Gearing Up for Q2: Planning, Reflection, and Preparing

Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash

It’s about to be April. That means the first quarter of the year is almost done.

How did you do? Did you accomplish the goals you set out? As we close the chapter on the first quarter of the year, it's time to reflect, recalibrate, and reinvigorate our efforts for Quarter 2.

Here’s a guide to help you assess your progress and plan effectively for the upcoming 13 weeks.

Reflect on the Past Quarter

Begin by evaluating your achievements and challenges over the last quarter:

• What goals did you accomplish?

• Which strategies worked well, and which didn’t?

• How has your approach to writing, marketing, or networking evolved?

Understanding what worked and what didn’t is vital for refining your strategies and ensuring continuous improvement.

Pipeline Planning for Q2

Let’s outline what projects you intend to tackle in the next 13 weeks. Whether it's drafting a new book, revising drafts, or planning promotions for your backlist or upcoming releases, having a clear roadmap is crucial. Consider:

• Drafting: If starting a new book is on your agenda, set realistic word count goals, or daily chapter objectives, or daily writing targets.

• Revising: Schedule specific weeks for revising your drafts and possibly involve beta readers or editors during this phase.

• Promotions: Plan any marketing activities for your books. This could include scheduling book tours, arranging advertisements, or organizing giveaways.

• Professional Development: Identify any gaps in your skills or knowledge and consider engaging with resources such as craft books, online courses, or writing workshops.

In the spirit of supporting our journeys, I’m thrilled to announce a new endeavor I’ve undertaken—the Page Turner Journal. Envisioned as a 52-week journal for 2026, I’m designing this tool to help you stay on track, week by week, throughout the year. It will feature monthly overviews, weekly planning prompts, and reflection questions to keep you aligned with your goals. I’ll be drafting it here in this Substack, so stay tuned.

I’m currently in the early stages of this project and would love to get your feedback on the initial design and features. Your insights would be invaluable in making the Page Turner Journal a truly beneficial resource for all of us.

What do you think about the weekly layout? My intention is to have small spaces for the Craft and Marketing Focus so you can only plan 1-2 items each day, which should ensure they get done.

On Wednesday, be on the look out for the Week One post that would accompany this planner.

Back to Q2

As we step into Q2, let’s keep the momentum going with renewed focus and determination. With thoughtful planning and the right tools at our disposal, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Page Turner Journal and seeing all the fantastic work you'll accomplish in the coming quarter!