2.   What do you hope to achieve?  Are your goals financial? Or creative?  What does success look like?  How will you know you’ve arrived? Be detailed!  What are your strengths? Author? Marketer? Business?  Your weaknesses?  What can you do to overcome weaknesses? Know Yourself

3.   Who is your audience?  Age, gender, finances, geographic location  What are their reading preferences?  Do they buy books online? In stores? Or borrow?  Who writes in the space you’re interested in?  How are you different from the competition?  How will you stand out? Know your Competition

4.   ID your primary & secondary goals.  ID steps you’ll take to achieve goals?  What setbacks do you anticipate?  How will you handle setbacks?  What is your worst authorial nightmare?  What happens if it comes true?  What is your greatest dream?  What happens if you achieve it? Plan your work & work your plan

5.  “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” ~ Stephen King  Celebrate small successes along the way.  Realize change comes with uncertainty. Don’t be afraid!  Know & celebrate when you’ve arrived! Live your dream!