It's Amazon Prime Day! Thankfully you don't have to fight the hordes in a physical store to get the best deals. Are you hunting for a specific bargain? What are you hoping to snag today?

I'm celebrating Prime Day with a special sale price of $2.99 for Luminata on Amazon. You can get your copy at half price. 

I know I'll be looking out for books, writing stuff, and maybe even an e-reader. We'll see what Prime goodies there are this year that I just won't be able to live without. =)

Let me know what you cool stuff you score.
Talk to you soon!
~Yvonne

I hope that New Year's Eve ushers in a year of happiness, health and prosperity for you and your family. Looking back on the previous year, 2016 has been an interesting one. There's been a ton of turmoil around the world and in the news.

Of course at the end of most years we look back and see all the things that were 'wrong' with it and wonder what we can do better. According to an article titled 'Why We Make New Year's Resolutions' written by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. for PsychCentral, we like resolutions because it's as though we are starting with a clean slate. Our past, including our weaknesses or short-comings, are magically erased and we get to try to be our best selves.

First you have to decide what your goals will be. Then of course is the implementation of those goals. How do we do that? By making sure that they are SMART goals.

There are several versions but the one that I like the best is:

• S. - Specific
• M. - Measurable
• A. – Achievable
  
• R. - Realistic
• T. – Time based

What does this all mean? When evaluating your goals, to help make them easier to reach it's best to make them SMART.

Specific:
The first part of making a goal is to be specific. Answer these questions:

• Who - Who is involved?
• What - What is it that you are trying to accomplish?
• Where - Where will this take place?
• When - What is the time frame for this goal?
• Which - What are the requirements and/or constraints to accomplish the goal?
• Why - What is the reason, purpose and even the benefits of accomplishing this goal?

Measurable:
The second part is to set up a way to measure your goal in progress.

• If your goal is a large goal break it down into smaller pieces and celebrate each milestone

Achievable:
A goal can and should stretch your skills. As you look at your goal see if you need to develope

• Skills
• Attitude
• Abilities
• Financial capacity

Realistic:
Make sure that your goal is something that you want to work for and that you have the ability to complete it.

• Stretch yourself and make sure that you can attain it
• Even lofty goals can be achieved if you want it because it's a labor of love

Time-Based:
Make sure to give yourself a deadline. Someday has no sense of urgency.

• Set a date and even a time as necessary

If you'd like to use a helpful interactive tool to help make sure that your goals are SMART, check out AAHA's SMART Goals. It will even give you tips based on questions you answer for each part of SMART.

Some helpful websites include Top Achievement and Wikipedia.

I feel pretty fortunate that both professionally and personally I was able to accomplish some pretty lofty goals in 2016. I was able to complete my first draft of my novel Luminata and I obtained my specialty certification in my profession. I used the SMART system for these and it works for me.  I also like taking big goals and breaking them down into easy to digest chunks.

Of course, there are new goals in my life that I hope to take on in 2017. Some are related to my writing and others are for my professional life. Here's my list of goals:

1. Complete the revisions necessary for Luminata to be published by August 1, 2017.
   
   1. Complete the first revision for continuity by March 1, 2017
      
   2. Consider a literary editor and if using one do so by April 1, 2017
      
   3. Complete literary editor revision and give to beta readers by May 1, 2017 and have those notes back by June 1, 2017
      
   4. Complete beta reader revisions and give final draft to proof-reader by July 1, 2017
      
2. Decide on whether to be an Indy publisher or go the more traditional route by July 2017.
   
3. Complete my second novel's rough draft by December 12, 2017
   
4. Stick to my weekly blog post schedule.
   
5. Reach 50 Facebook page likes by August 2017, then reach 100 by the end of 2017.
   
6. Make sure my speaking presentations deliver the info and be successful with that.
7. And in the midst of this, successfully navigate my classes I'll be taking and maintain my GPA.
   

These goals seem pretty lofty to me, but then again, I like to push myself.

So, what are your goals for 2017?