writing wednesdays: creating, updating, and using a business plan

I'm a planning nerd. A fresh new date planner makes me weak in the knees and a Gantt chart makes me positively giddy. Much of that comes from my days in the corporate world where yearly budgets and marketing plans were part of the job. So when I switched to writing, I took some of that nerdiness with me. 

How does it work for a writer? 

Mission statement
When I first started, I wrote out a mission statement: write stories with the honesty and heart to touch readers. 

I didn't say be a best selling author or make enough money to buy that dream car. I can fantasize about those all I want, but they're not within my control. But being the kind of writer who produces meaningful stories, that I can control.

I know, you're thinking, "seriously? you wasted time on that?"

There have been many times over the years that I've doubted why I continue to do this. When rejections pile up or a crappy review hits hard, I look at that mission statement and adjust my focus.

What will I accomplish this year
I need goals. Goals motivate me and keep me focused. At the beginning of each year, I look back at what I accomplished the year before, what didn't go to plan and why. After that, I make a list of the things I'd like to accomplish. Those, my friends, are NOT my goals for the year. I have big eyes when it comes to wanting to do. There are so many story ideas, so many projects I want to take on. Goals need to be attainable, otherwise you're setting yourself up for frustration and failure.

I take that wish list and give it a healthy reality check. I factor in trips that I already know about or anticipate happening, other projects that will take chunks of time, family schedules, and the biggest factor, my process. There are writers who can crank out a book in 6 months or less. That is not me, that will never be me. Okay, never say never but I'm pretty sure that's not in the cards for me.

I pick apart the wish list and take the three or four projects I want to focus on. That usually includes finishing up with a previously started manuscript (I seem to be on a schedule that has me in the final editing at the beginning of each year), starting something completely new, and then I'll add one or two additional projects that I've been wanting to tackle (maybe it's a first draft of a book in a new-to-me genre, or starting research on yet another project). 

Where do I want to be in 5 years
Here's where I allow myself a bit of fantasizing. Some of what gets put in this section I can control, some I can't. But even with the items I can't control (making a best of list, securing new contracts, etc), I know the steps to get there. Those are the carrots that push me to past the speed bumps.

What resources do I need to achieve those goals
​Here again, I generally start with a wish list then switch out the princess glasses for ones grounded in reality. What kind of marketing/publicity support do I need and what are the options? Do I need to redo my website or have photos taken? What about attending writer retreats/conferences? Any research trips? What workshops or webinars do I want to attend?What time do I need in order to achieve my goals? 

Having a business plan and revisiting it at the beginning of each year is me taking myself seriously. It's what I need to stay focused and move my writing career forward. 

Yesterday, I sat down and set my goals for the year. 2021 will be fun! 

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