Writers First Aid

Writing Dreams Fulfilled

November 23, 2011

Will 2012 be the year your writing dreams come true?

This is the big weekend for putting up Christmas lights and (if you have the stamina) hitting the malls to start your Christmas shopping. Before you do that–while there is still a bit of sand left in the hour glass–let me suggest that you do one more thing this holiday weekend.

What Christmas writing wish would you like to see come true in 2012? It’s not too early to think about this. As the pace of the holiday season takes over, you’ll tend to put the writing on the back burner. Suddenly it will be 2012! This may be your last unrushed moment to think about your writing goals for next year.

Take Inventory

Nearly eleven months of 2011 are over. I’m sure you had writing goals for this year. Where are you at this point? I highly encourage you to review your goals and take stock. Make a clear, detailed, written description of your current writing life.

Then create a detailed image of your future perfect writing life. What are some projects you’d love to work on? What are your secret writing dreams? Make a list.

To go from where you are to where you want to be as a writer, two things are critical. One has to do with your feelings, and the other has to do with your will.

Two Requirements for Fulfilled Writing Dreams

First, you need an overwhelming desire to change something in your life. (Perhaps you want to get on a regular writing schedule. Maybe you want to submit the finished stories hidden in your desk. Possibly you’re ready to find an agent.) Whatever your goals, the more specific, the better.

Second, you must be determined to move from wishing and hoping to taking action. It’s as simple as cause and effect: you must do something different (cause) in order to develop the writing life of your dreams (effect). This determination will also involve developing good habits to support, nurture, and sustain your changes. (These habits might include eating right, getting sufficient exercise and sleep, and curtailing time wasters like too much TV and Web surfing. I’ve been working on such a list this past week myself.)

Time to Take Action

This week, think about what habits you may need to implement–and which ones you may need to eliminate–to support your writing goals for 2012. Remember to take baby steps as you make changes. (January’s goal might be to write 20 minutes per day. February’s goal might be 30 minutes of daily writing, etc.)

If you feel inclined, please share some of the goals and habits you hope to create. We’re all in this together! Time in 2011 is running out.

Make the most of the remaining days to prepare yourself for your most successful writing year yet–in 2012.

Post tags: goals

6 Comments »

Thanks for this timely post. I only have a vague idea so far of what new goals and habits I need for 2012, but you’ve reminded me that now is a good time to think about that. But then one of my goals will definitely be to take more time to think about everything. I have realized lately that I don’t take nearly enough time to think. I fill spaces of time with reading and even listening to books in the car. That’s fine but it isn’t thinking time. So yes to more time to sit or stand or walk and think.

Comment by Bonnie Hinman — November 23, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Bonnie, I bet you have hit on a problem that is true of 95% of today’s writers–even if they don’t know it. I know it’s true of me too…in trying to make good use of every free minute, I too have books on CD playing in the car, or on my MP3 player while walking or doing house or yard work, etc. I seldom simply have quiet thinking time. Quiet contemplation is almost a self-disciplined act, now that we’re so used to constant noise. “Sit and think” sounds like a great goal!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 23, 2011 @ 5:06 pm
I made very specific goals for 2011, and as of last night, I’ve accomplished all but one and I plan on finishing that one this holiday weekend. I began a middle grade novel on August 1 with plans to finish the first draft by January 2012. I finished it last night (still have lots of revisions to go, but the whole book is on paper!).

I had on my to-do list this weekend to look ahead to 2012 so your post gave me more motivation.

Comment by Marcie Atkins — November 23, 2011 @ 7:10 pm
Marcie, congratulations on a very successful year!!! That must give you great momentum for heading into the new year too. How neat that you finished your novel’s draft early! I think there is a good clue to your success in your first line: “I made very specific goals…” That’s a big key!! Best to you in 2012!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 25, 2011 @ 7:08 am
As I take stock of this year, I find that I did accomplish the one thing I wanted to do — finish a book and revise it. The only problem is that the book needs a couple more rounds of revision.

I’d like to revise and polish and get it submittable-worthy for 2012. Then start another book I’ve been thinking about for several years now.

Oh, and I’d like to get completely box free … LOL.

Comment by Vijaya — November 27, 2011 @ 8:21 am
I had to laugh at your box-free goal. Yesterday my husband was digging through some boxes of his stuff in the garage–boxes he didn’t unpack when we moved here FIVE years ago. Even though your book still needs another revision or two, it’s very exciting that you have something solid to work on. Polishing is fun, I think, compared to the other stages of fixing where you don’t know what’s wrong! Good luck in 2012!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 28, 2011 @ 8:59 am