of course, read a lot of books!
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My goal is to keep a log of thea books I read and write about them on a blog I started last week. Of course, my other goal is to keep up blogging.
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My lofty goal is to try to raise $5200 for Rett Syndrome Research Trust in 2010, while raising awareness for this disease. As the splash page their website, http://www.rsrt.org, states: “Imagine the symptoms of autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders…all in one little girl. Now imagine these symptoms vanishing … one by one.” How can we not get behind finding a cure for this genetic disorder, particularly since researcher believe it will lead to a cure for many other diseases?
Granted, I’m biased. My friend Ingrid is a trustee, and her daughter Sarah is afflicted with the disease. The more I time I spend with them and the more read about Rett Syndrome, the less I can sit back and do ‘the minimum’. Now I just have to find a way to inspire society to get on board with me. Just a small little goal.
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I can only imagine…my Oldest has autism (he’s considered ‘high functioning’)….lots of hugs to you and your friend….we did a fund raiser for autism…it’s so easy when you can share a personal experience :)
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Bless your heart. My daughter is special needs but she has mild to moderate mental retardation. We are so lucky. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Cher
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My goal is to really get my online business going. I make handmade scarfs, baby blankets and throws. These are the start. I am a reader and I need to get through my TBR pile. Husband would like to see the boxes go away of books. He calls them a fire hazard and I laugh. Getting ready for more snow here and maybe I will dabble in the short stories that I have started. Just a few things I want to do in 2010 and have three kids 5 and under. Yeap I am insane.