Can’t believe it’s here, but the first Wednesday of the month has arrived. And you know what that means: time for IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group)! Being a writer is challenging enough, but finding others who share the same hardships and difficulties, who understand the struggles, fear and doubts, can be oddly comforting. You’re not alone. You have a whole family of us out here. Come see.
This post, I’m focusing on 2015.
Every year I make the same resolutions: eat better, exercise more, get a better hold of my money. Get a dog.
The last isn’t really a resolution, but I throw it in there as incentive. Do better and reward yourself. But it’s 2015 and I’m still overweight, poor and puppy-less. On the 1st, I was treated to a delicious meal by my mother who suggested making goals rather than resolutions. Resolutions are easier to shrug off sometime in late March and try again the following year. But a goal is a finish line. It’s something to aim for, to work for, to send a ripple through your life for a positive end effect. What’re my goals?
Work smarter, not harder.
Emerge myself further in the writing environment.
Attend a writing conference, like the Writer’s Digest one in NY.
Get a dog.
Truth be told, I’ve been struggling. November and most of December knocked me down. Hard. Through work and in my writing goals. Writing expectations and realizations. I’m almost thirty and I feel like a failure. Everyday I ask myself what I’m doing with my life. If I’m doing anything at all.
This is not what I had planned. This is not where I thought I would be by this time. I thought I would be highly popular with an active, loyal audience and able to support myself on the craft. That was what was going to happen. And here I am, typing this from a computer where I work with numbers all day. And I’m still dreaming. With no dog.
But I’m going to change that this year. I’m going to write even MORE, go to a damn conference and visit a shelter. This is a new year, after all.
And tomorrow’s not guaranteed. So best get shit done today.
What about you? What’re your 2015 goals?
Those are great goals. I got a dog 11 years ago. He provided the same level of companionship I got from my boyfriend at the time (but was a whole heck of a lot cheaper in maintenance), that I ended up dumping my boyfriend. Not saying that’ll happen to you, but just agreeing that maybe dogs really are the key to major life changes.
My goals for 2015 are to finish my second novel and two novellas. I have a deadline for one of the novellas, so I think that might help me.
What are your writing goals, if I may ask? Do the goals all stem from sales and career potential, thus supporting yourself as a full-time writer? Or are they creation goals, finishing this story, writing that much?
And did I miss the Kickstarter for your 4th book?
Actually no! I was told by a very good, very smart friend that I should really fund a few projects to understand the process and see what was involved. I’m only shaking a little. I think I need to get my shit together a little more before I embarrass myself. But I appreciate that you remembered and will definitely do a shout out when that time does finally roll around!
Writing goals: finish fourth novel. Write more short stories. I’m working on something that may end up being a novella. I needed a break from the second draft and started on an idea that I’d been messing around with. It’s actually inspired by Josh Ritter’s “The Temptation of Adam” song. Ever listened to it? I’ve worked on this project every day and am really loving it. It may turn into a stand alone novel or a novella… I’m not really sure. But it’s exciting! And the motivation comes from the need to write. The END goal is to support myself, but if that never happens (I will cry) I’ll still write. I need to. It makes me anxious when I don’t.
What’re your novellas going to be about?
The first novella is called Lust. It’s one I’m working on for The Seven, thus one of the deadly sins. I have to finish it by August. Oi! The other one is Murder Most Fowl, another of the Cera Chronicles. I don’t have a deadline on that one though. 🙂
I haven’t heard the song, but I’m looking it up now.
Since you’re working on short stories, have you checked out http://www.write1sub1.com/ ? I heard if it from Milo James Fowler: http://www.milojamesfowler.com/. The idea is that you write one story and submit one story every week or month, depending on your choice. Then you share your success with others who are doing the same thing. I think with your passion, you might find success there. I don’t know how you feel about submitting your work to publications, but it has worked for Milo.
Oh cool! Just checked it out! And I LOVE Ray Bradbury, so this may be something I need to do. Thanks for the awesome tip, Mrs. Squirrel-ninja-lady!
I create goals, not resolution. I just find goals are more realistic and easier to accomplish.
When it comes to writing/blogging, it take time. More time than we think. We all have the expectation that after a short time of dedicating ourselves to our books, blogging, and promoting that we’ll have the kind of success that we see with these other authors like J.K. Rowling, but that’s not true. That’s actually very rare. Writers need a lot of patience. And the idea of supporting ourselves with our craft is unfortunately another one of those fanciful expectations that don’t happen. All we can do is our best. And I’m sure you’re doing your best, so that’s all that matters. 🙂
IWSG Co-host
I’m probably the most impatient person. It drives me crazy. It drives my boyfriend crazy. But I get you – it’s part of the writing life. I wouldn’t even mind living in poverty if I could just write all day. It’s these damn necessities like food and shelter that keep me from writing full time. I’m sure me and my dog would be just as happy living out in the woods. I mean, Thoreau did it. He seemed happy.
I don’t think anyone is ever where they thought they would be by 30. If they are then they’re either lying, had lowered expectations or got incredibly lucky. We’re taught from kindergarten on that we’re in the land of opportunity “You could be the next president! You could be the next millionaire!” and it’s not that we *can’t* but in the end there are only so many presidents, only so many millionaires and only so many super famous writers, and very few of them were that way by 30 (see above) and if they were, chances are they hadn’t reached their own goals because the thing with goals is once you meet one, you make a new one, and kind of forget about all the accomplishments that led up to it. Like my original goal was to publish a book. Done. Now I want a review from someone I have never met before – a stranger who liked my book. Got that, so now I want to sell X number. Got that, but now I need more reviews, more sales, more, more, more, and if I don;t meet these new goals then I have accomplished nothing. but the truth is I accomplished a lot, and so have you. We should look forward, we should look to our goals, but we should also remind ourselves of how much we have accomplished. 😉
BTW – I found my kindle!!! Reid is currently rescuing Fallon. *squee*
Joleene – you’re awesome.
Get the dog first!!!! The dog will love you so unconditionally and will remind you of why you want to write! I love my dog and hope never to be without him for as long as possible! My goals are market market market, write write write, and to be there, front and present with my daughter for the next six month till we culminate that with her wedding! Happy New Year! Lisa @ celticadlx.blogspot.com