Eli
It's that time of year again, ladies. Ah, the new year. With the passing of the holidays, comes the promise of new beginnings, excitement and yes, New Year's Resolutions. Why is it so much easier to chuck all of our lousy habits and focus on being good? On bettering ourselves? Perhaps it's a cultural rite that Americans latch onto, or the reminder that time is marching on with or without us.
Whatever the case, I'm never quite as excited about starting something new as I am on January 1. Of course, the average person's resolution goes to the wayside before the first month of the year even ends, but that's neither here nor there. You think: I'm different. My will is stronger than Joe Smith. I can do this!
I thought about the requisite diet and exercise resolution. BORING!!! Here's mine: I resolve to use my elliptical machine for more than a coat rack this year. Of course, in my shifty mind, this leaves a wealth of ambiguity. Maybe I'll do more than look at it, maybe I'll hang streamers and balloons from it. Maybe by the end of 2007, I'll be a trim and firm size 4. (Please excuse me a moment. I'm choking on laughter.)
This year, I'm going to make a resolution from which I will truly benefit and actually have a hope of carrying through.
This year, I resolve to set tiny writing goals each week and....wait for it....wait for it...complete them!
But, wait, you say. I already do this. Jen, for a resolution, this is kind of lame. I was reading my January issue of RWR and caught an article on New Year's writing resolutions. I'm sure many of you know to which article I'm referring. It really struck me. Hey, after all, in 2006, I finished my novel. It may not be The Novel or even The Novel That Gets Published, but this is a huge step. One part of the article mentioned setting small goals, so that when you reached them, you kept setting bigger ones until WHAM! You've completed The Big Goal.
I'm setting my first small goal now: 10 pages a week. That's it. Just 10. If I start to pick up the pace, kudos for me. So, I'm challenging you ladies. For those of you who don't have a set resolution, pick up the writing ball and run with it. And for those who already utilize the "goal" system, perhaps the new year will inspire you anew.
12 comments:
Way to go, Steph!
There are no small goals only_________________.
I can't think of anything to fill in the blank, maybe you can!
I think your idea of decorating the elliptical machine with streamers and balloons to be absolutely brilliant! What a cheery sight it will make as you smugly type those ten pages (FYI-- 10X 52=520 pages in one year. take a week off for illness, another for a vacation, what the heck, give yourself a week for a romantic getaway with the dh and you still have a huge, fat book!) The machine will have to accept that you have other priorities. Maybe it can take up with the stove or flirt with the ironing board...
Okay, I will make a small step goal, myself. Page numbers don't work for me so it has to be something different. I resolve that if my book isn't coming together, if it needs time to wander aimlessly in the back of my mind, I will do whatever I can to make the best use of the time I would spend writing if I could. I.E. I will go see something different, talk to someone new, research a subject that's always appealed to me but that I haven't taken the time to get to yet, enrich my life in some way that does involve dishes, obligations and small appliances. I will, in other words, use my down time or at least some of it, to REFILL THE CREATIVE WELL. And furthermore, I will do these things WITHOUT GUILT.
Did I say a small step? This is a biggie!
Thanks for the reminder to make 2007 count.
Alice
Okay, in case anyone pries themselves away from the champage bottle and sees me promising to devote myself TO small appliances, etc... I wish to correct that sentense to read "I will go see something different, talk to someone new, research a subject that's always appealed to me but that I haven't taken the time to get to yet, enrich my life in some way that does NOT involve dishes, obligations and small appliances.
Yikes. How did I not see that mistake?
Alice
Alice
Great post, Jen!
I'm not big on resolutions. I set goals all through the year and don't see the need to do so just because Jan 1 is right around the corner. That said though, my newest goal is to get this darn MS done, to immerse myself in it, to stop worrying about being a perfectionist and just go. I'd love to have the rough draft done by March 1, which gives me roughly - eek! - two months.
Alice, I'm ROFLMAO. I have to admit, you had me wondering just what kind of small appliance you meant that could enrich your life. ;) Glad you cleared that up.
And since you're on a post-editing-kick, would this be a good time to point out the fact Jen wrote this article, not Steph? (LOL)
Jen, oops. Apparenly, I can't read any better than I write.
Very sorry for the mistaken identity thing.
Eli, thanks for pointing out my goof. You can have a rough draft done in two months, I know you can!
Alice
Great New Year's post, Jen!
My goal is to learn more about promotion and keep pushing the words and pages out. I have two books to finish in 2007.
Aaaagggh. Writing new post for Tuesday :) Great minds think alike Jen :) And I really liked the RWR article about making realistic goals.
Most years I have really grandiose goals: I'll loose 50 pounds, be the perfect little Flylady with a sparkling home, I'll transform into a morning person, I won't procrastinate. I have exceptionally detailed lists from years past. Complete with schedules! These goals and lists are really fun to make but they usually go down in flames in less than a week.
So this year, I'm trying make more realistic goals. Don't laugh at how minute these are!
Cleaning: I will not walk away from the microwave/stove. I will use the time to clean the kitchen/dining room.
Marriage: I will do one unconditionally nice thing for my husband each day without pointing out what I did.
Health: I will ride my exercise bike (or walk once the damn cast comes off) 5 minutes a day. I will add three minutes each week until I am riding/walking 30 minutes. I will eat slower.
Writing: My 2,000 words a day goal has served me very well, but with the start of teaching again, I need to get realistic about what the balance is. 2,000 words a day probably isn't realistic with three classes and I'm about to enter into an editing phase in any case.
So I have a new goal.
Small Step Goal: I resolve to open a WIP every day or do something directly related to furthering my career (query, contest entry, synopsis, writing scene by hand, editing). Blogging, loops, and writing books don't count for this goal. This is my number one goal and I know that by sticking to it, everything else is possible.
Other writing goals (which all require the first goal):
I will finish the first draft of the WIP by Jan. 11. I will finish the second draft by Feb. 11.
I will enter two contests a month (maximum of $50 total).
I will continue to query all of my MS.
I will attend at least one conference and participate in at least one agent appointment.
I know that if I can just stick to the first goal, all of these other goals will take care of themselves.
For those of you who have had difficult times in this past year, I want to share what a friend and I did (and our husband's) a couple of years ago.
We'd both had miserable years. terrible things had happened. So after dinner, we all four took pieces of paper and wrote down the things that had hurt us. Say your sister's husband left her, for instance (my sister's didn't.) You write this down on the paper. You write as many as you want.
The men, surprisingly, really got into this, even my cynical husband who doesn't embrace the touchy-feely much. Anyway, when we were all done, we opened the fire place and individually read and burned each paper, letting the bad thing go.
Doesn't this sound silly? But I can't tell you how freeing it felt and I don't know that it wouldn't work with writing things as well as life problems.
Such as:
A rejection that stunned you or hurt you.
Loosing a contest you really wanted to win.
Failing to meet goals that were important to you.
Letting down someone close to you because you were so driven to write and then feeling bad about it.
A nasty comment from someone you trust like a CP or someone you need like an agent or an editor.
Loosing a line you are writing for.
Loosing an editor.
Like that.
Write them down and read them aloud or privately before setting them aflame.
My friend has since died, but I will never forget the look on her face as the fire burned these pieces of paper. What power our own hearts and minds have.
And thanks, Jen, for allowing me to use your forum--as though you had a choice, LOL-- as my loop email doesn't work.
Wavy, you may have a bonfire if your burn all those past resolutions, so keep a fire extinguisher handy!
Alice
Goals...hmmmm...my goal at this point is to write everyday. Once in awhile that is impossible -- like last week when we were hauling hay all day. But most days I can do it. Some days I revise what I've already written, and some days I write new stuff. I don't set page or word goals right now.
As for other writing goals this year: I plan to finish my WIP, clean it up and get it sent out to agents and/or editors. While that one is circulating, I intend to rewrite my first novel, using contest, editor and agent suggestions that strike true with me and get that one back out there. Then rewrite a short story that I think has potential but needs some work still, and get it out and about.
As for other goals, such as body image -- uh, I'd really like to get back in shape. But instead of setting a huge goal, like I'll drop 20 pounds in two months, I'll just take it one pound at a time. And then focus on losing the next pound. Sigh. Wish me luck. My DH is supposed to be doing the get-n-shape thing with me. And like Eli, I rarely set New Year's goals.
I like Wavy's idea for small, obtainable goals.
and Alice's blank should be: small people, shouldn't it? And I knew what you meant about the small appliance thing.
Everyone has great goals and aspirations! Now that we all know them... we can cheer and urge each other on.
I always "think" about resolutions for the new year, but I never actually make them. Like Eli and Danita, I'm more of a goal setter, and it doesn't matter what time of year I decide to set them. Sometimes I achieve them, but most of the time I give myself excuses not to. My bad.
I remember there was a time when I resolved to liberate myself of so many obligations and worries. Things like: It's okay to let the vacuming go for another week. Is there really enough laundry for a full load? I can always do the shopping tomorrow. Unfortunately, it backfired. After crossing over to "the dark side" I can't find my way back.
The ironic thing is that I made myself more time to write but haven't fulfilled that promise to myself. So I've got a lot to work on. 8^)
Wavy, I have similar goals to yours, especially the health thing. The 18 pounds I lost 2 1/2 years ago are back, with interest. And I don't have Danita's legitimate excuse of just having had a baby. Nope. I've got to stop being so sedintary and move my ass! lol!
I like Jen's goal of 1000 words a day, but I think I'd do better with weekly goals. 5000 words a week sounds reasonable for me, and if I can do more, halelujah.
Alice, I really like your idea of writing down all the bad things that happened over the past year and burning them, though I'm afraid we'll have to use the barbeque for that. Our fireplace is gas with a fake log.
Happy new year, everyone!
Karen
Karen--ain't it the truth. LOL on the crossing over to the dark side and can't find your way back. I did that, too. So, if I'm not working on keeping the house as clean as my departed mother-in-law (who was an enchantress when it came to clean and pristine) and I'm not writing six books a year, what the hell AM I DOING?
I don't know. The older I get, the more the hours just fly away!
Alice
Alice, don't say the older you get the faster time goes! I was hoping to have more time. But I'm feeling like it is racing by and I'm not getting enough accomplished!
I don't writer resolutions, I just go into the new year with some goals. If I make them - Great! If I don't - guess I'll work harder the following year to make them happen.
The main thing is for everyone to make time to write. It's the only way to get published is to produce!
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