Setting goals for your writing
“One way to have more successes is to set yourself more modest goals.” Ashleigh Brilliant.
While this is a somewhat flippant and whimsical approach to goal setting, I do not fully agree with it. I find that so many people do not achieve anything of significance in their lives because they set no goals. Or they may set some goals but never seriously attempt to achieve them. And near the end of their lives they just wonder what happened and where their lives went.
On the other hand, some people set goals that are lofty, admirable and worthy of pursuing. Then they get discouraged because they cannot attain those goals. They had an unrealistic level of their own abilities.
Set realistic goals
I prefer instead to work hard at setting – and then achieving – realistic goals. Know thyself – analyse your goals and be honest with yourself, acknowledging your strengths and being aware of weaknesses. Take into account times and circumstances which can drastically impinge upon your goals. Know through trial and error what you can achieve. And then work hard at achieving your goals.
Writing goals
I have three crucial goals regarding my writing:
- I set firm targets for the number of hours of writing I do each week, month and year.
- I set firm targets for the number of words I write each week, month and year.
- I set firm goals for the number of blog posts I write each month.
I do not always achieve these goals, but I sure work hard at reaching them. Sometimes there are major interruptions, like recently when I was asked to work full time in a relieving capacity for three weeks. You have to work around life events and their demands.
Stretch yourself
I prefer not to set modest goals, as Ashleigh Brilliant suggests in the quote above. I would much rather set realistic goals that I know I can achieve if I work hard at them – and they stretch me a little. The satisfaction of achievement is therefore much sweeter.
Good writing.
You know you are getting old when…
2 Comments »27th November, 2007; Category: The Writer's Life
I guess we’ve all read those lists of things that indicate that you are getting old. Such lists include such witticisms as “You know you are getting old when you back goes out more than you do.” These lists are supposed to be funny, but for the people who show some of symptoms mentioned in these lists, they are not all that funny. In some cases there is a real sadness or even distress about the aging process occurring in their formerly supple, healthy bodies.
Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I recently celebrated my 60th birthday. In reality, it staggers me that I’ve reached that age. Mentally I certainly do not feel that old. I guess that is the result of working with 7 to 10 year old children for most of my life. Physically, many people tell me I look ten years younger. That’s always encouraging to the ego. When I do hard physical work (like gardening for example) I am starting to feel that the years have taken some of their toll. And I know I do not have the endurance to keep working long hours or to stay fully alert late into the evenings like I used to.
In all of this I did something this morning that made me realise a new truth about aging. You know you are getting old…when you send off an application form to obtain a Seniors Card. [Sigh] Here in Australia we have some generous discounts and concessions for those over the age of sixty, so I should not bemoan the fact. It’s just that the realisation crept up on me suddenly. [Another sigh]
Good writing.
A sensible approach to blogging
I have written quite a few Haiku poems over the years. I’ve even published a few of them here on my blog. That reminds me – I must post a few more in the coming weeks – it’s been a while since the last one.
Today I read an interesting post written by Leo Babauta, a guest blogger this week on ProBlogger. His article is called Haiku Blogging. Leo makes some very interesting and helpful suggestions on using the principles of writing haiku poetry on one’s blogging. His is certainly a sensible approach to blogging.
If you are struggling to keep up with the demands of writing on your blog, then his post is a must-read article. If the blogging life is getting you down then read the post. Haiku poems distill the bare essentials of the subject and convey those essentials succinctly and precisely. Leo explains how to use these principles in writing your blog.
Happy Birthday to me
It’s my birthday today.
(Sound of wild cheering, laughter and happy singing.)
I was hoping to spend the day relaxing. I had planned to do a little reading, perhaps go for a walk in the cool of the morning, watch a good video or two and perhaps even watch a little of the cricket on television. In short – have a relaxing day.
Wrong.
I wrote this entry last night, just after receiving a phone call asking me to work all day. (I do occasional casual relief driving for a courier company.)
So my celebration of the BIG SIX OH will have to be put on hold for a few hours.
Good writing.
Writing when the wheels are spinning
I’ve had about four weeks of frustration with my writing and blogging. I feel like my wheels are spinning; lots of activity but I’ve been going nowhere.
Actually, the driving analogy is very apt. I seem to have done nothing but drive over recent weeks. I do occasional relief driving for a local courier company. I recently went back to work full time for three weeks. While the pay was good, the hours were very long and the work exhausting. Not a good time for writing. In fact, there was little time spare for writing. I’m still trying to catch up with my email.
I’ve been trying to get back to the writing this week but I have really struggled to build momentum again after such a long break. I will not call it the dreaded “writer’s block” but it was not far from it. Many writers experience dry periods where it is a struggle to get the writing moving again. There may be plenty of activity – like the engine revving and the wheels spinning – but there is little if any forward movement. Sometimes we just can’t get going.
Robert over at the Middle Zone Musings writes about this topic too. His post called “How to counter the dreaded blankpageitis.” In this post he refers to my short story starters. These posts I have written are designed to get you writing so what about it? Give it a go – it can be great fun.
Good writing.
Another article worth reading – with several suggestions I know help me can be found here: Life sucks – writing on the bad days.