I think Mr. Einstein was on to something when he said that. I can recall that many of the greatest experiences of my life have been those related to having a goal. I've won NaNoWriMo twice now. I'm a year off from graduating from college. I've gotten married. I've gotten help for my addiction. And on and on goes the list of goals that I've set and been able to achieve. And I think I want to actually reach for things that are terrifying now. Because when our goals scare us, the joy we get from their achievement is multiplied.
You can do anything, when you set your mind to it. |
The food my demon prefers: Eyeballs. |
My internal editor is much like my wife. Supportive & willing to push me. |
I am determined to actually move somewhere with my writing this year. So I joined up with Write 1 Sub 1 this year. I will be finishing "Crimes of the Umbramancer" before I leave for Clarion this summer, but in the meantime I will be writing at the very least one poem per month. This month for the project I'll finish this short story, but while I'm working on the novel I'll do poetry. It is a good way to learn how to compress meaning into small works.
So listing them out in order goals for this year:
1. Get accepted to and attend Clarion West Writers Workshop.
A. Finish "The Blood Malediction" by the 31st of January.
B. Send story and application for scholarship to Clarion February 1st.
C. Await letter of acceptance in the mail (This isn't so much a goal, as a projection of what I want to have happen.)
D. Attend Clarion West starting June 23rd, 2013.
2. Write one short story or poem each month for 2013.
A. Finish "The Blood Malediction" by the 31st of January.
B. Write one poem per month while finishing the drafts of "Crimes of the Umbramancer."
3. Finish complete second draft of "Crimes of the Umbramancer" by June 22nd.
Concerning my writing those are the only goals I have at this time. I thought about attaching a wordcount goal to them, but it doesn't feel right. I need to base this year on finishing projects, not on wordcount. Perhaps when I get to work on NaNoWriMo next November, I'll focus on that again, but right now I need to be elsewhere. Particularly on the commitment I've made to you. Yeah, by writing these goals down like this and committing to them publicly I need to achieve them. Kinda like when I was doing NaNo and I had to finish because I had announced on live television that I would finish.
So wish me joy this year friends, because I'm going to places that I never thought I would have the opportunity or skills to go. Share in the comments what goals that you have for this year. Maybe we can support each other. ;) Peace, y'all.