Year-in-Review Questions

I’m getting ready to write up my goals for next year. The following are the questions I’m asking myself this week—looking back in order to plan ahead. Maybe they can help you, too. Don’t be super quick in answering these questions. Mull on them and allow your subconscious time to work.

Routines

• Do you have any? Which ones are working the best? Which ones do you need to change?
• How often are you writing/editing? -Hours/day? Words/day?
• Are you consistent?
• Are you organized?
• Do you have a place, a time, a trigger (like after your morning coffee)?
• Do you have accountability? (like NaNoWriMo, critique partners, contest deadline, calendar where you record your time or words?)

WIP

• Do you have a clear idea about what you are writing?
• What is your deadline?
• Are you working towards a finished product?

Submissions

• How many places did you submit to?
• What was the response?
• How did you respond to the feedback you received?
• What do you think you need to change?

Platform building

• What is your level of participation in social networking? Twitter? Facebook? Commenting on other’s blogs?
• Are you growing as a blogger? Trying new things? Giving your best?
• What about your brand—know what it is? Know how to find out?
• Published authors: insert whole slew of other questions I don’t know about yet! (appearances, etc)

Education

• What did you do to become a better writer this year? (Classes, self-education, books on writing, blogs, analysis of successful books, going to book signings to learn from other writers.)
• What did you learn about writing this year that you didn’t know previously?
• What was your writing strength? What was your weakness?
• What would you really, really, really like to do better, technically?

Last Year’s Goals:

• Did you achieve them? Why or why not?
• Were they realistic? Measurable?
• Do you need to carry any of them over to next year?

Emotional Inventory

• How are you feeling about your year?
• Do you feel rushed and need to slow down?
• Discouraged that you’re not doing enough and want to do more?
• Do you need a little break or some encouragement?
• Are you enjoying what you are doing?
• Are your feelings valid or do you need to adjust your thinking/feeling?

Final thoughts

What is the one big thing you didn’t like about your writing or writing routines this year?

What is the one best thing about your writing or writing routines this year?

Okay, your turn:

What are the questions you are asking yourself at the end of this year?