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Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Welcome Author Tina Radcliffe and #Giveaway

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Happy New Year, friends. Jill here. Today I’m thrilled to welcome my friend and author, Tina Radcliffe. Throughout my writing journey, Tina has been a source of encouragement for me, as well as giving me that swift kick in my backside, if needed. As we enter into a new year, she’s here to share some words about accomplishing goals and achieving our dreams.

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Setting a Course for the New Year.

By Tina Radcliffe

At the end of the writer year, I begin to contemplate the year ahead. I believe the writer year ends in late fall at the end of contest and conference season. Somewhere between October and January, I begin the process.

The first step is to consider “My One Word.”

I’ve been choosing my one word for over five years. It is what keeps me God-centric instead of me-centric. It provides the anchor for my year. It also prepares me to receive from God. This journey isn’t just about taking, it’s about receiving.

If you aren’t familiar with “My One Word,” do check out the web page here.

My second step is to write down what I hope to accomplish in the new writing year. I type up my list and make it as expansive as I want. These are dreams, not goals. These are my dream destinations for my year.

What is a dream? A dream is without measurable steps and usually requires the assistance of others to complete. It’s not a goal because it does not include a course guide for accomplishing these dreams.

What’s the point you may ask? It creates an excitement inside me that I have choices and God given dreams. God put those dreams in our heart so don’t give up on them. Pray over them daily, and they will be tweaked by Him.

I keep this list with my devotions and pray over the list each day. Of course, it gets tweaked and refined during the year as God directs.

I write mine down as a letter to myself. So for this year it will say, “What I accomplished in 2017.” I’ll review it next year. I’ve been doing this for five years and save each year’s list to reflect upon as I head into the new writing year. It’s not just amazing, but stunning to see how many dreams, morphed into goals and then were accomplished. I love crossing them out as DONE!

The third step is goals. Write down measurable goals for as many of your dreams as you can, on an editorial calendar. Writing down that you will finish your book in 2017 is not a goal. It is a dream. A goal is would be determining how many pages you need to write each day or week to finish the book by June 22nd.

Our goals should be evaluated every quarter. Fine-tuned and adjusted. God will move some of our dreams to our goal list during the year.

Finally, once you set sail, the most important thing is to keep going.

Life happens and it should not stop you cold. Sure it can slow you down and cause detours, but you can still find a route around those detours. When you are overwhelmed the first thing you must do is STOP.

Stop and evaluate. In the big picture, the secret to achieving your goals is to focus on what you can do, instead of what you cannot do; to stop looking at how far you have to go, but instead look at how far you have come.

There will be dozens of things you can’t do, but there is at least one thing you can do. Do that one thing. Then do the next one thing.

You are a ship set on a course. As captain of that ship, it is your job to arrive at your destination despite the weather, and obstacles. How you do that, with grace and your eyes on Him, is not only important for you, but it sets the bar for those around you. It becomes your witness.

What’s your sail plan for the new writer year?

I have two giveaways for two random commenters. A journal to start your journey into the new year, US or Canada entries only.  Available to all commenters, a chance to win a copy of my newest release from Harlequin/Harper Collins, Love Inspired, Rocky Mountain Cowboy, your choice of print or e-book.

**Comment before midnight Friday, January 20th for a chance to win. The winner will be announced Sunday, January 22nd in the IR Sunday Edition.

Rocky Mountain Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe

Now available on Amazon.

The last person cowboy Joe Gallagher thought he’d see on his ranch was high school sweetheart Rebecca Anshaw Simpson. Twelve years after she married another man, she’s back as his physical therapist. But healing his body is nothing compared to guarding his heart from the woman he never forgot.

There’s much the single mom would rather forget, but Becca won’t let regret and a surly rancher get in the way of her job and the chance to start over with her little girl. She has only a few weeks to make peace with her past. But Becca never expected she’d fall all over again for her first love.

Tina Radcliffe is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. In 2016 Safe in the Fireman’s Arms was a Holt Medallion Merit Award finalist and a Detroit Bookseller’s Best finalist and a NERFA finalist. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Find her at www.tinaradcliffe.com where you can sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss her fun giveaways and sneak peeks at what her course for the New Year is!

Jill Weatherholt (21 Posts)

By day, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. At night, and on the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness for Harlequin Love Inspired. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, but her heart belongs to Virginia. She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University. She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard. Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.


Comments

  1. Hi Jill and Tina:) Great idea about writing down goals and dreams. I have never done this before (except for professional learning goals in a work context), and I love the idea of reviewing it and seeing where God has led. Your analogy of life as a ship reminds me of that beautiful poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.

  2. I really like your idea of looking back at how far we have come instead of just looking forward at how much we have to do… Looking forward is good, but can be overwhelming at times.

  6. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Go God!)

  7. Excellent post, Tina! I love your emphasis that we do this with God! The main thing I’m finding is setting Him as my compass, so every time I drift off course, I turn my ship back toward Him!

    Something really cool about goal lists is looking back and ticking off what we did, then adding all the extra stuff we did too. When we feel we haven’t achieved as much as we hoped, checking off all we DID achieve can be so encouraging. What I’m finding is despite feeling I got nothing done, I actually did a lot . LOL, just not necessarily what was on my list!

  8. Great post! Love your enthusiasm, Tina! Written goals are our compass. When we’ve lost our way, goals will set us straight. When I make a list of things I need to do, I’ll put one or two things I’ve already done on the list just so I can mark them off. I think I’ll do that with goals too. Give me spark and inspiration to keep on going!

  9. I love adding new things to my list and crossing them off, Autumn. I especially like going back to last year’s list. Eventually somehow, most of the things get done.

    And if they didn’t they are either long term goals or not very important..though I thought so at the time.

  11. I know that with God all things are possible and with his help we can do anything we set our minds to but sometimes it seems hard even so. I guess I’m not turning it all over to him but trying to do some on my own, not good.
    I’ve never chosen one word for the year but I know lots that have. One suggestion that I’ve mulled over is choosing one of the fruits of the spirit as my word.

  12. Okay, I’m convinced. I’ll be spending time today finding my one word, dreaming and setting goals. Thanks for the inspiration and the gentle (this time) kick in the butt.

  13. Good morning, JILL and TINA! Really enjoyed this post, especially: “There will be dozens of things you can’t do, but there is at least one thing you can do. Do that one thing. Then do the next one thing.” So important, so easy to forget when things are not coming together like I want. Thank you so much!

  15. I’ve not chosen one word for the year before, but if I did, I think it would be intentional. And thanks for sharing the excerpt! I’ll add it to my TBR list.

  16. Oh, my gosh, I used to work night shift oncology. THIS is where God showed me this. One pt needs pain meds, one needs chemo, one needs a hand held and whoops here comes an admission to the floor and guess what..it’s yours. I would look at my feet and in the midst of a giant cloud of overwhelmness press down on me…I would walk. “One step at a time, God says. One step at a time.” Always gets the job done.

  21. I’ve never been a big planner. I write without an outline, and I live my life without one other than the one the Lord provides. I’ve often wondered if that makes me a slacker, but so far I managed to have a pretty good life.

  22. I keep reminding myself to do the same thing, take the next step instead of being overwhelmed by the big picture. God bless your new year!

  23. I enjoyed your post. I like thinking that I am the captain of my ship!! Have a good year!!

  25. LOL, Merrillee, I doubt that makes you a slacker. I bet you have an internal plan and are very focused. I’m very ADD, so I need structure and BLINDERS!!!! HA!!!

  26. Hi Diana, thanks for stopping by. Conversation between my husband and I:

    “I’m ordering vitamins. Do you need any memory pills? I’m all out.”

    Me: “I have plenty. I keep forgetting to take them.”

  29. Somehow this reminds me of one of the Frog and Toad children’s stories by Arnold Lobel. I think it is simply called ‘A List’ and is in the Frog and Toad Together collection. My grandgirls love the Frog and Toad books! But anyway, Toad makes a list and starts crossing it off, but then the wind gets hold of his list and blows it far away, disrupting his life completely. Anyway… go read Frog and Toad LOL!

  34. Thanks for inviting Tina here today, Jill, and thanks, Tina, for coming! I love lists and I love being organized, or at least pretending to be. Yes, I plan my schedule with shot and long term goals, so imagine my dismay when I discovered I couldn’t plot my way out of a paper bag. So. Annoying!!! But somehow God gives me words and story when I ask for them, and so I can’t complain (although… may I alphabetize your spices???)

  35. Hi Jill and Tina! This is a wonderful list and it expands on what I did last year so I’m going to appropriate it for 2017. My word last year was “thrive” and this year it’s “focus” because “thrive” got me to a great place! Thanks for sharing your process, Tina. It’s so helpful to learn what others do to accomplish their goals.

  39. ha! I am a horrible plotter. My Heroes Two Journeys DVD is worn, and my Debra Dixon GMC is bent, spindled and folded. I am a creative professor. My office…another sad tale. Yes. You could alphabetize my spices. My husband does this normally and then I move the stuff I use most often down front. THAT WORKS FOR ME!!!

  42. Tina, I so needed your advice today! When we were much younger, my husband and I would go away for a weekend to set goals for the next year. Then that fell away at some point. But I’ve never done it for myself except in a work environment.

    I love the idea of two lists–one for dreams and one for goals. Dreams are achievable if we set goals. I also love that you tweak the lists during the year.

    My one word is Hope, and I now read Jeremiah 29:11 every morning during my devotion time. Devotion time. That had fallen away, too, but now that I’m in a new office with a comfortable rocker, I don’t allow myself to sit down at my computer until I spend time with God. Yesterday, I started reading a devotion from Delight Yourself in the Lord…Even on Bad Hair Days. It puts life in perspective.

    Please throw my name in the hat for the journal. I already have a copy of your book.

    Have a great day!
    Barb

  43. GMC = awesome. Once I have my setting (can you say “setting based writer?” I know I’m not normal!) and the MC’s GMCs, I jump in. And it becomes a story. Weirdness.

  45. Hi, Barb. I have a different SEAT for writing and for devotions. With a Salton coffee warmer at each location. Reminds me to do one and THEN check email and write. Hmm, maybe I should have a social media desk too. I need a bigger house.

  46. What a great post! I love the idea of the journal. I have a prayer journal, but I think it is a good idea to writer yourself a letter and write down those goals. Like Barb, I already have the book, but would love to throw my name in the hat for the journal. :) Have a great and blessed 2017!

  48. Hi Tina, Jill and all y’all ladies! So much wisdom to go with all that great sense of humor!

    I love the phrase “dream destinations for the year”, it sounds like a luxurious vacation spot :) and the complimenting sentence, “It creates excitement inside me that I have choices and God given dreams”. LOVE!

    I’ve always been a list maker and very organized, but somehow the MOST important dreams/goals don’t always get written down with the steps it takes to accomplish them worked out. This year I’m being intentional about my health, quality time with those I love and my relationship with God. I’m already working on all of them, just need to make that written plan of action to refer back to, to keep myself accountable. I love that journal and I would make a great place to keep track of 2017 dreams and goals.

    Thanks for sharing today and reminding me that how I sail my ship becomes my witness, so powerful!

  53. Hi Laura! I hope you’re doing well. If you looked at your list from last year, I imagine you’d wonder how you did it all. Believe me, you accomplished so much.

  63. Wow, what an exciting place to visit today! I see so many “friends” here…Tina, Jill and Tracy H….and others. I am an avid reader and look forward to a FABULOUS year of reading I enjoy prayer journaling….I have read (and loved) your book, Tina, so don’t enter me for that.

  66. Ahoy, there, Tina and Jill! Great advice! I do have writing goals for three months, but a yearly letter to myself is a great idea.

    I’m in a windy season, being tossed around, but I’m clinging to the DO A SMALL THING EVERYDAY motto.

    SERVING is the word God placed on my heart for 2017…..an area I need to focus on this year.

    Don’t enter me for Rocky Mountain Cowboy….I’ve read this heart-touching book and enjoyed another visit in Paradise!

    Blessings!

  67. Ahoy, Sherida! I like to write letters, so a handwritten letter to myself sounds like a good idea to me too. I’ll put your name in the hat for the journal. Thanks so much for visiting today!

  68. So happy to see you here, Tina! You always have such great advice! Your new book sounds awesome!

    My word this year is joy. The joy of the Lord will be my strength. I’ve been trying to journal again since the new year. Also dreaming to finish a couple of books this year. Need to work on my daily goals because life (and marketing, ha) seem to get in the way!

  70. Joy is so important. And it’s a mindset, Janet. I try to say a similar verse out loud before my feet touch the floor in the morning. This is the day that the Lord has made I shall reJOYce and be glad in it.

  72. I loved this post. Inspirational yet practical. Dreams vs goals. The letter to yourself? G-O-L-D. I’m going to write out my letter tonight. Thank you, Tina. Here’s to an amazing year!

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