Writing Goals for 2017

Last year, it seemed right to set my writing goals on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Year of the Monkey. This year, it seems right to set my new writing goals for 2017 on the day that Year of the Monkey turns into Year of the Rooster.

Thank God we’re leaving the monkey year.

Last year I wrote, “this year has the potential to be filled with lots of activity, movement, big strides, being inventive, and making things happen.” Oh boy. It had that potential. It sure did. But for me, 2016 was also filled with depression, many moments of despair, and ongoing PTSD (Post- Trump Stress Disorder).

Because of that, it feels really good to start a new lunar year. No matter how badly a year goes, I always feel hopeful about starting a new year. Call it naivete, call it habit, call it what you will. In these strange times of massive upheaval, I will take any sliver of hope that I can get.

Before I launch into my goals for 2017, let’s look at how I did with my goals for 2016.

Goal #1: Write (outline, strategize, revise, edit) for 2-3 hours a day, five days a week.
I didn’t achieve this for a long time. I did try writing five days a week. But did I write for 2-3 hours a day? Not by a long shot. As I describe in this post, some days I could only gear myself up to write for 30 minutes. And that was fine. It was better than fine, it worked. It got me writing on a regular basis. After about six months, I had moved up to 90 minutes to two hours a day. It took a while, but I got there. In light of that, I consider this a win. {High five}

Goal #2: Write one blog post per week, 48 weeks of the year.
I wrote 41 posts last year, not 48, but I’m still counting this as a win. {Patting myself on the back}

Goal #3: Write and publish my adult suspense novel, SEVEN DUDES DOC AND THE SEVEN.
I didn’t achieve this, but I did finish the first draft. I thought it would take three months to write (ha!), but it ended up taking nine months (three times as long seems to be the right way to set any goal deadline). Still, I consider it a massive accomplishment to finish the first draft of a 50,000+ word novel. So, I’m counting this as a win too. {Fist pump}

Goal #4: Write and publish my prelaw book, THE PRELAW GURU GUIDE TO APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOL.
Nope. Didn’t do this. I had all intentions to do this after writing my suspense novel but once I immersed myself into the world of fiction, I didn’t want to leave it. Also, I closed my Prelaw Guru business in July. So, this goal is now nixed for now…and forever.

Goal #5: Write and publish my personal finance book for college students.
WOW. Did I really think I was going to write, edit, and publish THREE BOOKS in one year?! When I look back at this list of goals, it just seems insane. But at the time, it seemed like a great idea–just like the Year of the Monkey seemed to be full of promise and excitement. Like my prelaw guide, this book is now on the back burner. And I don’t know if it will ever come off the back burner.

All in all, 2016 was a mixed bag in terms of achieving my goals. I’m so glad I learned to write regularly 5 or more days a week, and I’m incredibly proud of myself for writing 41 blogs posts and the first draft of my first adult novel. I didn’t achieve my goal of writing and publishing three books, but I’m okay with that.

So, what’s up for 2017? What wild, reach-for-the-moon goals am I setting for the Year of the Rooster?

Well, I’m doing something different this year.

I’m not setting any goals.

That’s right. Your hearing isn’t faulty. I’m not setting any writing goals for 2017.

I know what I want to do. I want to keep working on my novel, and I want to make it the best novel that I can possibly make it. When it’s ready, I will publish it. I hope it’s in 2017, but I don’t know if it will be.

Right now, with all the crazy stuff that’s happening in the nation, it’s enough for me to get out of bed, write, coach other writers, love the good people in my life, resist and protest the s**t I disagree with, and keep going. That’s all. For once in my life, I don’t feel the need to set any goals around that.

So, with that, I leave you with the greeting that my family always gives each other on Chinese New Year: Gong Xi Fa Cai! No matter where you are, I wish you prosperity and good fortune in the new year!

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is currently writing another novel that is a re-imagining of the Snow White fairy tale set in 1980s Seattle. Peg is also a writing coach giving help, encouragement, and feedback to writers from all walks of life.

Art by Natsuki Otani.