Looking Forward
Posted on: January 5, 2022
- In: Books | Dreams | Writing
- 85 Comments
It is four days into 2022 and so far so good. January is named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions in Roman mythology. So it is appropriate for me to look ahead and set some goals, maybe try something new. It is hard to plan right now but without goals, I find I am adrift. Goals help me stay grounded and not dwell on things I can’t do anything about.
So here they are, my goals for 2022
- Publish Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral
- Publish a collection of short stories
- Learn how to self-publish
- Start writing a new book
- Market my books in person and online
- Return to Canada and spend time with family and friends in BC and Alberta
- Travel to at least one new place
- Update my blog
- Buy a new computer
- Take an on-line course
- Read at least 48 books
- Keep up to date with technology
- Make new friends and stay in touch with old friends
- Keep calm and stay positive, no matter what
I have decided on three words for 2022
Learn
Calm
Flexible
And I’ll leave you with a quote I’ve always believed in.
I wish everyone an interesting year and would love to read about your goals for the coming year.
85 Responses to "Looking Forward"
January 5, 2022 at 4:20 am
48 books? I’m lucky if I can manage 8 in one year! Hope that you will achieve all your goals, Darlene.
January 5, 2022 at 4:37 am
I know, it will be a stretch. But I make a point of sitting outside and reading at least an hour a day. (a product of the pandemic)
January 5, 2022 at 4:24 am
Yea! This is fabulous Darlene! You know from experience it is all doable (thinking of your last year’s list) and you are the true spirit of Rosie the Riveter! You go!!
January 5, 2022 at 4:40 am
Organized woman! My goal is to write one agent query letter per quarter for my memoir Supergringa in Spain.
January 5, 2022 at 5:54 am
You’ll never get into mischief with a list like this–ha!
You are the only writer I know who makes such an ambitious list and checks all the boxes at the end of the year. Forward ho! 😀
January 5, 2022 at 5:56 am
Oh, I’m sure I’ll find time for mischief as well!! Thanks, Marian. It’s the only way I get something done is to write it down.
January 5, 2022 at 6:40 am
All of these are doable, the last being the most challenging–“Stay positives!”
January 5, 2022 at 8:01 am
Yes, it can be difficult, especially if you watch the news. I consider t a challenge.
January 5, 2022 at 7:54 am
That’s quite a list, Darlene. The best of British! Hugs x
…
January 5, 2022 at 8:41 am
Based on what you’ve already accomplished, I would say that these goals look very achievable for you. I’d be interested in hearing about why you’re considering self-publishing. As for me, my main goal is to focus on my new novel-in-progress.
January 5, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Thanks, Liz. I was thinking of self-publishing my collection of short stories. Best of luck with your WIP!
January 6, 2022 at 3:09 am
You’re welcome, Darlene. I think self-publishing a collection of your short stories is a great idea! I hope you’ll go for it.
January 5, 2022 at 11:01 am
You have me at # 1 Publish Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral. Frances with be absolutely DELIGHTED. She has been asking if you have written another book. You are going to have an amazing year. And I am going to tag along on your adventures.
January 5, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Thanks, Rebecca. I think Francis will enjoy the story set in France, Paris mostly.
January 5, 2022 at 12:24 pm
I love your list, Darlene! I would further do a spreadsheet with timelines for each and check them off periodically. Where are you at as far as self-publishing? I started from scratch in 2018 and learned most of the things before published my poetry. I made it hard for myself as far as the way I formatted the poems.
January 5, 2022 at 7:19 pm
I was thinking of self-publishing my short stories about growing up in rural Canada. A friend self-published her book last year and said she would teach me how to do it.
January 6, 2022 at 4:17 am
That’s wonderful, Darlene. Check out the KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) also. It has all kinds of tutorials. I learned it the long way.
I found some people from fiverr.com can format your book to be ready for upload. The first gig charged $45 each version. The second gig only charged $5. Fiverr.com has all kinds of publishing services.
January 6, 2022 at 5:12 am
Thanks, Miriam. I appreciate all the advice.
January 6, 2022 at 6:53 am
It’s just me, Darlene. I’m a visual person and I make check list every day to check off what I’ve done. When I was working, I led a planning team for the annual conference for the parents in seven school districts. So I had to set timeline for the tasks done throughout the year. Hope I didn’t overdoing with my comment.
January 5, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Keep ticking boxes and kicking ars…. well, whatever. Enjoy each one.
January 5, 2022 at 7:11 pm
Great list of goals. Good luck with them.
Personally, other than my 52 book Goodreads reading goal, I’m not setting any actual goals for the year (and it’s only that it would feel strange not to that I’m even bothering with the Goodreads reading goal). I have several creative things I enjoy doing, and I want to just enjoy the process of doing them when health and life allow me to do so. Anything I finish creating – whether a book I finish writing, a song I learn to play on the keyboard, or a craft project I make – will be shared when appropriate. That’s it, because I feel like I need to remove the pressure of a list of goals this year.
January 5, 2022 at 9:47 pm
I’m like that too. If I don’t have goals or a slip of paper with a to do list, I’m wandering. I love all the quotes. There really is no limit to what we can do. Most limits are self-imposed and once we decide they are no longer our limits, we go beyond them.
January 5, 2022 at 10:15 pm
This is so true. Self-imposed limits stop us from doing things we are more than capable of.
January 5, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Dear Darlene,
Janus was the god who looked in both directions, he looked back and into the future. No future without the past.
Our greatest goal and challange is to let go of goals.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
January 5, 2022 at 10:17 pm
This is true, which is why I titled one post Looking Back and the other, Looking Forward. No future without the past. I like that. Take care.
January 6, 2022 at 1:08 am
Hi Darlene, three great words for 2022. I hope yours will be magnificent.
January 6, 2022 at 3:43 am
I’ve always enjoyed setting goals for myself at the beginning of the year too. It’s always nice to have something to work towards. Best of luck with everything.
January 6, 2022 at 6:20 am
I love goal #14 and your three words the best, Darlene. I hope you achieve your list!
January 6, 2022 at 8:38 am
I guess I shouldn’t have to remind myself to keep calm and stay positive, but these days it’s easy to forget. Thanks, Jacquie.
January 6, 2022 at 8:15 am
Just wonderful, Darlene. This is so ‘you’. I’m impressed by your goals, and I think you will have a high score by December. Your new Amanda book in France sounds so exciting!! And, I love, love the quotes.
January 6, 2022 at 8:39 am
Thanks, Jennie. I’ll try my best. I knew you would love the quotes.
January 6, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Those are great goals, Darlene, and I suspect you’re already working on a number of them!
January 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
I’m sure with your positive attitude, you’ll achieve all your goals. It’s a great list. 🙂
January 7, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Great goals and inspiring WOTYs.
I especially like calm. It can make such a huge difference to any situation.
January 7, 2022 at 6:54 pm
Thanks, Donna. I wish I had learned the difference calm can make, much earlier!
January 8, 2022 at 4:58 am
You won’t be bored, for sure! I look forward to following your progress, and I hope you achieve all your goals and even more, Darlene! Happy 2022!
January 8, 2022 at 10:24 am
My what an impressive list! Even if you miss a couple of goals on your list, you’ll still have done a lot, so I hope you’ll take plenty of those calm breaks. Have a wonderful new year, Darlene!
January 8, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Thank you, Marcia. I tend to over plan for that very reason. And I have, after all these years, learned to take calm breaks. May 2022 be good to you. xo
January 9, 2022 at 2:45 am
Darlene, good luck with your list for 2022 and I’m sure you can achieve all these objectives! How clever to use the fire at Notre Dame as part of a storyline for your next Amanda book! Phew, after those points the final one is much needed, methinks! Do you have any idea where you will be travelling as part of your new place? Another inspirational setting for your book series? Wishing you a fabulous and exciting 2022! xx
January 9, 2022 at 2:53 am
Thanks, Annika. I have a few ideas of where to travel next but am hesitant to make any plans until we know where the virus is going. Ideas are Thailand to visit my brother, Ireland, Scotland again but a different place, or Portugal. All would make good settings for an Amanda adventure!
January 9, 2022 at 2:55 am
They all sound like terrific destinations. We are too hesitant to book anything at the moment but hope to travel abroad this year!
January 9, 2022 at 3:35 am
Loving the goals! I am sure you will succeed with them. lol it seems everyone I know has really big reading goals (in my eyes), when I can barely make it past 10 books a year these days. 😀
I love the idea of having words for the year!
January 9, 2022 at 8:48 am
Some years I don’t get much reading done, but one of the things the pandemic has done is give me time to read. A few other bloggers have chosen words for the year so I started it about 5 years ago. I like it too.
January 9, 2022 at 10:20 pm
For some reason, the pandemic gave me less time for reading! I definitely need to start prioritising it more.
January 9, 2022 at 8:45 am
Great list! Some of them are linked, of course. Thanks for your support on my blog. I really appreciate it, and apologise for not getting to yours as often as I should 🙂
January 9, 2022 at 8:51 am
Thanks, Jemima. There is only so much time in the day so one can’t read all the blogs. I appreciate you stopping in.
January 10, 2022 at 4:35 am
Excellent goals, Darlene. They sound doable! I like the balance between writing and enjoying other important parts of your life. Happy New Year!
January 10, 2022 at 4:41 am
Thanks, Diana. Balance is important as is being kind to yourself. I´ve learned that. Happy New year to you as well. So far so good!
January 10, 2022 at 9:21 am
Happy New Year to you Darlene ❤
January 11, 2022 at 8:31 am
Darlene, I admire your ambitions and wish you the best in 2022 in accomplishing each one of them! ❤
January 11, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Hi Darlene, it sounds like an exciting 2022 for you, and I can’t wait to read Amanda in France! Toni x
January 11, 2022 at 6:10 pm
Thanks, Toni. I think you will like Amanda in France. Have a great 2022!!
January 11, 2022 at 9:49 pm
Happy New Year, Darlene. Those are great goals. I wish you success in achieving them.
January 12, 2022 at 5:59 am
You are so organized…I applaud you and admire your goals!! For me, I’m just focused on the first few months at this point! We have been house hunting in this crazy market for the a last few months. We are headed up to Seattle to be near our two Pacific Northwest daughters and their husbands and the arrival of a new grandchild and hopefully one from the other daughter! We committed to three years in LA for our first batch of grandchildren with the understanding that we would be heading up to Seattle. Those three years went by fast and here we are! We close on our new home February 7th!! Then the fun of moving!!!
January 12, 2022 at 6:12 am
How exciting! Obviously, you have met your goal of finding a new home and the next step is the big move and settling in. It all sounds very positive to me. And a huge congratulations on another grandchild. Happy days ahead.
January 12, 2022 at 6:41 am
Thanks Darlene!! The hard part is leaving our current grandchildren…it’s been great being so close to them!! Mom and Dad have talked about moving in that direction at some point as the three sisters are close, but they own a production company and that is based here in LA! At least it’s a relatively quick flight up and down the west coast!! My best to you!!
January 12, 2022 at 7:17 am
That is quite the goal list. Best of luck. Don’t come home now. It’s freezing. I recommend a computer with touch screen. It’s quite handy.
January 12, 2022 at 8:18 am
Thanks, Lisa. I know, even the west coast has had abnormally low temps and snow. Not sure I could handle it anymore. Thanks for the tip on the computer.
January 23, 2022 at 1:46 am
I understand what you mean by feeling ‘adrift’ without goals. I feel the same. I like the idea of publishing your goals for the year. I think it makes you feel more answerable. I’m going to give it a shot too. Thank you for sharing yours, Darlene. Hoping you achieve all your goals for the year.
January 23, 2022 at 2:00 am
I may not meet them all, but that´s OK. You are right, sharing the goals makes you more accountable. Good luck with yours.
January 23, 2022 at 2:02 am
Thank you! I hope you meet most of them. Its a very balanced set of goals that involves work and family.
Darlene Foster's Blog 
January 5, 2022 at 4:20 am
That’s a very long list, you’re going to be busy!
January 5, 2022 at 4:35 am
That’s the idea. I like being busy. 😄