I’m a goal-setting kind of person. I love making lists and keeping notes. I like tracking my progress. And I like New Year’s resolutions.
But I always feel sad at the end of January each year. That’s when I realize that I have no trouble getting a treadmill at the YMCA…because all the people who made goals to lose weight or to get more fit have fallen off the bandwagon. I have to wonder what kinds of goals these folks made—was it something like ‘exercise 45 minutes every day’ or something more attainable like ‘exercise 20 minutes, 3 times a week?’ Did they say they wanted to lose 30 pounds, or did they make a more attainable goal of 5 –7 pounds in two weeks?
Writing is the same way. Many people tell me wistfully that they’d love to write a book if they had the time. But none of us have the time—we really don’t. The difference is that we’ve set workable objectives for ourselves and have applied a certain amount of discipline to the writing process.
When I was starting out, my goal was always a page a day. I knew that some days I’d be on a writing tear and would go far over a page. But that didn’t mean that the next day I didn’t have to write. I knew I needed to write every day, but only needed to produce a page by the end of it. An incremental goal, a daily goal, works well for me.
I’m writing more these days, but I’m still not setting myself up for a fall. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel each day. Instead of saying, “My goal is to finish this 215 page book”,” it’s “My goal today is to finish chapter 8.” For me, anyway, workable objectives keep writing fun. The challenge is still there, but it doesn’t overwhelm me.
I think goals are important and agree with you that they need to be realistic. But what is realistic and doable for one person may not be so for someone else. For example, I could never have a goal of losing 5-7 pounds in two weeks. I’d end up falling off the wagon of eating healthily in a heartbeat because I’d fail. You can’t control what pounds come off when. You can only eat right one day at a time.
As for writing, my goal is to write each day. I don’t set a time limit or page limit. Just write.
Karen
http://www.karenfollowingthewhispers.blogspot.com
Nice post.
As a first-time book writer, the part I’m struggling to figure out: what’s a reasonable goal? I’m not sure how long it will take me to write a chapter, much less the entire book. So for now, I try to make goals/deadlines that are sort of flexible.
I have a blog post in my queue about deadlines that relates to what you’ve written here. I’ll have to remember to link to you!
This is a good post. Too many people set up unrealistic goals and then beat themselves up over not being able to meet them. Counterproductive.
I forget who the writer was, but I remember reading of an author who held down a full time job at the Post Office. His only writing time was from 6 AM until 7:45 AM when he had to leave for work. He faithfully wrote every minute of his available time, every day, and published several books. How faithful? If, at 7:35 AM he had just typed “The End” on a completed manuscript, he would put another blank sheet in his typewriter and spend the last ten minutes of his available time writing on his next manuscript.
Oh yeah, setting goals–and especially writing lists–are my favorites. How could there be intelligent life without these things!!??
In fact, I’ve a piece of software, List Pro that really helps in the make of, and crossing off of list items…if that sentence makes any sense. (Ha) It’s made by these folks http://tiny.cc/dR0Zd. it comes in mobile and desktop, or, my favorite, a combo version. You may find it helpful.
Best Regards, Galen
http://www.galenkindley.com
I think you hit the porverbial nail on the head – you have to define you own attainable (realistic) goals. What’s that saying all journeys begin with one step (or something like that)
NA Sharpe
http://nasharpe.blogspot.com
Enjoyed your post. Right now, though, all my writing goals are on hold while I try to learn this blogging stuff! But I guess I can legitimately count this as writing – it’s all about enticing people to want to read more, a good goal for any writer.
Good food for thought. I have a friend who is just finished her 13th (I think it is) published book. She notes that, one thing that kept her from writing much earlier in her life (her first book was published at 55, I think) was the belief that writers write EVERY day.
Sometimes, an erratic schedule is what works. The trick is to find what works for you… :-)
You have helpful suggestions. I do not set writing goals. I get an inspiration one day and write 3 pages, then may not produce for 4 or 5 more days (for my job I actually write 5 to 9 pages a week, but can write even more). Thanks for the incentive to approach my writing with goals and purpose.