March 26, 2010

Have you ever noticed that we never drift in good directions?

If you want to accomplish anything, it has to be by choice. “Drift” is our default setting when we allow outside distractions to capture our attention. [See Attention! It's a Choice and Pay Attention!]

Have you drifted away from your writing goals this past year?

Looking Back

Recall the last time you set some writing goals. Did your goals include X number of hours of writing per week, or X number of pages produced monthly? Did you perhaps start out with great gusto? Did you continue to consistently write and produce those pages?

If not, it’s because you stopped actively making choices. You let yourself drift.

When the Thrill Wears Off

I love canoeing. Paddling is great exercise for the arms, and gliding across a sparkling blue lake is heavenly. However, when the first thrill of being on the water gives way to tired, cramping shoulder muscles, the tendency is to stop paddling. We rest a bit, and that’s okay, letting our attention wander to the shoreline or herons gliding overhead.

But if you stay focused too long on the wildlife or sunbathers on the shore, your forward motion stops. You begin to drift off course, whichever way the wind is blowing or the current is flowing.

Lost Momentum

Drifting occurs when we stop the forward momentum, and it never takes us the direction we want to go. With that fact in mind, consider the direction of your writing career.

When you made your writing goals, your writing had your attention. You were focused. You paid the price of giving up other distractions. You logged in writing hours and watched the new pages pile up.

But at some point, you got a bit tired. We all do! Something–or someone–caught your attention. And kept your attention too long. Now you’re drifting away from the writing career of your dreams.

Self-Assessment Time

Be honest with yourself about this. Has anything in the past six months or year captured your attention or affection in a way that is distracting you from your goal? Is there a distraction that started out small but has grown so that it takes up way too much of your time? (This could be a hobby or pastime, something that looks harmless or even good.)

Is there anything you need to stop or drop from your life so you can pick up your paddle and get your canoe moving again?

Time for Action

If you’ve drifted from your writing goals, don’t keep on hoping that you’ll somehow magically drift back. You won’t. Drift doesn’t work that way. Drift takes the path of least resistance.

As a reminder: attention –> direction –> destination.

If you want your destination to read “successful writing career,” then you need to be headed in that direction. And in order to head that direction, you must choose to pay attention to your writing. This will probably require you to stop paying attention to something else.

An Honest Look

Be honest with yourself. What shifts in attention do you need to make in order to stop the drift and turn things around? Bite the bullet and make the changes. Start today!

And once you’re headed in the right direction again, guard against drift. Notice the things that compete for your attention. Pause. Take a step back before giving your attention to something. Remind yourself of the destination you want to arrive at. Then make the choice that will get you there.

10 Comments »

1. 

   Thanks, Kristi. I realized when reading this that my goals tend to be very vague (“I’ll work on X today”). Making more specific goals about time or output would help me prevent the dreaded drift!

   Comment by Jane Healy — March 26, 2010 @ 6:26 am

2. 

   Jane, you’re so right about being specific! It’s part of making those S.M.A.R.T. goals, where “S” stands for specific and “M” for measurable. And meeting those specific goals gives our writer’s self-esteem a real boost.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 26, 2010 @ 7:45 am

3. 

   Thank you for this article. I have been drifting off course and need to once again resume paddling…

   Comment by Deborah — March 26, 2010 @ 8:52 am

4. 

   Deborah, you’re so welcome. As you can probably guess from the “drift” of my posts lately, I’m having trouble with drifting too. So many distractions lately! I’m not sure why I always thought having small children underfoot was the only real distraction for writers! Ha! It’s an ongoing challenge!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 26, 2010 @ 10:21 am

5. 

   Thanks so much for this encouraging post, Kristi. By not keeping to specific measurable goals, I’ve been drifting a little too much lately, so this was a good reminder of how to keep paddling.

   Comment by Beth Mac — March 26, 2010 @ 11:46 am

6. 

   Beth, that’s so true. Without specific goals–even very small daily ones–drifting becomes our default position. I am guilty of it too! That’s why I think about it and write about it.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 28, 2010 @ 7:22 am

7. 

   Dearr Kristi,

   I’ve drifted so far from my writing, that I can’t see anything but mist (my mist is made up of daily routines,3boys,husband,2dogs,laundry,meals,etc…) Thanks for the reminder of goals, maybe that where I’ll start. Maria.

   Comment by Maria — March 29, 2010 @ 12:17 pm

8. 

   Maria, start small. You obviously have a very FULL plate. Sounds like when I started writing, but I had girls instead, just one dog, but 22 cats in the barn! Small goals–and I do mean small–attained each day can build up into books. My first five novels were written in such tiny bits and pieces!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 30, 2010 @ 8:40 am

9. 

   Hi Kristi,

   I like how you said “chose to pay attention to your writing.” It is so true. It is a choice–and a tough one sometimes when it requires one to stop paying attention to something else as you said. I found your post very insightful and encouraging. I think I’ll print it out to read each morning as I start my day to keep me on track!

   Karin Larson
   http://www.karin-larson.blogspot.com

   Comment by Karin Larson — April 2, 2010 @ 8:18 am

10. 

    Karin, I should do the same thing and print out all my columns and remember to practice what I preach! Yes, there is definite “payment” made in choosing to pay attention to our writing. Thanks for stopping by!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — April 2, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

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