Comments on: Establishing goals

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:37:29 +0000

It’s also key to make these goals somewhat objective and concrete; it’s harder to work toward something undefined and wishy-washy than it is to something you can measure or check off a list of tasks. Of course, when it comes to writing, a lot more of it is subjective, especially if your goal is just to write better. In cases like that, you could think of a few key areas of improvement, and that way you’ll have something definite to work on.

I think it also helps to realize that some goals are more like dreams you can only help along. You can aim for the NYT bestsellers list and work like crazy to make it happen, but there’s only so much you can do, and part of your success will be based on external factors. That doesn’t mean you should stop trying, though!

By: emily

emily — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:09:04 +0000

Must have goals!

Yearning for a college degree, and having Flunked Freshman French, scraped by psychology but ACED biology and swimming — I had an abysmal GPA.

My target: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN [formerly just The University of Texas].

I got the 1963 catalog, lived with my grandmother in Dallas, and after work, day after day I went through the course requirements. In the end I had a complete list of courses that would lead to a BA Degree.

Six years later, after cancer, car wreaks, death, divorce, and more illness: I graduated with a 3.6 GPA. From The University of Texas at Austin.

When I moved back to Dallas, I found my list. Even though I never reviewed it again, every item on the list had come to pass.

Then I went to work for The University as an editor for a research report series [so I know that the OFFICIAL name of The University includes the article — which is capitalized.]

And further graduated with a Master’s Degree and a 3.9 GPA.

Now, I still keep goals listed. My current goals include:
1- finishing a silly little romance with touches of magical realism and a nod to Rocky & Bullwinkle, Douglas Adams and P. G. Wodehouse. — full draft by Dec. 2012
2- drafting a series of antiwar novels with strong romantic elements [as defined by Romance Writers of America] — polished draft of first volume by Dec. 2013

By: Tami Veldura

Tami Veldura — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:40:04 +0000

I love checklists. I also love goals. I do very poorly when I don’t have a well-defined path to follow so I keep a running checklist on evernote. I use it all the time.

I’ve set up a system that reflects a semester school schedule because I have a friend working on her second degree and that keeps us in sync. But the timing of the list doesn’t really matter. The key is getting the goals down to pieces small enough that I can sit down for two hours of focused work and at the end, be able to check something off the list.

So writing a short story involves outline, drafting, beta readers, editing, subital, etc. My list includes ‘outline’ bit drafting is broken up into 1k increments. Each beta reader has a check box. And another for returning the work. Editing is broken up in 5 page chunks. And so on all the way through available for print.

I do the same thing for work on my website/blog and work on my newsletter.

This is particularly useful when i have this nonspecific desire to be productive and no idea where to focus my energy. I just go through my list until something sounds fun. That way I’m always moving forward.