
New Year
Here we are in 2014. Can you believe another year has passed by? 2013 sped by like a high-speed rail train.
Days flying by in a blur. Projects piling up no matter how fast we moved. Ideas for stories and books constantly dancing in our heads.
Where did it all go? Do we really have to have an answer?
After all, we’re here now — in 2014.
A clean slate. Ready to begin anew.
New Look
In this new year, I decided to tackle my 2014 goals right out of the box.
- Among my goals is the completion of my memoir manuscript. And if that happens (and why wouldn’t it?), I need to be thinking about personal branding and author platform. Two fairly heady subjects. I decided to choose one of them to work on first.
- Branding won out! When I began blogging, I didn’t know the first thing about branding. However, along the way I have read a number of posts and articles on the subject and with working toward the finish line with my book, I decided it was something that needed serious attention.
- Note the new name, Sherrey Meyer, Writer. The tagline, however, remains tied to the central theme of my book and my goal here, “Healing life’s hurts through writing.” I chose to use my name and my calling to enjoy the freedom of being who I am almost every hour of every day of the week:
- She who writes
- She who loves words
- She who hopes to help others write their stories
- And with the new name, it was time to also adopt a more professional look, something crisp and clean with an underlying hint of purpose and mission. Look around and explore. A few things are different. Most things are nearly the same. I want you to be comfortable here — this is where we meet.
New Goals
In my last post, I talked about my goals for 2014. To date, I’m keeping pace. I want to mention something I came across after that post which is helping a lot with my daily writing goal.
Catching up on a little reading the other day, I came across a post by Jeff Goins of Goins, Writer. In it, Jeff talked about establishing a regular writing habit, writing every day. The challenge is a simple one: write 500 words every day for 31 days, starting January 1st, or when you came across the post. Then you post how many words you’ve written on any given day on Twitter, Facebook, in the Facebook Group Jeff has set up.
I decided nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? So, it was January 4th when I sat down to tackle my first 500 words. That day I wrote 1200 on my memoir, and my daily goal I had set here was to write 1500-2000 each day. Call me elated — I was close! And each day I’ve averaged about the same.

Maybe my first goal was a bit lofty or maybe I’ve just got to get past that 1200 mark.
Further, Jeff’s challenge has provided entrée for me into an online accountability group, and I’m meeting some greater writers.
The takeaway on New Goals is that although we set up goals, we need to be flexible to allow ourselves the opportunity to take advantage of something we weren’t expecting which aids in achieving that goal!
What about you? If you set goals for 2014, are you well underway? Have you had to make changes and be flexible? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
[…] I posted recently on my goals for 2014, my enthusiasm and intention to hit the track running full speed ahead and keep up that pace was […]
Good for you, Sherrey! I love your enthusiasm! Best of luck to you in 2014.
Lindsey, thanks for the visit and your gracious words. Hope 2014 is good to you as well.
You are learning, changing, growing, and sharing rapidly, Sherrey. I admire how carefully you think through your goals, and I’m sure you will meet them. Thanks for taking all the rest of us on your ride.
Shirley, happy new year! Thanks so much for your continuous encouragement and gracious words. So glad you’re along for the ride!
Sherrey, your website looks great and your enthusiasm is palpable right through my laptop screen! I love the way you celebrated coming close to your goal and didn’t fuss about the exact number of words. I think our goals do need to be flexible and we need to give ourselves permission to start slowly. I’ve seen too many writers go nuts for a while and then burn out. Much better to set reasonable, flexible goals that you can consistently meet. Do you plan to still reserve Sundays for family and quiet time? That was a policy that I wanted to adopt too! Still haven’t managed it, so there’s a goal for me!
Hi, there, Sue! When I read “your enthusiasm is palpable right through my laptop screen,” I almost jumped up and down. What a great compliment! I believe that a blog post of yours talked once about flexibility and needing to give ourselves permission to begin slowly, especially as we make changes in our writing life. And yes, I still plan to reserve Sundays for family and quiet time? There’s an especially good reason for that too — we have a new great-granddaughter arriving in about 10 days. We are so excited and our grandson’s fiance is delightful and we love her very much. So some time will need to be reserved for my rocking chair activities on Sundays. Work on at least setting aside a part of Sunday, if you can. There’s just something about it that makes time with family seem special and starts the week off just right.
Sherrey, the new blog design looks great! I really like it.
The very best of luck with your writing goals. You are one strong, talented lady: I know you can do it! I will be cheering you on.
Cate, thanks for dropping by. I know you aren’t doing much of this these days, and I do hope your health is improving with rest and a more relaxed day-to-day level of work. I’m glad you like the new blog design. I really wanted to zero in on a “brand” and find something that spoke to who I am — me, Sherrey Meyer, the writer.
Thanks for the good wishes with the goals. I am determined, and my husband would agree with your use of the word “strong,” no doubt! I can hear you cheering now! You’re my head cheerleader!
Great job Sherrey, and love your tagline as well. It seems we are all moving right along with professional blogs, websites etc. You’ve worked so hard to accomplish your goals and it shows.
Sonia, thank you for your gracious words. It does appear that we are all on a forward move, doesn’t it? Books, blogs, websites and whatever we can find to write about. And so we shall do more in 2014! Best of the new year to you.
Dear Sherrey,
I love your new look and tag line. So clean, so simple, so elegant.
About goals – they’re like resolutions. They’re bent to be changed or broken. We need to be flexible and forgiving of ourselves. My goal since last year has been to write a journal entry of about 500 words – besides my other writing – every day, and I must say I’m succeeding well. I’ve had just a couple of skips in almost a year. I feel my journal entry always kicks off my other writing work scheduled for the day – kind of a warmup.
Yes, I believe writing is work as well. I recently visited the Hemingway House on Key West and it was so inspiring to see where he worked.
Happy New Year, Sherrey, and kudos.
Dear Madeline,
Thanks for such positive feedback. I loved reading every word you wrote. And I appreciate the reminder that we need to be flexible and forgiving with ourselves. Good point! I am loving the every day event of writing. I wake up excited to start the day now. And why did it take so long to figure this out?? So glad to hear of your steady journalling and success at that exercise.
I am envious that you have been to Hemingway’s Key West home. To see where he set pen to paper and “bled” in so doing as he was so prone to say would be an absolute thrill for any writer.
Happy New Year, Madeline, and good luck to you in the coming year. I think of you so often. You have been such an encouragement to me.
Well-said, Sherrey, In moving forward with passion and purpose, you are shining a light for the rest of us. I think your brand has always been clear–healing through writing–but you are polishing it up by the upgrades to your website and title. I love your statement, ” this is where we meet.” You are putting your dreams and intentions into motion. I have no doubt your goals and then some will be achieved. Bravo!
Kathy, the Constant. That’s what you are in my life — my constant encourager, inspirer, motivator, light and so much more. Thanks for these wonderfully uplifting words you’ve given me this morning. I do feel I am on the right track at this moment in time,and there’s only one way to go and that’s forward!
Bravo girl. I can’t remember if it was Stephen King that said, writing is work. You don’t wait for inspiration to strike. You just do it. I’ve always tried to remember that. Some days will be better than others but if we’re always waiting for the right feeling, it probably won’t happen.
I love this time of year, when everything is fresh and possible.
I tend to think Stephen Kind did say that writing is work. Whoever said it is right! Thanks for the reminder of that fact, Grace, and the need to just do it. The freshness of the now is filled with possibilities indeed! Thanks for coming by!
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