Quarterly Goal Call!

A new quarter starts tomorrow – have you reflected on your most recent quarter?

My friend and colleague, author and book coach Suzette Mullen, asks the following questions quarterly in a small group of book coaches:

1. Reflections this quarter far: How have you been feeling? About your business or writing? About life in general?

2. Did you have a Q3 goal? If so, what was it and how is it going?

3. Q3 wins to share.

4. A challenge for the next quarter.

These reflection questions are really good at providing a hindsight perspective. It allows you to see what worked, what didn't, what was valuable, and what wasn’t over the last three months.

When it comes to your writing (or anything else you might have been working on), sometimes we spend a lot of time not knowing where we’re going, or if it’s going anywhere. These questions help you see where you put your effort and where it paid off.

As a new quarter turns over tomorrow, I invite you to reflect on those questions. 

Go ahead. Take a few minutes. I’ll wait.

I answered these questions for myself. Note they’re about my book coaching business, not my writing, but the process of answering the questions was hugely valuable. I’m sharing how I answered those questions so that you can see how the process of reflection helps me see the value I got out of the most recent quarter and how it helps me plan the next quarter:

1. Reflections on Q3 so far: How have you been feeling? About your business? About life in general?

I'm answering this question last -- because by answering the other questions, my feelings have totally changed. I had been feeling frustrated all year with perceived lack of progress, but upon the reflection required to answer these questions, I see the frustration has proven to be valuable and Q4 will be different because I am choosing to focus on client work and learning (instead of worrying about finding clients and publishing).

2. Did you have a Q3 goal? If so, what was it and how is it going?

I've been struggling all year to focus on raising my visibility by pitching podcasts and the like... and kept moving those tasks to the next quarter. I think, with hindsight, the struggle has been valuable because I find my wants/needs shifting. And now I have Q4 to sink into what is instead of worrying about what will be.

3. Q3 wins to share.

Four writers starting proposal work!

4. A challenge to bring to the group.

Staying calm and focused in Q4. I am trying to NOT write (really, not feel guilty about not writing) because Q4 is (apparently) dedicated to learning. Challenge: Relax and enjoy the learning and see what it brings up for me. Deliver value to my clients. Notice everything else but don't worry about taking action yet.

So: when you reflect on your past quarter, is “writing” one of your goals for Q4?

If yes, here are some great options to help you reach your goal:

• Are you planning to finish your book’s draft by the end of the year? My friend and colleague Julie Artz’s has a FREE email course to do just that! She’s distilled her novel writing technique down into twelve essential lessons that will help you finish your draft, no matter whether it’s a messy zero draft or your final polishing pass. And she’ll be hosting live Ask Me Anythings and Write-ins throughout October, November, and December that will help you get to The End! This free event begins October 7, but registration is required: pages.julieartz.com/12-week-draft

• Writing historical fiction/historical romance? My friend and colleague Susanne Dunlap, a multiple award winning writer and author of 14 historical novels for adults and teens, is hosting a FREE workshop, How to get your historical novel started (or unstuck). It’s on Tuesday, October 15 at noon EDT. Can’t make it? Register and you’ll have access to the recording. But if you attend live, Susanne has a special surprise for you at the end. Sign up here! 

As always, I love helping people figure out what they want to do and how to go about it. Here are some ways I do that:

• What if two questions could get you writing your book? (Free)

• Time-saving and idea-inspiring tools for a productive writing retreat or residency! ($17)

• Get one hour of coaching! ($175)

• And of course, I love helping aspiring writers transform their nonfiction book idea into a killer book proposal that attracts agent and publisher interest.