I don’t like the word “resolution.” It reminds me of all those New Year’s Resolutions that are forgotten by January 10th. To me, “goal” is a more forceful word, a word with significant meaning, a word that implies commitment to achieve it.
Look at a goal as the vision for your future, a vision of where you want to be, a target to aim for. Habakkuk 2:2-3 tells us to write the vision. I’ve learned it’s also important to make note of how you’ll achieve the goal, what steps you’ll take to bring it into reality. If it isn’t written, it becomes vague and fuzzy and soon forgotten in the busyness of everyday life.
So, practicing what I preach, here is my first goal for 2012.
My primary writing goal for 2012 is to complete at least two novels in a new historical series.
How do I intend to achieve it? Through the self-discipline every writer who wants to be a writer must apply. First and foremost, put my butt in the chair for a minimum of 2,000 words per day, 5 days per week. For me, achieving a goal depends on managing my time. Besides scheduling time for writing, I will also schedule time for research, including travel. My commitments to my critique partners come next. The discipline of saying “No” to other commitments that may be worthy but drain time away from my primary goal must be practiced.
Finally, I will keep this primary goal in context and balance with my other personal, family, and spiritual goals for 2012.
How about you? What are your goals for 2012? How do you plan to make them happen?
I love them, Henry. I might have to copy them for my own -especially the traveling for research!
Right. Even the travel has to be focused yet allow for serendipity.
Blessings.
I’m with you, Henry. I like the idea of goals. I make weekly writing goals & give myself stickers for each one I achieve. 2012 goals include 13 adult stories for Union Gospel Press due 4/1, marketing my 1st book to be released late summer, and finishing my 365 devotions book & my contemporary romance. Sounds easier when I break it into bite-sized weekly pieces. Ha!
Janet, that’s an awesome agenda. I agree — bite-size pieces are definitely more manageable. 10,000 words a week for nine weeks sounds more do-able than a 90,000 word first draft by February 29.
Which book is being released this summer?
I love the idea of goals, too! I never stick with resolutions. 🙂
YES! I saw a peice on the dvd Secret Life of Bees, where Sue Monk Kidd traveled to the area, and visited bee keepers in her research, which added authenticity to her book which later became a movie. and YES I did read the book first! :> I have sent off for tourism information, to glean ideas to impart into the part of my current story that takes place in an area I’ve never been to before. Much to learn…