Weekly Goals

Right, first goal setting for the year, and I can already tell that it is going to be a tough year. Or, at least one where I will have to buckle in if I want to achieve all my goals.

I am focusing a lot on building good writing/reading habits this year. Habits that should help me think more about the stories I read, write more stories, and, hopefully, write better stories.

So, once again, my goals will be very similar from week to week, with only smaller details changing.


Core Goals

Write, edit, or outline every weekday: Same number one priority as always. Stay consistent.

Get exercise: Periodically, I have done quite okay with this goal, so I just need to keep it up throughout the year. The goal is 2-3 high intensity training sessions and some light exercise in the in between days.

Eat healthier: This one went pretty well last week, but I need to keep up the habit of not snacking, at least outside the weekend. And when I do snack, I need keep it to low amounts. And finally, I need to focus on not overeating during regular meals.

Read with intention: This is one of my new goals. I know, it's a pretty vague goal, but I don't know how else to put it. The point is to remind myself that I need to read with an intention of learning and think about what works/doesn't work in a given story.

Focus while writing: Another new goal. Again, also very vague goal but clearly one I need. I have to stay more focused while writing, either by blocking out distractions (like the internet), using the pomodorro technique, and/oor or avoiding multitasking.

Do Codex reviews: There's a writing competition going on over at Codex, which I'm foolishly forced myself to participate in. So, this week and the many following weeks, I have quite a few reviews to do.


Stretch Goals

Do voice exercises: An old goal from last year that I am reviving. I need to do my voice exercises once a week.

Do a WYRM review: I really doubt that I'll have the time for WYRM review on top of all the Codex reviews, but I have to try.

Write, edit, or outline Saturday and Sunday: This really just an add-on to my number 1 goal, but I want to keep my focus on doing writing-related activities during the weekend as well.

Do writing exercises : Aside from my short stories, I also want to keep doing writing exercises once in a while to help me work on my weaknesses in writing.

Read short stories: A regular goal from last year. I want to read/listen to at least 3 published short stories.

Read “new” magazines: Once again, I want to force myself to read stories outside of my regular venues (Flash Fiction Online, Clarkesworld, and Podcastle).

Read/listen to non-fiction:This goal is meant to help do light research and get information from the real world which might spark more original story ideas than the ideas I derive from already published sotries. I need to read/listen to podcast/chapters about at least 3 different non-fiction subjects. Ideally, they will also be different sources, different podcasts/books.

Do year-end/start posts: I did my Codex 2025 recap/2026 goals post last week. Now I just need to write the 2025 recap and/or the 2026 goals post for my blog as well.

Submit short stories: Whenever I have stories ready for submission, they need to go out.

Do Fantasticon work: Con activities are ramping up, so I need to do my part. This time it is primarily social media stuff and contacting one of the Guests of Honors.