Goals for 2012, Part 2: Writing

As I mentioned in my previous post, I tend to be overambitious, and set more goals than I can possibly achieve. But I’d rather try to do all I can and set my sights too low. So without further ado, here are my writing plans for 2012, with my focus still on poetry (I don’t plan on this changing in 2012, but if it does, these goals can and will be revised).

Writing

1. Write 365 poems
2. Write 6 short stories
3. Write 6 essays
4. Finish a first draft of a full poetry collection
5. Finish my one-act play

Submitting

1. Submit my chapbook twice a month
2. Submit 52 poems
3. Submit 3 stories
4. Submit 3 fiction pieces
5. Submit my one-act play

Writing Challenges

1. Complete the River of Stones project in January (these do not count towards my daily poems)

Find a meaningful way to participate in National Poetry Writing Month (which is concurrent with National Poetry Month in April), since I’m already writing a poem a day. Maybe I’ll use the month to write another epic poem (“Another epic poem?” you ask. Yes, another epic poem. I know, you don’t know about the first epic poem yet. I’ll get around to writing about it eventually. But it’s a very rough draft at the moment.)

2. Give National Novel Writing Month another try

Continuing Education

1. Participate in Kelli Russell Agodon’s New Year’s Poetry Resolution Party, which Jon gave me as a holiday gift. It’s odd to say that someone gave me a class, but it’s true! And I’m very excited for the opportunity.
2. Participate in at least two of the Wingbeats workshops being held in Austin early this year. I know I’ll be out of town for at least one, but I want to make it to the rest. Yes, I already have the Wingbeats book, but getting to do the exercises in a communal setting is also a worthwhile experience.
3. Attend at least four workshops at the Austin International Poetry Festival.
4. Find and participate in at least two more opportunities for further writing development.