2016 Prep – Part One

If you know me even a little bit, you know I love planning, goals, organizing, etc.

One of the best parts of the end of the year is for once the majority of people are on the same page about getting some goal-making going on.

Lately, I’ve been so chatty about it, that people have been asking me about my own get-organized ways. And so, get ready for a couple posts that will show you what I do and maybe even get your going on what you can do.

First off, let’s start with the myth that the New Year is the perfect time for goals and planning. ANYTIME is the perfect time! Whatever works for you.

My new year still always feels like fall. I mean, school supplies are on sale for goodness sake.

But, with all the changes in my life this past quarter (lost my job if you didn’t hear) I’m using the new year as my reboot to see if there’s away to stay out of an office or work a temp job once a month to make ends meet.

This means that the planning for 2016 has to be more than “I’m going to write some books” — it has to be about how I’m going to keep a roof over my head in a publishing world where most of us are making 15-20% of what we made 1.5 years ago….and that’s with MORE books out.

So, the first thing I did was brainstorm on a whiteboard all the ways I could possibly keep my income related to publishing. I started with a big OFFICE in the middle then put a circle and a strike through it. That’s the goal. No more offices.

I then scribbled every idea I could think of around it that might earn income. I was going to post a picture, but realized there were too many potential spoilers on there. But, let’s look at a rough, vague list:

  • Writing ideas for Brew books
  • Writing ideas for YA
  • Partnership ideas for writing
  • Partnership ideas for marketing
  • The Lonely Owl writing and speaking
  • Resume & Job Search consultations (which are so fun!)
  • Taking up freelance editing again.
  • Some crazy ideas that won’t probably won’t come to anything, but are always fun to consider.

That’s the first step to getting going: DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF.

The first step to getting organized and productive is only about possibilities. Have fun with it!

This is the time to write down the impossible. It’s funny about the impossible…sometimes it’s not what it seems.

I wrote down one thing that I didn’t know how I’d make happen, then 2 days later got an email from someone I don’t even know asking me if I’d ever thought of doing something similar and if not, would I consider doing it with her. Together it won’t be so impossible and we’ve put a meeting on the calendar for mid-year to see if we can make this impossible thing happen.

Don’t listen to the little voice saying NO!

Don’t listen to the family saying THAT’S NOT YOU!

Don’t listen to the friends saying BUT HOW WILL YOU DO IT?

Don’t listen to the doubts or the road blocks or anything but possibilities.

That’s what brainstorming is about — don’t worry. We’ll be ‘reasonable’ later. But this round is about getting out everything you think you’d ever want to do.

Okay, go!

Then head over to Part Two HERE.

Comments

  1. So very important!

    You said:

    Don’t listen to the family saying THAT’S NOT YOU!
    Don’t listen to the friends saying BUT HOW WILL YOU DO IT?

    …..
    And love the serendipitous email you received that makes the impossible more possible.

    • Bria Quinlan says

      Thanks! We are the number one way that our possibilities get shut down before they happen. Little voices, begone! 😉

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