Setting Goals
We've talked about Morning Pages, Artist Dates, calling yourself a Writer, and resource (reference) books. You're all set. You have your writing spot. You've been doing your morning pages. You are ready to write the Great American Novel.
Uh . . . wait . . . this is hard!
That's right. It's hard. And that's why there are so many people who are going to write the Great American Novel.
But you're different, right? Yup. Or you wouldn't be reading this blog. So . . . how do you get started? The first thing I recommend is to set a goal. This is the biggie. What is your main goal? What is your dream goal. Reach for the stars here. And be specific. For instance, my main goal for 2007 is to write a novel. OK. That's great. I know what I'm shooting for. Now it's time to break that big goal down into smaller bites. These are concrete steps that you must take in order to reach your goal. Perhaps doing your Morning Pages every day, going on an Artist Date once a week, writing 1000 words per day on your rough draft until you reach at least 50K words, editting your rough draft, attending one writing conference, etc. It's a good idea to have 5 - 10 steps in mind. Now that you have your list of goals, post it where you can see it. On the mirror in your bathroom, inside the kitchen cabinet where you keep your coffee cup, on your bulletin board at work.
Seeing those goals will help you accomplish them. But in order to take solid steps to making your dream a goal, you need to plan to succeed. I recommend that you sit down with a big piece of paper and a marker. Make a long line. The beginning is today and the end is one year from today. Divide it into 12 sections. Yes, months. This isn't rocket science. Now, place your goals on that timeline. The next step will depend on the way you organize your day-to-day activities. I live by my Franklin Day Planner (honestly, if anything ever happens to that thing . . . oh! I can't bear the thought!). Take your goals and enter them into your planner, or write them on your calendar. Write Morning Pages on every single day. Schedule time for your Artist Date. Block out time for your writing time on your schedule.
Don't write me and complain that you don't have time to do this. Honestly, neither do I. So I do a "Big Picture" plan at the beginning of the year, then I do monthly goals at the beginning of the month - and that's when I write down the daily goals that will help me stay on track. I work full-time, write, edit a newsletter, and I'm a wife and mother who lives on a hobby farm. If I can do it, you can do it. Oh . . . and you can bet the writer you idolize does some sort of goal planning. If nothing else, you'll appreciate the sense of accomplishment you'll feel at reaching each one of those little goals . . . not to mention how you'll feel when you finish that first draft!
You'll be doing two things by following this method: you will be lending credibility to your goals, and you will be recognizing the importance of allowing yourself time to reach your goals.
Plan to succeed, and you will.
Elle
Uh . . . wait . . . this is hard!
That's right. It's hard. And that's why there are so many people who are going to write the Great American Novel.
But you're different, right? Yup. Or you wouldn't be reading this blog. So . . . how do you get started? The first thing I recommend is to set a goal. This is the biggie. What is your main goal? What is your dream goal. Reach for the stars here. And be specific. For instance, my main goal for 2007 is to write a novel. OK. That's great. I know what I'm shooting for. Now it's time to break that big goal down into smaller bites. These are concrete steps that you must take in order to reach your goal. Perhaps doing your Morning Pages every day, going on an Artist Date once a week, writing 1000 words per day on your rough draft until you reach at least 50K words, editting your rough draft, attending one writing conference, etc. It's a good idea to have 5 - 10 steps in mind. Now that you have your list of goals, post it where you can see it. On the mirror in your bathroom, inside the kitchen cabinet where you keep your coffee cup, on your bulletin board at work.
Seeing those goals will help you accomplish them. But in order to take solid steps to making your dream a goal, you need to plan to succeed. I recommend that you sit down with a big piece of paper and a marker. Make a long line. The beginning is today and the end is one year from today. Divide it into 12 sections. Yes, months. This isn't rocket science. Now, place your goals on that timeline. The next step will depend on the way you organize your day-to-day activities. I live by my Franklin Day Planner (honestly, if anything ever happens to that thing . . . oh! I can't bear the thought!). Take your goals and enter them into your planner, or write them on your calendar. Write Morning Pages on every single day. Schedule time for your Artist Date. Block out time for your writing time on your schedule.
Don't write me and complain that you don't have time to do this. Honestly, neither do I. So I do a "Big Picture" plan at the beginning of the year, then I do monthly goals at the beginning of the month - and that's when I write down the daily goals that will help me stay on track. I work full-time, write, edit a newsletter, and I'm a wife and mother who lives on a hobby farm. If I can do it, you can do it. Oh . . . and you can bet the writer you idolize does some sort of goal planning. If nothing else, you'll appreciate the sense of accomplishment you'll feel at reaching each one of those little goals . . . not to mention how you'll feel when you finish that first draft!
You'll be doing two things by following this method: you will be lending credibility to your goals, and you will be recognizing the importance of allowing yourself time to reach your goals.
Plan to succeed, and you will.
Elle
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