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Top ten goals for reading and writing

Written on January 8, 2013 by Vikk Simmons in The writing life
26 Comments
Tot Ten reading and writing book goals

The Broke & the Bookish

Setting goals for a new year

Resolutions, goals, and promises are in the air, after all, it’s a new year. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?

Now some people get super-excited to the point of hyperventilating about the prospect of even considering creating one goal, let alone ten. They get all aflutter about the what-ifs. What if it’s stupid? What if I don’t start? What if it’s too hard? What if I don’t have time? What if I don’t follow through? What if, enough already.

I say, relax. At the end of the day, they’re just words, words on paper, words on a blog, words spewed out into the air. Is anyone standing at the gallows tree ready to hang you by your toes if you don’t get it done? Probably not.

Write your goals down and set your writing goals now. Resolutions, goals, even promises like these are meant to give us some order and direction for the new year, a road map. They allow for twists and turns, for bends in the road and even u-turns. Their biggest contribution is in the push they give us to take the first step. So with that in mind, here we go:

My bookish reading goals

  1. Continue reading the classics. (See my Classics Club book list.)
  2. Sit down and tackle those short story anthologies. (See my Short Stories Challenge title list.)
  3. Read those blasted bought and unread books breathing heavily from my to-be-read piles (bookcases). (See my official 2013 TBR Pile Challenge list.)
  4. Make a serious effort to read back issues of the literary magazines and more personal essays. (See my my official 2013 Personal Essay reading plan.)
  5. Devour the stacks of mystery books scattered through the house that taunt and haunt me. (See my official 2013 Mystery Reading list.)

 My bookish writing goals

Yes, I have some writing goals. I confess this a rather dicey area (see my previous post) but I’m going to come up with some and see if I can make something happen.

  1. Complete at least one short story.
  2. Complete at least one personal essay.
  3. Continue to blog.
  4. Review the books I’m reading this year.
  5. Read through all writing and material regarding the current novel.

That’s it for me. I’m keeping things modest as I don’t want to get overwhelmed. My overall goal is to slow down and take the time to do some deep reading, deeper thinking, and deep writing.

 Help through the goal-setting process

If goal setting is a major issue, here’s a few suggested books. (I’m a fan of Brian Tracey’s.) How about you? Set your goals yet? Share your thoughts and comments below. Love to hear from you.


Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want — Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible
Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline
Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It

More? Try Down the Writer’s Path Facebook Page; My Squidoo; My Pinterest; My Twitter


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  • AnnabelSmith

    This is a great list of goals. I also have a neglected pile of literary journals I have subscribed to. The only one I really read is The Paris Review. I wish you luck with your writing, especially.
    PS I used to be the biggest Brian Tracy fan – I saw him speak at a conference about 20 years ago and afterwards I was more motivated than I’d ever been. I was getting up at the crack of dawn each day to work on my goals and stuff!

  • Sunny Duvall

    Wow, love your lists in the list! Hope you make all your goals!

    My TTT: http://blueskyshelf.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-goals-for-2013.html

  • http://www.facebook.com/nina.happyendings Nina Happy Endings

    I def. should read more classics. Maybe next year.. I know!
    My FF

  • Christine

    Good luck with all your goals! I will definitely be checking out your Classics Club list for some inspiration in creating my own. Thanks for commenting on my post :)

  • Vidya Tiru

    i like how you have separated them.. and yes, no one (including the one who set the goals, myself) will be standing at the gallows as you say if these goals are not met..
    my plan is to have fun meeting the goals i set.. and if not, then next year:)
    thanks for visiitng

  • Tammy Sparks

    I love that you have both reading and writing goals. I’m very interested in your short story collection challenge, that’s something I want to read more of as well. Thanks so much for stopping by Books, Bones & Buffy:)

  • Michelle Heckathorn

    You have a lot of great goals! The Classics Club sounds fun, I know a lot of people that would love to do something like that.

    Thanks for stopping by My TTT… I’ve heard thatthe Austin bookfestival is pretty cool… I wish I lived near there!

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    I’ve been a charter subscriber to both Fourth Genre and The Bellvue Review but find I have a lot of unread back issues right now. That’s one reason why I decided to go for the personal essay reading challenge.

    I’ve been reading Tracey off and on for a long time. He does have a way of motivating you.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Really do appreciate it.

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    Great goals, especially the 500 followers! I was slow to get into the reading challenges. Last year I sort of did them but not officially. Then I found The Classics Club and I had the bug. I’ve added a few extra but I do have quite a number of books that are cross-challenges books. Makes life easier. The point for me is to take that step forward and write down the titles and make a commitment. If it takes me two years rather than one–as it has–that’s okay.

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    Turns out The Classic Club group has become a real jewel. Definitely has me moving forward on my goal to read the classics and with no pressure. You have 5 years. :)

    Thanks for visiting and commenting. So cool.

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    Thanks! The separation worked for me when I was writing the post. Goals are your friends. :)

    Thanks for stopping by!

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    I stumbled across the short story challenge last year and immediately set it up. I’d been wanting to focus on the short forms for awhile. This helped me take the next step of selecting the material and it’s okay to carry it into this year. Not much about short story challenges, readathons, or anything.

    Appreciate you coming by and for leaving a comment.

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    Yep, the Austin festival is a great one. I don’t get to attend as often as I’d like.

    Definitely check out The Classics Club. It’s a 5-year plan. The just had their 1st readathon. Great group of people. They have a GoodReads group, too.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    I’ve enjoyed returning to the classics. I’m reading Moby Dick with the Moby Dick Big Read where you read one chapter a day and it’s been terrific. Who knew it had so much humor?

    Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Always appreciated.

  • Shelley

    Finding a writing group can probably help you with some of those bookish writing goals. :) I LOVE my writing group, knowing I’ll be writing every other week gets the juices flowing and helps me to keep writing throughout the week!

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    Thanks, Shelley. I’ll keep that in mind. I now quite a few writers who have enjoyed their writing groups.

    Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment, too–very appreciated.

  • Chrystal M

    I too feel the TBR hounds breathing down my neck daily. :) Good luck with your goals and thank you for stopping by my blog today.

  • http://www.downthewriterspath.com/ Vikk Simmons

    Thanks! Enjoyed the visit to your blog. Thank you for stopping by and commenting today.

  • Milda Harris

    Great goals! I have some books on my bookshelf that have been sitting there for ages – I agree – time to read those! Happy writing too! Much luck!

  • Shelver506

    I never understood owning unread books until I became a blogger. Now I understand all too well.

    Good luck, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Shelver506 @ Bookshelvers Anon

  • http://www.rulethewaves.net/ Lianne

    Great goals! I think everyone’s common goal in writing this week’s TTT is to make a dent on our to-read lists xD Good luck with them this 2013 :)

  • Bookish_Belle

    Great goals. I like how you divided them into reading and writing. Good luck!

  • Kim

    I love love love reading #3. I really need to dothat as well, since my TBR Pile is above a hundred books already. Not sure how I’ll manage, but having a huge dent in it would be enough.

    My Goals for 2013

  • AnnabelSmith

    I’m not familiar with either of those journals. I subscribe to a couple of them because I want to support Australian lit but when they arrive, they never really call my name!

  • Angelica @ Paperback Princess

    Fantastic goals and thanks for the tips on keeping your goals.

    My Bookish Goals.

  • http://twitter.com/InkkReviews Krisha & Katie

    id like to get into reading some classics ! great goals, and good luck on your writing goals! thanks for stopping by my TTT – Katie