2016 Spring Clean Writing Fling
GOAL SETTING
-PJ Switzer
Goal setting and planning, two of the favorite exercises of the left-brained. Still, if we want to be productive we're going to have to develop these two skills. Here's a tip to take the sting out of the process.
SET SPECIFIC, BUT REASONABLE GOALS
For example: By March 31, 2016 …
A query letter polished and ready to use.
or
30,000 words on my current manuscript.
or
Finish The Right to Write by Julia Cameron.
-PJ Switzer
Goal setting and planning, two of the favorite exercises of the left-brained. Still, if we want to be productive we're going to have to develop these two skills. Here's a tip to take the sting out of the process.
For example: By March 31, 2016 …
A query letter polished and ready to use.
or
30,000 words on my current manuscript.
or
Finish The Right to Write by Julia Cameron.
Make sure to
seek the counsel of the Spirit in setting your goal. Whatever you do, DO NOT
set your goal based on what another writer is doing.
I recently began
social media stalking a writer whom I admire and respect. She’s writing upwards
of 3,500 words per day while editing two other manuscripts, maintaining a blog,
raising a family, and curing cancer (probably).
Naturally, when
I sat down to set my own goals I based my plan on HER accomplishments and not
my abilities. What followed were weeks of frustration and not much
productivity. I learned several important things from that experience.
First, that lady
is probably an alien. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
Second, and this
is going to sound like a “well, duh” statement, I cannot write as another
author does. If my voice is unique so then is my pace and my process.
Third, comparison kills creativity.
Third, comparison kills creativity.
Vermeer produced
34 paintings during his career.
Rembrandt, on the other hand, produced roughly 300 paintings, 300 prints,
and more than 2,000 drawings.
Rembrandt, on the other hand, produced roughly 300 paintings, 300 prints,
and more than 2,000 drawings.
 |
| That Vermeer, what a hack! |
Agatha Christie
wrote 69 novels and 19 plays.
In contrast, Harper Lee published 2 books and for the majority of her career
had a single title to her name.
In contrast, Harper Lee published 2 books and for the majority of her career
had a single title to her name.
Looking at their
output we could argue that Vermeer and Lee were lesser artists but anyone looking
at Woman With a Water Jug or reading To Kill a Mockingbird knows that isn’t
true.
One work of art, one book can change the world. Don’t give up because you’re
not Barbara Cartland, producing a new book every 40 days.
Links to look at:
Both sites have cute, FREE printables to helps with goal setting & organization.
Both sites have cute, FREE printables to helps with goal setting & organization.
http://www.remakingjunecleaver.com/printable-calendar-set-beautiful-banner/
http://inkhappi.com/goal-planning-worksheets/
http://inkhappi.com/goal-planning-worksheets/
 |
| Return & Report |
Let us know - Report back on the comments in Facebook!
Have you Read:
1. The Spring Clean Info post? CHECK
2. Sample Daily Post: Day -4? CHECK
3. Goal Setting: Day -3? CHECK
3. Goal Setting: Day -3? CHECK
You're on you're way for the most amazing month ever!
Content by P.J. Switzer & Janet Clark
Too funny, PJ and Janet! inkhappi is my mom's blog (and the reason she made those goal planning sheets was because I asked her to make me some with those categories). I'm so excited for this event!!! Thanks for setting it up!
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious. The writing world is smaller than we think. Hopefully we can drive up traffic for your mom's blog and help the ANWA ladies.
ReplyDeleteI am super excited to see how March unfolds. My yearly goal is to write a book a month. With the move and the craziness of a son getting married, I am way behind. So my goal for the month is to finish Giada and the Sky Captain, and finish my next book. I'm still trying to figure out which one to write next. They are all a series of novelettes, btw.
ReplyDelete