I’m in the middle of a two week writer’s challenge with my local writing buddies. Unlike National Novel Writing Month, which has a 50,000 word goal, or Book in a Week, we set our own individual goals. It could be a word count, it could be dedicating a certain number of hours per day to writing, or it could be something specific like finishing an outline. We email back and forth with our daily goals and progress, pulling out cyber-champagne or wet noodles as needed.

It’s going well, despite the several snow days we’ve had. Although we’ve had to deal with our beloved offspring more than we planned, all of us have soldiered on and gotten more done than we would have otherwise.

The idea of group challenges isn’t unique to writing. I haven’t done Weight Watchers but I think they use the same concept. My husband is making continued progress on his stroke recovery through a group water exercise class at the YMCA.

I think there are at least two reasons that this sort of group challenge can work.

1. Accountability. It helps to declare a goal and have friends who will know if you achieved it, or at least gave it a good shot.
2. Camaraderie. It’s great to have someone to bitch to when it gets difficult, to share tips and tricks and to celebrate achievements.

What do my writer buddies and I get out of it? Increased productivity and bragging rights. Oh yeah, Mimosas and cake at our next meeting. 🙂

Do you participate in any group activities or challenges? Do you feel you get a boost out of them?
Elena

As you all probably know (ahem. Blatant self promotion warning ahead) I’m being published by Harlequin Spice later this year, and

My friend Michelle Butler of the Healthy Writer Blog talks of setting goals for the new year rather than resolutions. Setting goals seems…well…healthier and more achievable than resolutions. I’m afraid most resolutions go the way Kristine Hughes and Victoria Hinshaw of Number One London treat them (those veritable slackers!). Resolutions can be broken but, no matter what, we can always strive for a goal.

So here are my goals for 2011

1. Read more.
I was truly in awe of the number of books my fellow Riskies read. I’ll probably never even approach their totals, but my goal is to read more than last year.

2. Write more.
My writing slowed down last year and I want to pick up the pace. My goal is to write at least two books in 2011, preferably 2 1/2.

3. Exercise more.
I’ve slacked off my attendance at Curves and my goal is to attend at least three days a week again.

4. Eat more….fruits and vegetables, that is.
It seems like every Halloween my good eating habits go begging (hee hee) and I dive back into candy again. From there it is just a slippery slope. My goal is to get my eating back to what is healthier for me.

Those are modest, doable goals, aren’t they? These are matters that are under my control, unlike the goal of eliminating poverty or creating peace in our world. I wish I had control over that, but I don’t.

How about you? What are your goals for 2011?

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