2020 was a great year for publishing for me, but not so great for new content. So when my 2021 goal setting session came around I had to think long and hard about what to include.
So, my goal for 2021 is to be more consistent, by:
Next task is to make the goals into a work plan and schedule small achievable pieces into my diary across the year. Wish me luck. This year, instead of making a huge amount of goals, I chose a word for the year.
Committed So be it writing, or editing, or running, or farming, wherever I am I need to be committed. This year is shaping up to be just as insane as last year when it comes to commitments. I've already booked in one overseas trip, two writing related interstate trips, three big runs (two of which require travel), local writing group meetings and a host of other non-negotiable commitments. People often say "I don't know how you do it all." Some days, I wonder too. I think the secret comes down to planning. Running - I'm not the natural runner - long, lean and lithe. I'm a bit more like a baby elephant chubbing along. Some days, I don't want to. But 6 days a week, there's a non-negotiable 4am start - either for a gym visit or for running training. It's all done by 6am and I never have that "Gee I can't fit this in" feeling at 10pm at night. More than likely at 10pm, I'm making lunches and laying out my gym gear so that 4am doesn't feel quite as yuk. So, this year for my writing I'm committed to at least one new 50k manuscript, finishing off my two pre-publication commitments, working towards self-publishing on a group project, and trying something new involving a rapid submission window. Wish me luck. Happy New Year I'm deep in the planning stages for 202 so I thought I'd share my process. My day job is lucky enough to have an arts program attached to the organisation - so we can be involved in choir, a writing program, musical instruments available anytime, as well as creative arts for children - the focus of our business. When the writing program was announced I jumped on board. It seemed simple enough - anyone who wanted to write could join, and we would meet after work for 2 hours once a month to talk writing and support each other electronically (and in person) in between. There was homework and sessions were moderated by a well-known Brisbane author. I was in. Four months later, I was out. Free, accessible, supportive, high-level mentoring - was I nuts? No, it wasn't the right group for me at that time because I was at a different stage of my career to the other writers in the room as the only published author other than the moderator. The biggest difference: They had writing goals (some had never written before) while I had an annual work plan, with deadlines, mini-goals and I was time pressured as a result Before I made the decision, I sat down and looked at everything I do outside of day job working/travel and accounted for where I spent my time. And the decision came down to could I justify another two hours to talk writing, or would I be better off spending the time writing? I chose writing and I also made some of the other non-negotiable things in my life a bit more efficient. Did it work? 2019 was my most productive year for a long time. Most of those projects will come to fruition in 2020. So what's the difference between a work plan and a goal? A goal is what you want to achieve. A work plan is the extra detail that tells you how it is going to be achieved. It's breaking it down into manageable chunks, it's identifying those barriers to writing, and scheduling writing around them. It's scheduling those barriers as well, so they don't impact writing time. It's showing up for a writing shift the same as you would a day job shift. To make sure it's all written down in one central place I use a Personalised Planner that has everything: house, writing, running and social in one place. This helps me identify "pressure points" and then I schedule the writing around them. I use my phone's calendar for the day to day. This method won't work for everyone, but it does help me to get more organised. And more organised = more words. That's a win. Merry Christmas all. Hope you had a great holiday season! As I do every year, once the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over and done with, my thoughts turn to New Year's Resolutions. Here's what I'm thinking about as options for 2017: 1, Alphabet Run/walk: Starting with A and progressing all the way through the alphabet, take some time to explore your city on foot by walking or running 5km in a suburb starting with this week's letter of the alphabet. You get two weeks for each letter. See, there's a reason we have a suburb called Zillmere, Yeronga, Gordon Park and Eagle Junction. I am however stuck on "Q" and "U". I don't think Quilpie or Urandangie (country towns) will cut the mustard. Trips planned in Sydney and Melbourne next year, so maybe that might help me out for the tricky ones. 2. Run Down Under A virtual run around Australia - all 14080km of it. This morning I logged 6km. If I keep up this pace every single day, I will complete my journey in 2346 days, or 6.4years. Alternatively, I could do 38.6km every day and finish in 2017. Actually, 14080 is more than my car does in a year. so I doubt my legs could make it (Maybe I need to rethink.) Details here, if anyone else is interested : www.rundownunder.com.au 3. 17 in 2017 17 what, I hear you ask? Well, this is the question. 17 books, 17 movies, 17 writing marathons, 17 actual marathons - the list is infinite and that's what's so good about this challenge. You can individualise it to what you like to do. 17 pieces of cheesecake? No worries - so long as its what you've put on your list at the start. Alternatively, put 17 fun things into a jar and pick one out, then do it, with the aim of emptying the jar by the end of the year. Those are my top 3 at the moment. What about you? What are you planning for your resolutions? Imagine its five years into the future, and for whatever reason, you haven't seen the writers in your writing group for five whole years - no contact at all. Your reunion is on 13th May 2021. Tell them how your career/life is progressing.
The first time I did this, at my writing group's annual retreat, it was an incredibly powerful experience. I took all the manuscripts I'd done work on and a few ideas from my ideas file, decided who my publisher would be, made covers for those books, and arrived at the reunion with "copies" of my books and wearing a ring no-one had seen before - the reward for all my hard work. And, you know, that was the single most motivational experience of my writing career to date. For the first time, I could "see" my book. Others in the group had retired to write full time, or had dropped their hours to work on their writing. There were trips to Tuscany, life-changing adventures and a whole heap of other dreams and aspirations. You know what? Everyone in our group who visualised publication that night, has achieved it. What started as a bit of fun ended up being a very potent goal setting tool. The next visualised reunion is May 13th 2021. What will I have achieved by then? Recently I watched a really interesting TED talk about Procrastination that talked about the results driven Captain (steering my ship) and his not very helpful (and unwanted) offsider, the fun monkey.
The talk gave me a couple of lightbulb moments: 1. This is me... Although on reflection my fun monkey is more of a 10% fun, 90% other things that need doing (like weeding gardens and dusting skirting boards), but despite the best efforts of the Captain, sometimes the fun monkey steers my ship. 2. The difference between procrastinators that do get stuff done and those that don't is a deadline. And again, this is me... In all parts of my life, not just writing. I need more deadlines/timelines. 3. Listening to a TED talk during what could have been writing time - who was in charge there? Probably the fun monkey. Anyway, if you're not supposed to be writing, or working or whatever, and you'd got a free 15 minutes, here's the link to the talk: Tim Urban: Inside the mind of a master procrastinator Enjoy! The last check in on my goals before the year ends and I sign it off.
Another month has whizzed by, so how is my progress towards my goals going?
1. Year of the Novel - Still drafting my story. My critique partners have been excellent, pointing out the deficiencies in what is essentially still a first draft. My new goal is to have a workable first draft by 31/12/15. I don't feel there is possibility of a polished manuscript to send. 2. Writing Day - back on track with my writing day. I have been doing some sprints with my e-critique group The Scattered Wordsmiths and those have been brilliant. 3. Running - DRUM ROLL - I have been doing the local Park Run and what a sensational experience that is. Still really slow, but feeling much better. I've also downloaded a park fitness program, for those nights when its just Jade and I at the off-leash park. Last night, we walked the perimeter of the park and at every bench I did 20 squats and 20 wall push-ups against the backrest. It's all helping. 4. Balance - I've discovered I'm keeping up with what I need to do, its the backlog that's slowing me down. So, when I next have annual leave, I'll be working on the backlog. Wish me luck. How are your goals going? There's something special about a RWA conference - it sparks my writing motivation and I love that. So what about my goals:
The rest of my list is ticked off, so I guess I'd better start working on what I want to achieve next year. How are your 2015 goals coming along? July was a good month!
I've managed to finish a few things and move onto others: 1. Futuristic in Edit - Submitted! I've parked it off to the side and am waiting to hear. Patiently of course... 2. Year of the Novel - Course work complete. Novel is coming together in scenes, rather than the usual chronological progression. Hopefully, now I can concentrate fully on it , it will flow. 3. Writing Day - I'm managing my time better, and that's reflected in my progress on writing day. There's less time spent on household chores and more on writing. Yeah! 4. Running - There had to be a downside to achieving all of the above and its at the expense of running. Of course, I could blame the puppy, who requires a LOT of my attention, or not dodging the cold doing the rounds that knocked me for six, or it might just be that I didn't put my shoes on and run. I'll be honest - It's all 3. Trying for better next month. 5. Balance - I'm still juggling this one - progress in one area means dropping the ball a bit in another. Fingers crossed I can sort that out soon. August is Romance Writers of Australia conference - so there's a bit of organising to do for that as well. I'm still excited that Home for Christmas has finalled in the RWA Ella Award. Can't wait for the awards dinner. |
Fiona Greene AuthorWhen you set out on a journey and night falls, that's when you will discover the stars." Archives
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