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Hello World Explorers! 2025 is starting out with a bang! After an amazing writer's conference in November (Thank you Author Nation!) I had a lot to think about. How to be a better writer. How to run a small business. How to reach readers and create a real community.
I know people always talk about setting one or two goals. SMART goals, right? Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-Bound.
So I set three goals.
1) Read more.
2) Take classes.
3) Finish 3 writing projects.
This was the only way I could keep it to a few :P Because I have way more than 3. Let me show you my actual goal list for 2025!
1) Weekly Blog - after years of neglecting it, I'm back to sharing a little about myself and my writing journey.
2) Weekly Newsletter - Because people sign up to learn more about me, right? Why aren't letting them?
3) One class a month on the craft of writing.
4) One class every two months on the business side of writing.
5) Read three books in my genre a month.
6) Read one craft book every two months.
7) Create writing accountability by hosting an in-person Show Up & Write with my local writing group, as well as stream it once I figure out how :P
8) Finish the edits on my cyberpunk novel.
9) Finish writing the sequel to it.
10) Finish writing my steampunk novel.
11) Consistently write and post my serial fiction (Maybe and Elements of Change) or Ream and Patreon.
So, more than one or two goals :P But I'll add one more thing to the SMART goal. They need to be more than SMART. Lets add an S to the end of that. S for sustainable.
Are my goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound? Yes, they are.
Are they sustainable? That's a whole other question. I think they are. In fact, I'm looking forward to it. This list of goals is giving me the permission to do the things I've been wanting to, but have felt took too much time away from my writing. But being a better writer is worth it, right?
I hope that answer is yes. And I hope that whatever goals or resolutions you've created for yourself in 2025 help you be the person you want to be!
Happy exploring my friends!
Chris Bannor
Fictional World Explorer
Oof. Sustainable. I think that's where I struggle, too. I've taken my huge goals that I've got and broken them down into (hopefully sustainable) habits. I want to improve my health --> goal walk 5 minutes/day and do physical therapy exercises for my hip - this is 3 or 4 times/week per the doctor.
I want to publish all my rough drafts --> goal edit at least 5 minutes a day
Get more readers of my fiction --> post to my socials and do 1 newsletter a month. That's it.