I’m pretty sure I meant to write monthly goals, but I completely forgot. What can I say? I’d rather focus on writing. I feel that I could use a couple goals for March, though, because I’ve been picking up momentum in both sales and writing. I’ve also realized that I have just about six months to plan a wedding—my wedding!

My goals for 2013 are going really well. I tend to get intimidated when I set goals for the year and then beat myself up when I don’t accomplish any or all of them, but I think the approach I’ve taken toward 2013 has really helped. I chose a word, focus, and every time I feel stuck or scared, I just repeat that word silently or aloud. It really helps!

My biggest goal for this year is to get Sade on the Wall in print by April. Well, consider that one checked off! I’ve been combing through the proof copy and finalizing the design, and started taking pre-orders for signed copies. I have booked a signing, and will be attending a writers’ conference in April, both in support of the book! I am incredibly proud of myself; to be perfectly honest, doing all of this required me to step out of my shy little hermit shell. Believe it or not, I’m incredibly introverted and am terrified of public speaking—even though I used to teach classes on social media marketing, and met with complete strangers to talk about their websites. Since leaving the web design business, my public speaking phobia has gotten worse… but that’s going to have to change! (Gulp.) I have faith in myself, though, and really believe that by doing these things, I am going to launch a successful writing career!

Mwahahaha.

Speaking of novels, I want to publish two as ebooks this year: one in the first half, and the other in the second half. This is super ambitious, and I’ll be happy if I “only” publish one full-length novel. I’m currently working on a series of four novelettes as well, which I am super pumped about. I have never been so thrilled by a writing project (which says a lot, because I love writing)! I’ve pretty much decided that this year, I want to focus on publishing Secondhand Mom, keeping Sandpaper Fidelity going, promoting Sade on the Wall, and releasing the first two installments of Ermengarde, Zombie Slayer. I’ve noticed that the more I release, the better my sales are, which brings me to my third goal for this year: quitting my day job by August!

At the beginning of this year, I thought this would be absolutely impossible. I had a couple months of very low sales, which were disheartening, but seasoned indie authors told me that those months were always slow and that I’d see a jump in the beginning of the year. Well, they were right! I began consistently making $10 a month in sales across Amazon, BN, etc, and though that doesn’t sound like much, it means the world to me. It means that people are really interested in reading my stories! There is no better job in the world. In February, I made $20 in sales on Amazon alone.

Despite some setbacks—including one of those temptations that Julia Cameron mentions in The Artist’s Way—I am back on track, and ready to take things to the next level!

My Goals for March

I want to use March to propel me into the next quarter (April-June), so I thought really hard about what my goals for this month would be. Drum roll, please!

• Finish “Ermie” #1 by March 15th. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been writing every day. I haven’t been writing much at all, really. I’m a little ashamed to admit that I stopped writing 1,000 words a day a couple weeks ago, with the exception of editing issues for Sandpaper Fidelity (but that’s not really writing, so, yeah). I was having a blast writing “Ermie,” but then the flareup I’m in really flared up, and I’ve been saving my energy for my day job. Well, no more! I’m going to find a way to make my 1,000 words a day, and will have the first draft of Ermengarde, Zombie Slayer #1 finished by the midpoint of this month!
• Make $30 in sales, across the board. This is a super tiny amount, but it’s also the exact amount of my share of our current cell phone bill. I think it will be amazing to say I paid a bill with my writing income. Yesterday, I opened up shop for pre-orders of Sade on the Wall, and I’m thrilled to say that I’m already halfway to my goal. I want to continue to increase my monthly writing income so that I really will be able to quit my part-time job by my birthday! This way, I’ll be able to spend more time writing stories for my lovely readers.
• Save $400 toward our wedding. I realized, about a week ago, that Mike and I have six months left to get everything together for our wedding! Panic and hilarity ensues. I created a savings plan, then brainstormed ways to bring in extra income (without overfilling my plate, which is a tough feat right now, with my autoimmune disease flaring up like crazy). I decided to offer some special pre-order packages, as well as sell some gently used items on eBay. I may also open up shop for pre-orders of Ermengarde, Zombie Slayer #1 via Kickstarter. I haven’t decided yet.

I’m also working on getting Sade on the Wall in more book stores after it’s released in print, and setting up more events. I am super busy, and extremely exhausted, but it’s so worth it. This is my dream, and it’s coming true!

What are your goals for March? It’s a new month, and spring is almost upon us, which means a fresh start! How will you reset and refresh?