I was listening to a Toastmasters speech on goal-setting the other day, and the speaker mentioned using the S.M.A.R.T. system to define goals and keep on track. We’re going to give it a shot.

What exactly is a S.M.A.R.T. goal? The acronym stands for:

S pecific

M easurable

A ttainable

R ealistic

T imely

You can see how such a goal would make it easier to stay on track. 🙂 Especially since Jim and I brainstormed an exciting plot for Book 4 the other day, tentatively titled The Appalling Automaton Army, and I can’t start on it until the others are in better shape!

So, here are the current plans for the series:

The Marvelous Mechanical Man —

S — redo cover and do a final polish run; then submit to Amazon for publication.

M — book becomes available.

A — easily, if I get off my butt and do it!

R — I think so…see above. 😉

T — by the end of April

The Nearly Notorious Nun — 

S — make revisions and design cover, submit to Amazon

M — book is ready for submission to Amazon

A — with discipline, certainly

R — yes, if I make myself work on it.

T — by the end of May

The Incredibly Irritating Irishman —

S — get edits from beta readers and then address them, get cover designed

M — book is ready for submission to Amazon

A — again, with discipline, it is easily attainable.

R — if edits come in on time

T — by the end of August

The Appalling Automaton Army —

S — get first draft written

M — yes, when the first draft is finished

A — should be

R — I think so…barring unforeseen circumstances

T — the end of November

So, these are my plans for the rest of the year. Yes, they are rather ambitious…but since I am supposed to be a full-time writer, I should be writing full-time!

I still have a few other commitments this year, but I won’t be adding anything major until I get the Chronicles to this point.

What do you think? Have I caught the essence of the system? Have I left anything out?