Planning Sesh

I see that 2025 is off to a not-so-stellar start! Not even thinking of the wildfires in California or the three-ring circus that is the political scene…I’m just noticing that it’s already January 14th, and I still haven’t come up with all my writing goals for the “new” year. The old Elise would have thrown up her hands at this point, said, “Oh, well, too late now!” and returned to her exact same daily yogurt, berries and granola breakfast combo (so much for “diversify breakfast” goal). But new year, new me! I will forge ahead, planning and plotting my latest assault on the freelance writer game.

Here's what I have so far (annotated by the author):

72 pitches (Wow, reaching out to editors with ideas for stories 72 times is a lot. Maybe 27? Yeah, that’s more like it.)

52% acceptance rate (I actually hit this mark last year, but that might’ve been a fluke. The way I see it, the fewer places I pitch, the higher an acceptance rate would be, no? I mean, if I pitch just one place, and get a “yes”—BINGO. 100%!)

Pitch 10 major new outlets (Gotta break out of my rut! But even one new publication would be a victory, so OK. One. And why shoot for The New Yorker? I’ve never written for The Oreland Observer, either! Oh, you say there’s no such newspaper? That is NOT my fault. I’m putting this wonderful, if imaginary, publication on my list. If any of you readers are so inclined, feel free to create The Oreland Observer yourself. I’ll write for you!)

My newsletter: Get to 200 subscribers. (I’m at 158 now, need 42 more peeps to sign up. So many peeps! Too noisy. Peep down, I say! Let’s aim for 1-2 more, tops.)

This blog: 52 weekly posts (Does that count this one, and the one last week, which are both technically January posts? Or do I start now, and count next week as the first post of ’25? OR do I calculate from this one, but not last week? And what if I do two in one week? Better say just “52 posts." But that’s a weird amount if you aren’t counting weeks, amirite? Maybe 25 posts is a better number, and I can reward myself if I make it to 26.)

Apply for writing residency (This is a long-time dream of mine. Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, NY! The MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH! There are retreats and residencies everywhere, from the Rocky Mountains to the South of France. All it takes to get into one is talent. And luck. And money, for many of them. But maybe if I start small…I hear there’s a cool, free, talent-optional new residency right here in Oreland! It’s on my street! It’s even in my house! I think I have a shot!)

Looking these over has reminded me: goals are nothing but artificial constructs, with disappointment and failure their regular features.

I've decided to skip ‘em.