August Goal Setting for Writers

goal setting worksheet

for author girlbosses

AUGUST 2019 Lisa London Books

#AUTHORLIFE 2

Š Pretty Pages | 2019 All Rights Reserved You are only permitted to use the content as expressly authorized by Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books. Except for copies made for your individual personal use only, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute any content or information from this workbook in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books and you are solely responsible for obtaining permission before reusing any copyrighted material that is available within. Any unauthorized use of the materials referred to may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws and could result in criminal or civil penalties.

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

These Rockstar August Goals Belong To

Today’s Date

Today is important because today is the 1st day of the rest of your #AuthorLife as a #GirlBoss.

© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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how to print

First, I’m going to assume you prefer a 2-page layout that you plan to 3-hole punch in a binder like below.

For Duplex Printers

Print this as a 2-sided document. You will need a printer that has the ability to duplex print, meaning that it can automatically print on each side in sequential order. This means page one [the cover] will be on the front and page 2 [this page you’re reading right now] will be on the back.

For Single-Side Only Printers

Print only odd-numbered pages: 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.

Refeed these originals into your printer blank page cartridge holder with the pages usually facing down and upside down but check your printer to be sure as it varies. And then print the even-numbered pages: 2, 4, 6, 8.

This may take some trial and error and if all else fails, simply print the entire thing and manually face the pages in the right direction and use the blank pages on the back sides for notes.

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Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

Welcome to Micro-Planning So I’ve changed things up a bit in this month’s planner workbook for writers. Based on past practices and what has and hasn’t been working for me, I’ve created Micro-Planning, aka being your own CEO. Why Micro?

• Huge, annual goals have a higher overwhelm factor, leading to confusion + frustration • Setting unrealistic expectations doesn’t actually inspire action but iinstead sets you up for failure • So here’s to an entire month dedicated to lots of micromanaging yourself to be the most productive you there is

This

Goal Setting Workbook

will help you to • • • • •

Get your thoughts on paper Organize your dreams into an actionable plan Set yourself up for author success Plan for the unexpected Prioritize what matters

Are you ready?

Let’s go!

Lisa London

Planner Boss & Romance Author

© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all

- peter drucker 6

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1 | Micro-Planning

how to use the micro-planning method Step 1 | Choose your one thing Step 2 | Block out your monthly obligations Step 3 | Time Block out your week Step 4 | Create Writing Goals by M/W/D/H Step 5 | Create a Daily To Do List

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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Tomorrow becomes never

No matter how small the task take the first step now

-tim ferriss watch today’s video on the YouTube Channel

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Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

Step 1 | Choose Your One Thing Multitasking Our brains are designed to focus on one thing at a time, and bombarding them with information only slows them down.

Singletasking Starve your distractions FEED YOUR FOCUS

Negative Impact of Multitasking 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Slows you down - i.e. it will take you longer to reach your destination while talking on the phone Causes you to make more mistakes - Task Switching creates a 40% loss in productivity Stresses you out - increased blood pressure, heart rate + cortisol levels Ruins your memory - brain health and function decreases Hurst your relationships - even having a cell phone nearby causes communication breakdowns + distrust Makes you fat - you ignore fullness cues until your TV show or movie is over KILLS YOUR CREATIVITY - the working memory requirements used by your brain during multitasking, kill your ability to daydream + eliminates any possibility of having an aha moment

I could keep going but honestly, #7 was what did it for me.

A major lightbulb went off for me - Multitasking was stealing the MOST IMPORTANT brainpower skills I needed as a writer and redirecting them to worthless tasks that have nothing to do with finishing my next book.

This reason alone is why I’ve switched things around in my life to focus on Singletasking + Batching All Activities

If you’re still not sure what to write about

Watch the Story Decision Video + Download the worksheet at https://youtu.be/IpKSzhz_xNU

© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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Step 1 | Choose Your One Thing

example

Write 85K words for my next novel

your turn

Step 2 | Block out your monthly obligations 1. Enter all appointments + obligations 2. Enter all hard deadlines 3. Enter all soft deadlines

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Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

August

2019

S unday

M onday

T uesday

W ednesday

GREEN Writers Conferences BLUE Holidays

T hursday

F riday

1

S aturday

2

3

Romancing the Williamette Capital Writers Conf Ottawa CAN

8/1-3

Portland, OR

8/2-4 Nat’l Ice Cream Sandwich Day

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Writers Digest Conf New York, NY

8/22-25

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Heather Graham’s Writers of Nola New Orleans, LA

8/31-9-1

YOU MAY NOT BE THERE YET

but you're closer than you were yesterday

© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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Step 3 | Timeblock out your week

Use Google Calendar or a Paper Based System to Block out all major tasks + activities to create a more realistic expectation of your workflow

Step 4 | Create Writing + Word Count Goals

example

Month: Finish entire first draft Week Week Week Week Week

1: Outline Complete 2: 20K Word Count 3: 20K Word Count 4: 20K Word Count 5: 20K Word Count

Daily: I will write 5 days/week M-F until I hit 4K words - Sat + Sun will be buffer days in case I fall behind

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Month

your turn Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

Daily

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Step 5 | Create a Daily To Do List 1.

2.

3.

4.

Create a Daily To Do List You can start it the night before by adding in all that day’s tasks that were incomplete but still important Add more in the AM after reading your email, checking VM, etc Add more as the day goes on so that you can set that task aside while you complete your current task. In other words, the To Do List is there to ensure you don’t multitask 5. Rinse + repeat this sheet each day

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© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

2 | Habit Tracker

how to use the habit tracker

Step 1 | Choose 2 habits you’d like to start Step 2 | Label each page with that habit Step 3 | Color in each day you complete that habit Step 4 | Reward yourself

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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book recommendation YOUTUBE HIATUS: AUGUST + SEPTEMBER The monthly Ice Cream Social + Tea Talks on hold for the month of August + September during my YouTube Hiatus.

DONALD MAASS, AGENT I’ll also be using these 2 months to re-read these favorites from my bookshelf.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of BOTH the book and the workbook, I highly recommend you do! They’re writing craft solid gold.

“How many novels have moved you to tears, rage and a resolution to live life differently.”

-donald maass

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© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

NEW HABITS

example

Top 1-2 Habits

For 2019, I chose 2 new habits I wanted to incorporate into my day: 1. Workout everyday 2. Write everyday

How will you REMIND yourself to start this new habit • For both, I hung an accountability calendar tracker on the fridge since I know for sure, I’ll visit that area without fail.

• I give myself a gold star sticker for each day I perform my new habit • I time block it out on my Google Calendar • I add it to my daily to do list • I leave my gym bag on the kitchen island which I pass by everyday, multiple times/day • I have a writing device [laptop, iPad, notebook] in every room

What action will you take to make it part of your ROUTINE • I have an alarm that goes off on my phone everyday at noon to make sure I’ve completed both habits

What REWARDS will you see from adopting this new habit • Daily workouts help me to have more energy and feel better • Daily writing helps me to get more books published

© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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be a lifelong student

the more your learn the more you earn $$

- ancient chinese proverb

coming fall

2019

author #girlboss workbooks https:/lisalondonbooks.com 18

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

NEW HABITS

your turn

Top 1-2 Habits

Your NEW HABITS

How will you REMIND yourself to start this new habit

What action will you take to make it part of your ROUTINE

What REWARDS will you see from adopting this new habit

© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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HABIT #1-->>

How to use this sheet

1

Declare your new habit above Each hexagon corresponds to one day in the month Each day you successfully complete your new habit, color that hexagon date in with highlighter, marker, pen, pencil Specify an Incentive Reward for yourself at the bottom

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

week

5

week

4

week

3

week

2

week

1

11 18 25

12 19 26

13

14

20

21

27

28

15 22 29

16 23 30

17 24 31

Incentive 20

reward

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

<<--HABIT #2 How to use this sheet

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19 26

27

21 28

22 29

16 23 30

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3

2

1 week

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4

20

14

15

9

10

31

5

18

12

13

7

8

week

11

5

6

week

4

2

3

week

1

week

Declare your new habit above Each hexagon corresponds to one day in the month Each day you successfully complete your new habit, color that hexagon date in with highlighter, marker, pen, pencil Specify an Incentive Reward for yourself at the bottom

Incentive Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

reward

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the starting point

of all achievement is desire

- napoleon hill

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Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

3 | Word Count Tracker

how to use the word count trackers Step 1 | Declare your Word Count Goals Step 2 | Enter Actual Word Count Step 3 | Use the Daily Sheet - rinse + repeat style like the To Do List

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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Word Count Tracker

Date

Day

8/1

Th

8/2

Fri

8/3

Sat

8/4

Sun

8/5

Mon

8/6

Tues

8/7

Wed

8/8

Th

8/9

Fri

8/10

Sat

8/11

Sun

8/12

Mon

8/13

Tues

8/14

Wed

8/15

Th

8/16

Fri

8/17

Sat

8/18

Sun

8/19

Mon

8/20

Tues

8/21

Wed

8/22

Th

8/23

Fri

8/24

Sat

8/25

Sun

8/26

Mon

8/27

Tues

8/28

Wed

8/29

Th

8/30

Fri

8/31

Sat

Starting WC

Words Written

Ending WC

Total Words -->

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© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

Pomodoro Method Set a timer for 25 minutes | Write for 25 minutes, no distractions | Rest for 5 minutes| Rinse + Repeat

hour 1 hour 2

100 words 200 words

hour 3

300 words

hour 4

400 words

hour 5

500 words

hour 6

600 words

hour 7

700 words

hour 8

800 words

total

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

4000 words

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Toasted Marshmallow Butterscotch Pie

Sometimes I just want to make pretty desserts - things that will impress my guests or simply be instagram worthy.

Pie INGREDIENTS

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1/4 cup plus 2/3 heavy cream 1 frozen Pie Crust, cooked + cooled 1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar 1/4 cup fine-grind yellow cornmeal 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 3 large eggs, room temperature 3 tablespoons whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping INGREDIENTS 2/3 cup light corn syrup 3 large egg whites, room temperature 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 2/3 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips

Pie INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat chocolate and 1/4 cup cream on low heat, stirring, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Let ganache cool slightly, then scrape into pie crust + spread evenly over bottom.

Let sit until set, 30–45 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 300°. Mix brown sugar, cornmeal, salt, + butter in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, + remaining 2/3 cup cream. Using a whisk, mix 2 bowls together + pour filling into crust + bake 60 minutes. Let cool 12 hours (do not refrigerate)

Topping INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make Marshmallow Fluff: Mix corn syrup, 1 egg white, + 1/4 tsp. salt in a bowl. Then add powdered sugar. Then add vanilla. Set aside 3/4 cup marshmallow fluff in a small bowl for later 2. Meringue: Heat granulated sugar, cream of tartar, + remaining 2 egg whites on low heat + beat 3. Add reserved marshmallow fluff to meringue. Dollop marshmallow topping over top of cooled pie filling and use a spatula to spread, creating decorative peaks and swirls. Use a kitchen torch to toast marshmallow topping, if desired. Decorate with chocolate chips.

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© 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

Chocolate Chips hidden in a croissant!

Ingredients

6 egg yolks 1 1/2 cups milk, 2% or whole 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 6 croissants, torn into 1-inch pieces 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

You can use 9 mini croissants instead of the full-size ones if you want 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Coat a 9-inch x 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside 3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, salt, and nutmeg 4. Add croissant pieces to the bowl and use a wooden spoon to stir everything together. Make sure all of the bread pieces are moistened. Add almost all of the chocolate chips to the mixing bowl and stir to combine.

5. Pour the bread pudding mixture into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top of the bread pudding with the remaining chocolate chips.

6. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the pudding has set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (If the bread starts to brown too much, loosely cover the baking dish with foil.)

7. Serve warm or at room temperature. This bread pudding is really good with a little Crème Anglaise or vanilla ice cream on top too.

Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

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free course

fast-track your ideas nail your story in 5 days https ://pr og r ams . lis alondonbooks.com/ plot-your-1st-romance-book

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Š 2019 Pretty Pages | Lisa London Books

coming fall 2019 Workbook #1 in the #AuthorLife Series

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