Every year I like to set goals for myself and I try very hard to accomplish them all. Writing them out helps keep me motivated. Last year, I posted a list of my writing goals so now’s a good time to review them to see if I succeeded in meeting them.
Last year’s goals
- To complete work on “Forgotten Monsters #3” and release it in September.
- To complete edits on the first book of my new series.
- To complete edits on the second book of my new series.
- To write books #3 and #4 in this new series.
- To write a new short story to give away for free.
Did I accomplish them?
Yes! I’m happy to say that I completed all five of these goals. Well, sort of. “Preying Monsters” came out in October instead of September, but I released it so I think it counts.
On goals #2 and #3, work is officially done on “Red Flags” and I’ve also pretty much completed edits on the second book of “The Álvarez-Moreno Files.” On goal #4, I also wrote books #3 and #4 in this new series, though they’re in various stages of edits right now. I feel like #3 is pretty close to being done, which is a relief, but book #4 is currently going through some major revisions. I was, admittedly, a little worried after doing the first read-through of #4, but I think the edits are really helping. I tend to be a pantser lately so not everything always makes sense or flows correctly in the first draft. I also tend to be an under-writer, and I think that actually helps make the editing part easier for me.
For my final goal, I managed to finish work on the new short story, “The World is Definitely Not Ending,” which I will be giving away for free to newsletter subscribers in just a few short weeks. So it was a very busy writing year for me but I’m super pleased with the way things have turned out.
What’s in store for 2024?
In order to hold myself accountable, here are a few writing goals I want to accomplish in 2024. We’ll revisit them next January to make sure I did what I said I would (or else)!
- To release “Red Flags” on February 5 and try out some new marketing tactics (such as, unfortunately, utilizing social media a little more). I’ve mentioned before, but I don’t want to use paid newsletters just yet. Once I have more books out, I will, but it’s too soon. So I’m going to try to find new creative ways to market.
- To write book #5 in “The Álvarez-Moreno Files.” I’m still editing book #4 so I think I can start book #5 in February and hopefully have a first draft done by June, or July at the latest.
- To release book #2 in September. I will likely want to do another read-through of the book before sending it to my editor later this spring. I just want to make sure nothing major needs to be changed, but I think it’s in good shape. This may be my favorite book I’ve written, so I really can’t wait to share it.
- To complete edits on book #3. Again, I think this book is in fairly good shape now but it may need another pass or two. I need to get it off to my editor this fall so that I can release it early next year.
- To begin work on my next project. It’s weird to be thinking about this considering “Red Flags” hasn’t even been released yet and the series won’t wrap up before 2026. But I have some ideas for what I want to do post-“The Álvarez-Moreno Files,” and now’s the time to write it so I can stay on a consistent writing/release schedule.
I’ve given myself quite a bit to do this year, so I better get to work!
Michael Procopio 