Update on my 2012 Writing Goals

June’s here, so that means nearly half the year is behind us.  That was quick, huh?  Anywho, I thought this would be a good time to take a look at how my goals for 2012 are coming along.

My Writing Goals for 2012
1)  Log in at least one hour per weekday on my writing career
This one’s on track, looking at the totals.  There have been 110 weekdays this year and I’ve logged in 127 hours, so I’m 17 ahead.
2)  Write a new novel
Not even close.  Not even in my dreams.
3)  Finish/Polish/or Revise the 7 manuscripts in FINISH ME NOW, DAMN IT!  pile (Some only need tweaks, others lack a few chapters)
One down!  Petal Pushers got the red pencil treatment and is 100%.  Just six more to go. 
4)  Attend more writing conferences and workshops
Um, not yet
5)  Join a writer’s guild
I joined the RWA as a PRO member, and attended my first meeting at the Louisville Romance Writer’s chapter last week.  
6)  Submit something somewhere each week
I’m 8 ahead. But I’ll have some weeks where I might make 5 or 6 submissions, then go a few with none. But’s it evens out.
7)  Write 12 poems
I’ve written 3 so far
8)  Write 10 short stories
3 down, 7 to go

Still have a lot to accomplish yet, but I did get one checked off and I’m making progress.  Not too shabby. 

I know writers have many different ways of tracking their productivity. Here’s what works for me. I count hours spent on my writing career, whether it’s adding word count, revising, prepping and sending submissions, attending workshops, or sketching characters and outlining for a new project. I don’t count time spent blogging or posting on writing sites. One hour each weekday is the very minimum I’m shooting for, and most days under normal circumstances I clock in more time. There’s a timer that stays on my desk to count down the hours, and I pause the thing when someone comes in or the phone rings, so I’m really making each second count.  I like staying ahead on this, so that if something unexpected comes up, I won’t feel like I’m getting too behind.

How do you measure your writing productivity? Are you a timekeeper, a word counter, or something else?