Tag: Goals

A New Year

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Happy New Year, everyone!

Since it’s the first week in January, I thought it would be beneficial to review my goals for the year. So, in random order…*drum roll please.*

1.  Select a writing conference and attend.

2.  Practice my guitar and piano.

3.  Begin learning ukulele.

4.  Paint 3 canvases.

5.  Complete the rough draft of First Book by March 31st.

6.  Complete revisions by June 31st.

7.  Ready query letters and publisher packets by August 1st.

8.  Finish prep-work for Second Book.

9.  Blog at least once a week. (52)

Yup.  There they are.

This week, I am making job decisions that will (hopefully) afford me more time to write.  After all, that is the career goal.  It seems a big step to apply for a new position.  Actually filling out the paper work and creating a CV and cover letters and learning how express confidence without seeming self-absorbed… It’s making me get that funny feeling between my shoulder blades, and I’ve been catching myself biting my fingernails.  After I turn everything in, I’ll be fine.  Either it will happen or it won’t.  It’s getting to that point when it is no longer in my hands…

So—writing!

I downloaded a trial version of Scrivener.  I’m in love.  If I wasn’t married, I would propose such an arrangement to the software.  I moved all my files from Word to Scrivener, and discovered that I have approximately 30,000 words.  I’m ecstatic.  I think this is really going to help with the revision process.  As far as the first draft, I love that I can visually measure my progress, and I love tangible confirmation that I am getting somewhere—butters my bread.

The bad news is I was unable to write as I had hoped over the Christmas break.  Other “necessaries” were accomplished (Yay!), but I really hoped I would write a significant amount of text.  I suppose, though, that any writing done is significant with two jobs, a family, and a budding career to nurture.  Also, I was ill, which is a good excuse, but an excuse nonetheless.

At the end of the day, I’m still passionate, if a bit tired, but I’m reprioritizing aspects of my life in order to be productive and happy.  I like this purposeful forward movement.  Goals and I, we will be friends…even if I have to hog tie them and force them to concede to my will.  Mua-ha-ha.

It’s going to be a good year.

The Discovery of Goals

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I have never made New Year’s resolutions.  No really, it’s true.  I’ve made wishes—

“Please, let my acne be unnoticeable this year.”

“I hope I can still fit into these jeans by New Year’s resolution time next year.”

“It would be great if I was doing something I loved…whatever that is.”

–but never actual resolutions.

So if you read the “About” information, you noticed that I’ve been working on First Book for about a year and a half.  I set no other goal for myself than, “Finish First Book.”  This was daunting.  I’ve heard of people who spend their entire LIVES finishing one book, and I want to write another one because my first will most likely be poo, but I only have ONE lifetime!  What’s a girl to do?!  *Commence panic attack*

I couldn’t find a paper bag to breathe in, but luckily, I found these two articles by authors Maggie Stiefvater  and Holly Lisle  which introduce a goal formula.  I hate math but I love formulas.  They’re like plans and I love, I mean LOVE, a plan.  After reading the articles, I scolded me for not caring enough about myself to expect great things from my life, comforted me for being proactive now, and began thinking about MY goals, my plan.

Here is the formula I created from these two articles:

Accomplishable by only you + describable (not vague) + positive + expiration date = GOOD GOAL

(Disclaimer: There are other aspects from the articles that I needed to consider not included in my formula, so I hope you’ll read these articles.  Above is bare bone.)

I thought a neat way to start this blog would be to share with you my goals that I have so far.  I’ll do a follow-up blog in December of 2012 to see how it went.  I already feel more accomplished for the coming up year because I know some things I WANT to accomplish instead of entering the year just hoping something interesting happens.  I feel the intimidating resolution of finishing First Book is within my grasp just because of perspective.

2012 Goals (In random order)

1.  Select a writing conference and attend.

2.  Practice my guitar and piano.

3.  Begin learning ukulele.

4.  Paint 3 canvases.

5.  Complete the rough draft of First Book by March 31st.

6.  Complete revisions by June 30st.

7.  Ready query letters and publisher packets by August 1st.

8.  Finish prep work for Second Book.

9.  Blog at least once a week.

I’m super pumped about trying this which, consequently, makes all aspects of my life (even the broken ones) much more bearable.

So, how about you?  Are you ready for 2012?