My Performance Review for 2018 and Writing Goals for 2019

In December 2017, a writer friend of mine asked me what my 2018 goals were. This is what I told her:

1. Publish my third historical novel, Forever Mine (a first quarter goal)
2. Draft a fourth historical novel (the first draft to be written and reviewed with my critique group by the end of the year, I only have a vague outline done now)
3. Invest in my writing by marketing my books more vigorously, including with paid advertising based on a budget. (throughout the year, and I’ve already started!)

So, how did I do? I did all right, though I’m not entirely satisfied with myself.

• SUCCESS!: I published Forever Mine in the first quarter—in fact, the book was live on Amazon by the end of January 2018. I’m happy with how I did on this goal, but I knew I had this one in the bag when I wrote to my friend in December 2017.
• ACHIEVED AT THE LAST MINUTE: I finished the first draft of my fourth historical novel by the end of 2018. I sent the last chapters to my critique group on Christmas Day, but I won’t hear their feedback until we meet on January 3. I consider that I met this goal, but I’m not really satisfied, because I secretly wanted the draft done by Labor Day. Or even earlier. In retrospect, my hopes were not realistic, but I’m still disappointed.
• MET, THOUGH RESULTS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING: I invested in marketing my books. I set up a few Amazon ads and monitored the budgets I set for them. In total, they made money, although not every ad was a success, and I didn’t tinker with them the way I should have to optimize results. I attended both paid and free events where I could sell my books, and I spoke at three programs related to writing and/or my novels. I have also kept up my blog posts and monthly newsletters, which are other marketing tools. So I met my marketing goal, but I wish I had done more with paid advertising.

For 2019, my goals are similar to those in 2018:

1. Publish my fourth historical novel—the one I drafted in 2018. This is a stretch goal, because I usually have to make many editing passes through my novels after the first draft, and I will have a lot of distractions this year, as we build a new house and move out of the home we’ve been in for thirty-five years.
2. Decide on my next writing project. Will I write another historical novel or try another genre? The corporate thriller I wrote under a pseudonym is calling me to write a sequel, but I’ve had more success in writing historical fiction, and I do have more ideas for the Oregon series.
3. Invest 10-20% of my 2018 sales in paid advertising or other marketing venues. Also, continue my blog and newsletter and explore other marketing activities.

I have some other writing goals as well, designed to improve my knowledge of the craft and of the publishing and book marketing industry, but I won’t bother to list those. If I accomplish the three items listed above, I will be mostly satisfied.

Wish me luck.

Writers, what is your primary 2019 goal?