Are We Down to the Wire?

Hi Reader,

Hope the holidays are everything you imagined!
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A word, please!

Now, I know the calendar says it's December 28th, and, according to the norm, we should've been plotting our business course for 2024 weeks — if not months — ago.

Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t neatly outlined 2024’s goals or if you didn’t even… well… think about them — You’re not behind!

You're exactly where you should be, on your unique journey. And dare I say, you’re in good company.😅

Here's the thing: Sure, planning could have started earlier, but we’re here now, and there’s no time like the present!

That said, you and I know it makes sense to plan. And before we can even think about making plans, we must know where we want to go and what we want to accomplish.

Seneca said it this way: “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.”

It can be tempting to hastily draw up a plan just to feel in motion or because we “should” or because others are doing it.

But without clear goals, even your intense efforts won’t make a dent. You’ll risk burnout trying to check boxes just for the sake of checking boxes.

Here’s what I did when I sat down to map out The Write RN’s 2024 goals… yesterday. (Who’s judging?👀)
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1. I did a “rearview mirror check”, aka a look back at last year’s business goals. Good drivers glance at the rearview mirror, then look ahead. Be a good driver planning your year too. Celebrate wins, learn from losses, and gear up for the open road. I looked at how I did last year. What goals did I crush? Which ones flopped?
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2. Then I dug into the “why” for the misses and the wins. Why was this goal successful and how do I replicate it? Why did I lose my social media posting motivation in Q3? Why did I miss the mark with that goal and how do I course correct?
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This 2-step rearview mirror check helps me get a clear picture of what and how to plot my action plan. And it can do the same for you!
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With that, let's work on our 2024 goals.

Map out SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals.

Here are some SMART goal examples:

• Sign 3 new retainer clients at a rate of $3000/month by the end of Q1 2024
• Launch an online business course and make $10k in sales by December 2024
• Increase per-project rate from $350 to $500 by the end of Q2 2024
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👉Your turn: Draft 1-3 SMART goals for your business.

Next comes the fun part: Take those goals and break them down into bite-sized monthly, weekly, and daily action steps.

I like to use custom-made templates like the one below to map out my plan. It even has clickable checkboxes to cross things off. Who doesn't like crossing things off? Simple pleasures!

​2024 Business Goals Template​

Feel free to save the template and adapt it to your goals (Yes, it’s FREE!). Click on the “USE TEMPLATE” button, and make a copy for you.

Psst! This template? It's my real client acquisition plan for Q1 2024, and I’m sharing it with you. See exactly how I break down one goal into realistic and achievable microtasks.

Chip away one task at a time. As they do, obstacles, detours, distractions, and discouragement will arise. They’re inevitable!

But, prioritize your goals and don’t lose sight of the destination. Each daily task you cross off means you’re one step closer to realizing your vision.

And, one more thing: Find a reason to celebrate! Reward your tenacity however you see fit. You’ll find me beachside 😉, that's my zone!

Hot off the Dek!

What’s making waves in health writing? What’s the latest buzz?

Here are 3 pitch ideas editors want:

Wellness Trends for 2024 Where is the wellness world heading? Gather wellness experts for insights on what 2024 has in store. Which out-of-the-box trends show particular promise? And, while you're at it, find out which trends are on their way out? This topic is totally worth a pitch!

Precision Nutrition Why not pitch a story on precision nutrition? This emerging area of research (which falls under precision medicine) assumes we use foods uniquely based on genes and more. Your ideal diet may be my worst! Pitch your unique angle on this topic, and don't forget your SME quotes.

The Tripledemic (again) We talked about the tripledemic in the last newsletter, and if you haven't pitched it yet, there's still time. Readers need evidence-based advice on how to fight back. Gather the experts and write a round-up of tips people can use to stay healthy and keep these illnesses at bay. This is a must-have for health pubs!

Gigs & Opps

Your next paid gig might be hiding below. Take a look!

New on the Blog

Check out these insightful guest writer posts:
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• ​Is AI Replacing Health Writers? by Sandra Toogood, BPharm, Freelance Medical Writer and Pharmacist​
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• ​What is SEO (and why is it important in health writing?) by Patrick Maua, Positive Psychology Enthusiast and Writer
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• ​What Is a Meta Description (and how do you write one?) by Dr. Prerna Yadav, Medical Writer, PG in Medical Writing, BDS Honors
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Show some extra LinkedIn love to these talented contributors.

Want more from the blog? See it here!

Blog Booster

Remember our blog booster challenge from two weeks ago? I'll kick things off by sharing my blog post: Why You Should Own Your Online Health Content​
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👉What did you write about? Share it with me at hello@thewritern.com.

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And... it's time for another blog booster! Ready?
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Here’s the plan:

1. Over the next two weeks (by January 11), write one blog post. That’s it, just one blog post for your website in the next two weeks.
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2. Suggested topic ideas: ​
   ​- How to improve on-page SEO
   - A health writer’s take on ChatGPT
   - Medical misinformation
   - It takes more than blogging to rank on Google
   - Beating writer’s block
   - Tracking your blog's impact ​
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3. Promote your challenge blog post on LinkedIn using the hashtag #THWNblogbooster.​
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4. Once you’ve published your post, send the link to me at hello@thewritern.com so I can easily collect submissions.
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5. Posts from challenge participants will be featured in upcoming newsletter editions. This gives your writing bonus exposure!
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6. One last thing! Make it a point to interact with and support the work of fellow health writers taking on the Blog Booster challenge. Remember, this is our community!

Missed the last (and very first) newsletter?

Catch it here: No "New Year, New Anything" Required Here!​

Get it here​

Save time and money with my FREE draft submission checklist! With this checklist, you can: Breeze through self-edits Hit ‘Send’ with total confidence Keep editors happy and impressed Free up hours to take on more work or do something fun

And that, my friends, is it for THWN #2!

Au revoir, mes amis…

See ya in about 336 hours, aka 14 days! Here's to a healthy, prosperous, and safe 2024!

PS: I'm seriously, absolutely, and honestly itching to know how I can make this newsletter the best for YOU and US. Hit reply and clue me in on your thoughts!

PPS: Did you take advantage of "Stuff Your Kindle Day" yesterday to snag some free ebooks from Amazon? I picked up How to Make a Living as a Writer by Amber Roshay & Melissa Uhles. Looks promising, but hey, there's no buyer's remorse when it's free, right? If you missed it, no worries. There will be other opportunities next year.
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Florida
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