Here I am, at the beginning of another year looking toward the future. I know what I want to accomplish this year, but I’m hesitant to list my goals because some of them are beyond my control and I don’t want to look back at a list of failures. Still, I work best with a to-do list (it’s amazing how motivating it can be to cross a few words off a list). Then again, my optimism taunts me when it’s December 31 and I can see how little I’ve accomplished. Regardless, here I am, writing my next list of goals with equal parts hesitation and enthusiasm.

First, the things I can control:

1. Revise Callie’s Story – I changed this from romance to contemporary fiction, so I will pitch it to different agents and editors. It will also need roughly 15,000 more words. I need to figure out where to expand the story.

2. Finish and Submit Ashley’s Story – I’m in the middle of my first edit with my critique group looking at it as I finish each chapter, then I’ll need to give it another review before shopping it around.

3. Bid – I can’t make people hire me as an editor or writer, but I can approach more people about it.

4. Book Speaking Engagements – I’ve already scheduled one event for November. This year I plan to approach local libraries about possible creative writing workshops.

And the things I can’t control:

1. Sign with an agent.

2. Sign a contract for Callie’s or Ashley’s stories.

3. Edit more novels.

4. Sell more articles.

Those are pretty generic, I know, but at least they’re goals. That’s something, right? What about you? Do you have any goals for 2014?