Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
When you watched Peter Pan as a kid and Tinkerbell’s glow dimmed, did you clap your hands like crazy and scream at your TV, “I believe! I believe!â€? If your answer is yes, you’ve come to the right place. You know boiling bat blood and spider webs in a cauldron doesn’t make magic happen, it’s believing in yourself and your work (and then working your butt off and never giving up, which is a whole ‘nother blog).
I’m taking the fabulous Suzanne McMinn’s Patience is for Sissies class, and for her first homework assignment we’re creating affirmations. So every morning, I’ll look in the mirror and say: “I believe in myself. I’m a damn good writer. Agents and editors eagerly await my books. People LOVE my writing. They can’t wait to read my books.â€
The second homework assignment is Setting Goals. Or, in other words: Do I gotta?
I have nothing against goals–daily or weekly, even a few months down the line. It’s those long-term ones that freeze my fingers on the keyboard and set off a brain-shaking scream in my mind. But Suzanne makes it look easy by sharing her goal statement. (Which I’m not doing here; if you want to know hers, take her next class. You’ll be glad you did.) My goals are different, but I’m copying her format. She writes her long-term goals as her dream, getting more specific for her short-term goals.
Since I’m hoping you’ll be along on our journey through publications, I’m sharing my goals with you, the dream first. The dream is always first.
MY DREAM: I want to be a bestselling writer. I want to write books people pick up knowing they’ll get a good read that will make them smile, laugh, and stay up hours past their bedtime to reach the last page. I want to grow as a writer with every book. I want to be interviewed on national TV shows. I want to inspire and motivate other writers. I want my books made into movies.
To achieve this, I will write 50 pages a week once my wip is (loosely) conceived and plotted. I will write 3 books a year. I will query A-list agents. I will volunteer for writers’ groups, online and local. I will take classes, read books and articles on writing, and read other good writers, in and out of my genre. I will say affirmations and think positive.
Phew. That was easier than I thought–although I skipped a few of Suzanne’s steps. Now I’m sending out a challenge: What are your dreams? What are your goals? If you’re brave enough to share, I’d love to hear them.
My blog will be up on Mondays, Michelle on Wednesdays, and Liz on Fridays. This first week we’re starting with Michelle on Wednesday. Stop in anytime.
I started with a quote, and I’ll end with one:
Cherish your vision and your dreams as they are the children of your soul–the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. Napoleon Hill
Edie, do you want me to crack the whip with that 50 page a week pledge LOL? My dream is to be a bestselling writer, realistically for now, I want to committ to 5 pages a day, as running my business and being with my two kids takes up too much of my energy for more. I want to write at least two books a year. And I want people to read my books and really be sorry when the story ends.
Michelle, I like your dream. I especially love the last sentence.
And no whip cracking, please! I arranged with Amy to have Justin set up a website with me. He’s working with Sharon right now, so I have time to decide what to put on it. Next week I’ll concentrate on that instead of my writing. Starting a website is something I’ve wanted to do for almost a year, so I’m not sorry.
Write on.
Karin, glad you found your password. You know I believe in you too.
Love the blog, love your optimism. You’ve won half the battle. You know I’ll be checking in regularly to make sure you’re writing, but Karin wields a mighty whip
Allison, you must’ve been talking to Karin. She’s already threatened me., the nasty girl.
Great job on the blog, Edie!
As an official goal keeper, I’ll be keeping my eye on you, too. http://magicalmusings.com/wp-images/smilies/icon_cool.gif
My dream is to be a published author and part-time instructor or author-in-residence at a University. In the meantime, I’ll settle for eight hours of sleep and available babysitting.
I have had problems setting goals but after reading your web page I am going to try your technique and let you know how i am getting on.
But i have a question how many goals should i set some say three others say 10 so which is it?
Please let me know I am going to start with three
Hi Lesley! I think you should put down as many goals as it takes. LOL, that’s not telling you anything. I took another terrific class earlier this year, Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviors by Margie Lawton. She had us setting goals too. I’m talking daily goals, not long-term or the “dream” goal (like being published). Her advice was to set two lists of goals: one is the WINNER list, which you know you’ll probably do. The other is the SUPER STAR list, which is what you’d get done if all the stars are aligned and nothing goes wrong for that day. Margie said the reason most people stopped setting goals is because they set them too high–the Super Star list–and when they didn’t make them, they crashed and burned. (My wording, not Margie’s.) This way, you’ll feel great if you achieve the WINNER list.
My daily list usually contains many goals. Sometimes my days are crazy. For the “dream” goals, I guess the amount depends on you. In Reno, Debbie Macomber had us write down five major goals we wanted to achieve in five years. Then she told us to date it and put it away to look up in 5 years. She did this with another group, and at the end of the 5 years, they ALL ACHIEVED THEIR GOALS.
Sometimes writing them down is powerful. WORDS are powerful!
Good luck! Let me know how you’re doing.