162: #HalfwaytoGoal

Remember those goals you set with Jess and KJ back in January? Neither did they, but they dug them out and sort out how the year’s going so far.In Episode 140, we set our 2019 goals. (Listen here (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-140-2019goals/id1099630313?i=1000426983096) ). Now, at 2019's halfway mark, it's time to check in on those--and we'd love to hear how you're doing on your goals in the #AmWriting Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/485904005120809/) . Halfway here? More? En route? Revising the endgame? We get it all. Jess, in particular, gets moving the goal posts--and in fact, the whole point of a check in is to consider doing just that. Goals aren't there to help you fail, they're there to help you move towards them--and if a goal is unreachable this year, it's time to set a goal you can achieve that moves you in the right direction. For Jess, that's a new, revised book deadline.I'm reporting a big fat checkmark on one goal--finding a publisher for my novel (hello, Episode 147 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/147-goodnewsandhowigotthere/id1099630313?i=1000430374335) ). The Chicken Sisters will be out in the summer of 2020, and the new goal I'm slotting in there is to finish my revisions on time.One bonus to the mid-year review is realizing that while you probably haven't checked something off yet, you really have been moving the dial. We did some math in January and realized that we've spent $10,000 producing #AmWriting between us (that was a bit of a shock). With one fantastic sponsor, we're on our way to, if not getting paid for our time, at least not paying to podcast, but we're still working on this one. We've asked, and you all have resoundingly said you'd like to sponsor us yourselves (no mattress ads for us!). We're more than halfway to offering a way to do just that. I love a good midyear goal review because revising goals and recommitting to them feels like a fresh start at the beginning of a season when I do like to slow down a bit--but not TOO much. I refined some personal goals, and made sure that my calendar allows for staying on track when it comes to the professional ones--but that I'm also not putting so much on my plate that I can't enjoy the summer when it finally gets here. And then--it will be time for another re-grouping in the fall.#AmReadingJess: The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath, Leslie Jamison (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316259583)KJ: The Collected Schizophrenias (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781555978273) , Esme Wang#FaveIndieBookstoreThe Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT (https://www.norwichbookstore.com/) --a favorite of us both, a reliable source of favorites the minute you walk through the door and a fantastic host of events. And a reminder--when you just HAVE to order that book right now before you forget, it's quite likely you can do that right on your fave Indie's website and then pick it up in the store--where you'll have the opportunity to buy more books. We love our sponsor! If you’re not quite where you want to be on your writing goals for the year—or suspect that after this summer, you might be a wee bit behind—join us and our sponsor, Author Accelerator for the Find Your Book, Find Your Mojo retreat in Bar Harbor, Maine from September 12-15, 2019. (http:// https://www.authoraccelerator.com/amwriting) Now is the perfect time to get this on the calendar so that the inevitable August slowdown will just be the lead-up to your big fall fresh start. Find more about Jess here (http://www.jessicalahey.com/) , and about KJ here (https://kjdellantonia.com/) .If you enjoyed this episode, we suggest you check out Marginally, a podcast about writing, work and friendship (https://www.marginallypodcast.com/) , and The Secret Library (https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com) , an interview podcast about real people who made time to write, often against the odds, because they believe that books matter. Find both on iTunes or on your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe