Goals are important. Without goals, what do we work toward in life? What gives our lives meaning? Goals don't have to big and lofty, as long as they are important to you.
I think we've all heard that writing our goals down helps us focus on them more, makes them more real to us than an abstract idea. I think that's true. This year, I became a member of a wonderful group. An accountability group. What's that, you say? Well, this group knows what my long term goals are. In this case, what I want to accomplish for the year. I've broken these long term goals down into small chunks and these wonderful ladies make sure that I complete these tasks I set for myself or they have permission to kick me in the tookus to get me jump-started. Writing your goals down is all well and good, but if there's no accountability, what's to keep you on track?
My good friend, Rachel Lynne (http://rachellynneauthor.com/2010/02/15/success-is-just-around-the-corner.aspx), has determined this for herself and puts her goals out there every week on her blog. Then she holds herself accountable to her readers. And then she has the nerve to challenge us to do the same! Can you believe it? (Just kidding, Rach!) Denise Golinowski (http://gaiasong.livejournal.com/8142.html) has succumbed to Rachel's siren call and I'm bending under the peer pressure. LOL. Seriously, writers can be the biggest support for other writers and it's wonderful when they care enough to help you keep your course and realize your dreams. So I'm writing my goals for the rest of the week here, where everyone can see them, where I will be ridiculed and shamed if I don't succeed. Okay, not really, but I'm a writer. I need a little melodrama every now and again.
So – drum roll please!
This week, I vow to finish chapters four and five of Blood Diamond. I vow to post a blog entry everyday through Friday.
Whew! Okay, not as bad as I thought. Now, we'll see how it goes on Monday when I own up to how I did. ;)
So what about you? Do you have any goals you'd like to share? Would you like some help in staying accountable? Please share your experiences.
10 comments:
I need to do at least 5K on Bad Religion. I need to finish the rough on Water Mark and do some more work on about three other stories. - I also have to finish figuring out how to actually set up my Twitter stuff. (Not as straight forward as Facebook) I'm off tonight and tomorrow and then working the next two nights, so it might cut into my time. There is a very good chance I'm going to be at an inservice at work later this evening, so that cuts into writing time. I think my goals might be to lofty this week. But I'm on vaction next week, so it's all good.
-Kat
Ok, like, NO PRESSURE! LOL, Glad to see ya'll posting your goals too. I find it helps me solidify my thougths to write them out and a blog is as good a place as any.
I'm an organization freak so lists come naturally. I plan out the mundane things in life and that leaves my brain free to create. In fact, I'm blogging today about that very thing!
Hi Riley! I'm part of a goal-orientated community called Goals In A Month (GIAM) and we post weekly also. Like you said, it's great to have support from other writers. A big motivator will come from others posting what they accomplished and you wanting to be able to do the same. And it's so sweet when you can!Best of luck this week!
My goal is to finish the last chapter of a current WIP!
Good post, Riley! An accountability group is a wonderful idea. I've verbalized my goals to a few of my friends, but nothing so formal until now. Yet, I admit that when my friends look at me askance about my progress, it does create that twitch, that zing to get 'er done! Here's to accountability! Denise Golinowski
I use a special calendar dedicated to writing to keep me on track. I find that if I put my goals in my regular dayrunner, they get lost in the day to day shuffle of ordinary things that need to get done. I pencil in my word count goals, blog posts, deadlines, etc. When I need motivation, I can page back through and see how much I've accomplished...and remind myself that I can do it again.
Hi Riley, I'm new to FFandP I decided I wanted to write a paranormal. I've been writing for about six years now and have six uncomplete manuscripts in various stages. I decided this year its time to finish a maanuscript. I have put my goals out there on facebook, FFandP, FTHRW, and Savvy Authors My local Chapter has a challenge where you have to finish a book by Third week in Sept I joined that and the Cherry Adair finishthe damnbook Challenge in time for the Emerald City Conference. I'm writing truly now and have put all the accountability on myself. It's great to see all the encouragements for other writers. Thanks for the blog invite it's great to see how many need to read this.
Mary A
Wow, everyone has great ideas and tips to get their goals finished. I have faith that if we all work together to keep encouraging and supporting each other, we'll all succeed. Good luck everyone!
Goal setting works. Not because you think someone will yell at you (they won't) but because it tends to eliminate that procrastinating impulse that says: I might as well do that tomorrow. Nope. It's on your goal list for today so, unless you have a good reason to miss it (and there are some good reasons) you might as well tackle it now.
We writers have to stick together and help one another to reach those goals.
Hi Riley,
I usually set goals in January and then forget about them until the following January when I dig them out and see how I did. This year I decided I needed to do better than that so I'm trying to set more weekly and monthly goals. But sometimes I don't always make it. Having someone or something to be accountable to sounds like a great idea.
Jana
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