Anyway, it’s a new year and many of us are back with lofty goals.

My goals for this year aren’t too lofty. I want to increase my income without increasing my workload. I want a sustainable writing schedule and most of all; I want to continue enjoying what I do.

Looking Back

2011 was a good year. I had been smacked around a bit by the Panda but I believe I landed on my feet. I ended the year by achieving another milestone. I managed to reach the $3,000 residual income mark.

I even managed to become a temporary ticket holder to the Double O Club. I had a nice ride for the first 25 days of December. I was a full-fledged card-carrying member of the DOC right up until Christmas day. The day after I had to hand relinquish my membership card because my daily average dropped below $100 a day. While $96, $97, $98 and $99 a day aint bad, it doesn’t cover the daily cost of the Double O Club ticket.

Oh well, there’s always 2012.

Article Count and Earnings

In 2010 I wrote 753 articles in order to earn a total of $26,736.59. In 2011, I wrote 390 articles to earn $29,279.77 *(that’s not a final number since earnings are still trickling in).

I reduced my writing by nearly 50% and increased my earnings by about 10%. Not too bad considering the Panda beating most of us endured in 2011.

BTW, 99% of my 2011 earnings were from residual sources. Going forward, my goal is to make 2012 a 100% residual year. The only way I’ll accept up-front writing assignments is if the offer is just too good to refuse (and I mean it really has to be a good offer).

Secret to Residual Earnings

What’s my residual income secret? Well, the secret is to stick with it. I’m no better a writer than any of you guys. As a matter of fact, I’ve read some of your work and you guys are good. Just stick with it, keep learning and the money will follow.

It’s a brand spanking New Year…let’s make the best of it!

The Road I Took

I started out on the more frequently traveled road. That road involved lots of writing, querying, higher-paying gigs and lots of frustration. After spending time on that road, I realized it was very similar to the 9-5 employment road. It was paved a different color, but the frustration was the same.

Both roads required me to spend time working for someone else in order to get paid. I had to abide by their rules, regulations and guidelines. This, in and of itself, isn’t such a bad thing. It was a lot better than getting up and going to work, but it started to put a damper on my spirit and take my writing joy away. Anyone who has written for Demand Studios understands what I’m talking about.

Actually, I have to thank places like Demand Studios (for their frustrating editorial process) and Bright Hub (for their out right rejection of my application). If it weren’t for my frustration and rejection, I might not have concentrated as much on my residuals early on.

Thinking Long-Term

During my days of writing frustration (and rejection) I had to stop to think about what I wanted from my writing career. So, in usual style, I wrote a list of what I wanted/needed. Here’s the list I wrote oh so long ago:

• I want to write
• I want to write books
• I want to help folks via my online properties
• I want a sustainable business model that allows me time away from the computer and isn’t dependent upon my being online all day.
• I want to write evergreen, timeless, motivational content that does not require updating (or very little).
• I want my online properties to support my lifestyle
• I want to experience life and write about it
• I never want to retire.

The last line about retirement is key. In the 9-5 world people grit their teeth and try to stick it out until retirement only to find that retirement isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. The cost of living continued to rise and the retirement checks did not.

Humans are the only species that retires. The rest of the animal kingdom remains useful until they die. If an animal retires, it becomes dinner for the working folks.

Back to the Road Less Traveled

In order to shape my online writing career to meet the goals I listed, I had to change direction. I slowly transitioned off of the frequently traveled road in favor of the side road. The side roads aren’t smoothly paved, nor do they have the white reflective paint, which makes it easier to see when traveling at night. There were no Facebook or Twitter rest stops on this road.

There were one or two Wrong Way signs, but that was about it. Choosing to ignore the Wrong Way signs, I continued down the path.

Choose Your Path

I didn’t mean to get all Robert Frost  on you guys, but I think you should take a little time to jot down your writing goals. Take a moment away from the craziness and the frustration. Find some quiet time to think about where you want to be in the next 2, 3, 5 years or so.

Once you know where you want to go, use that as your measuring stick to see if you’re on the right track. Learn to work from the inside (from your own goals, dreams and aspirations) out instead of the outside (what everyone else is telling you to do) in. I find inside out living so much more rewarding and you will too.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for NJFM’s Motivation for Writers Newsletter. A dose of motivation will be sent to your inbox every Monday.

My journal is now over 1,100 pages. Back when I first started journaling I used to print my entries at the end of each month and insert them into a binder. I came across my journal binder while cleaning my closet this weekend. I noticed the last printing occurred in November 2007. Of course I abandoned cleaning my closet in favor of printing the rest of my journal.

Last Line Last Entry

While hole punching the December 2007 entry I happened to look at the last page. I had to chuckle because the last entry on December 31, 2007 ended as follows:

“I’m in awe! My numbers as of 8:18 this morning are averaging a little over $10 per day! I’ve got to take a minute to give thanks!”

Fast Forward to November, 2011

I’m so glad I stuck with this stuff. My $10 a day earnings have increased several fold. My daily average residual earnings for November 2011 were $96.30. I’m still shy of the $100 per day number, but a far cry from $10 a day.

With my $96.30, I give thanks just as I did when I earned $10 a day. I’m thankful I stuck with it. I’m also thankful that I’m earning money doing something I used to do for free. In a time of economic upheaval, earning money residually from the comfort of your home is nothing to take for granted.

Create a Journal

If you don’t already have a journal, I encourage you to do so. Journals don’t require profound, earth-shattering entries. Sometimes the entries are as simple as giving thanks for earning $10 a day.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for NJFM’s Motivation for Writers Newsletter. A dose of motivation will be sent to your inbox every Monday.

I decided to try something a little different this morning.

(I was pacing a little too much when I recorded this because I periodically walked out of range)

High Tech and Low Cost

I went to the local craft store and bought a 100-sheet pad of large paper. The paper is 18″ x 24″. When I brainstorm I go through lots of paper.

I also bought a couple of sets of multicolored markers. They’re really supposed to be used on the white board but I’ve long since abandoned the whiteboard when brainstorming because I can only fit so much on a whiteboard. When you brainstorm, your writing space must not be limited.

The Pace Factor

True brainstorming requires excessive pacing. I pace around quite a bit, talk to myself and allow the brain to flow. Because of the pacing, I find it useful to tape a sheet of large paper every wooden door in the house. I choose doors because I don’t want to ruin the paint or wallpaper when I pull the tape down.

The color pens scattered throughout the house (and I also keep a few in my pocket or behind my ear if I’m wearing sweats). You always want to be prepared to jot something down when the idea hits.

Once a sheet of paper is filled I take it down and put up another one. At the end of my brainstorming session I take all the sheets of paper and I lay them out. The next step is organizing them and then typing them up on a smaller more manageable piece of paper.

Get the Kids Involved

My kids are older and they’re used to me having brainstorming sessions. If you have young children and wish to get them involved, tape sheets of paper on the lower part of the doors for them (or you can assign designated doors).

Make sure to set the brainstorming boundaries. Walls, floors, doors or anything else that doesn’t have a sheet of brainstorming paper is off limits. As you buzz around jotting ideas, your child can buzz around the house and brainstorm too.

Having your children join in a brainstorming session helps them to think out-of-the-box and come up with ideas that they might not have come up with using the traditional sit down and think it out method.

I find brainstorming to be a time of high energy. It’s a time of a lot of pacing, talking, thinking, jotting, drawing and charting. I’ve come up with some of my best ideas during brainstorming sessions. These sessions should be fun.

Take Action

At the end of the brainstorming session, sort out the ideas determine which ideas make the most sense and then take action. Brainstorming is great, but what use are great ideas if there’s no action behind them. Capitalize on your brainstorming energy and put something in motion.

Wait a minute. Let me ask you this. When was the last time you had a talk to yourself, pace around the house, let the world think your crazy brain storming session?  If you haven’t had one in a while, don’t you think it’s time? That Panda will be back. Don’t you want to be prepared the next time it shows up?

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for NJFM’s Motivation for Writers Newsletter. A dose of motivation will be sent to your inbox every Monday.