Topic: Goal making for writers

[Penn Bender]

Hi everyone.  I'm giving a presentation next week to a group of adults about making goals.  I wondered if any of you have success stories to share about how making your own long-term goals or simple daily to do lists have helped you in your writing career.

[olmue]

Mm, facing accountability does more for me than listing goals. So, deadlines or people waiting to crit are bigger motivators. Having a regular crit schedule is what helped me finish two novels. No amount of goal-announcements would have worked like the deadlines!

But uh, maybe someone else is better at the goal thingie.

[Joni]

This might not be what you want to hear, but after many years of being in critique groups where we each set our yearly goals and I was virtually the only one who ever even remembered what they were (though we did write them down and do a mid-year check in), let alone accomplished most of them, I think it has more to do with the personality, determination, and prioritization processes (or maybe goal orientation) of the individual than the act of making them and writing them down.

I'm probably becoming jaded in my old age, though.  Hopefully others can give you some good success stories!

[Phoebe]

I recently did some research on goal-setting for writers for a group-blog post. Two things stuck in my mind:

1) Factor in some fun. Set aside one goal that involves writing/researching/whatever just for fun.

2) Be grateful for what you have and proud of what you've achieved already. Then, if you fail to meet a goal, you will be more able to keep it in perspective.

Phoebe

[Penn Bender]

Thank you.  These responses are helpful. 
I consider wanting to have something ready for a critique as a goal.  Having people hold your feet to the fire is definitely a motivator.
And I love adding the fun factor.  If goals are just about guilt, then no thanks.

[Pam]

 One time when I was at the SCBWI Asilomar conference, an anointed speaker/writer/illustrator, Patricia Polacco, told us to write our goals on a card as if they'd already happened, not as if you wanted them to happen. Then we prayed and threw them into a fire. It was very inspirational (and effective--all of my goals were achieved save one and I'm working on that last goal.) I've recently written out new goals as if they've already happened. We'll see!

We kept another card with the goals so we could look at them and see how we've achieved. It's always on my desk.

[MaryWitzl]

If I've got a deadline, I can meet my goals. But I need the deadline.

This year, I deliberately did NOT make a New Year's resolution list. I know what I have to do and that I'm the only one who can do it. And this year, I've already met a few of the goals I've had in mind (but not on any list). Don't know if that makes sense, but it's worked for me. Writing New Year's resolutions always makes me feel guilty and overwhelmed. Simply keeping them in mind gives me the illusion that I've got more wiggle room.

[lindsey]

Honestly, when I'm on deadline or really stuck, I buy lots of chocolate. I set small goals, like write two pages, and when I reach the goal, I get a treat. Then, I'll usually have a bigger reward (like a pair of shoes) for larger goals. Notice I didn't say a new pair of jeans. That's because after all the chocolate rewards, the shoes are the only guaranteed fit

[carlynnw]

Oh, lindsey, I like your reward system!

Here's something that might be of interest to those trying to stay on track with goals.....

http://www.rescuetime.com/


I know I, for one, have a hard time resisting the temptations of the internet!  It's the ultimate procrastination tool.

[bigmama]

This year, my critique group made our usual goals, but also Vision Boards. We spent an evening with a table full of artsy stuff, poster board, glue scissors, paints, stickers, etc. We deocorated our boards to show our vision of our future. One put hers in her bathroom to look at each morning. She siad that  looking at it for 2 weeks reminded her she wasn't writing. So she went in her office and wrote. My board is in my office and I've been good about working (so far).

[Pam]

That's because after all the chocolate rewards, the shoes are the only guaranteed fit

LOL!!!! I need to try this one!

[Penn Bender]

I need the chocolate just to meet my little goals.  Personal reward systems are great though.  And a vision board is a good idea too.  Thanks you guys.  I don't need this for my presentation anymore, but I am always making personal goals.