When trying to get from where we are as writers to where we’d like to be, we will need to follow a path to that publishing destination. As mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ve been re-reading Andy Stanley’s The Principle of the Path which states that it’s direction–not intention–that determines our destination. We are travelers, […]
goals
Ask About the Numbers
While discussing goals with several writer friends, I found myself becoming depressed. We were analyzing how 2012 had gone. Each person shared their goals for the past year and how they had succeeded or failed. Until I heard the other reports, I had been happy with most of my year. While I hadn’t yet completed […]
Organizing: Targets vs. Goals
[This article is reprinted by permission. See credits at the end.] ******************* It’s traditional at the beginning of the year to define what you’d like to achieve in the coming twelve months. That’s a good thing and I highly recommend it. This week I’ll be writing my own annual plan for the coming year. However, I’d […]
Measuring Success: Changing Times, Changing Goals
Before reading a great article last week, I secretly feared I had lost my drive to write. Not my “want to.” Just my drive. For thirty years I’ve set goals, worked hard toward meeting them (some called me “driven”), achieved most of them, then set more. I happily set one-year goals, five-year goals, and ten-year […]
Writing Dreams Fulfilled
Will 2012 be the year your writing dreams come true? This is the big weekend for putting up Christmas lights and (if you have the stamina) hitting the malls to start your Christmas shopping. Before you do that–while there is still a bit of sand left in the hour glass–let me suggest that you do […]
Drains in Disguise
I was wrong–again. For twenty years, I’ve told students and wannabe writers that you have to put the writing first! Do it before other things take over your day. Fight the impulse to clean your kitchen first, or straighten your office, or clean up the mess the kids made before leaving for school. “But I […]
Gradual Exposure
For many reasons, we set writing goals–and then promptly get stuck. The reasons vary: The goal is overwhelming, and we don’t know where to start. We don’t have an hour or two each day to devote to reaching our goal. We don’t really believe you can reach goals “a little bit at a time.” […]