Did 2013 sneak up on y’all too? It seems like just a short while ago it was summertime, and now we’re taking down holiday decorations, nursing hangovers, and thinking about how to make this year even more spectacular than the last. However tempting it may be to craft a huge list of New Year’s Resolutions please don’t do it. Or at least not in the way most people usually do.
Public domain photo via Wikimedia Commons
For writers, it might go somewhat like this: I’m going to get an agent! I’m going to get published! I’m going to quit my job to write full-time! I’m going to lose 100 pounds! (okay, so maybe that’s just me).
There’s a reason why we fall out of love with our goals by the beginning of February, and it’s not for lack of will or desire or good intentions. It’s because they’re too vague.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (writer, poet, aviator) has a quote that I refer to often: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Meaning that without taking concrete steps to put your plan into action, you might as well keep daydreaming. I’m not down on fantasy–believe me, my imaginary life is amazing–but if I want fantasy to become reality, I know that there’s real work involved. That’s where SMART goals come in.
In addition to making sure your goals meet the above criteria, you might find it helpful to break them up into short-term (complete in less than three months), intermediate-term (complete in three to six months), and long-term (complete in a year or more) categories. That helps me keep the impending, overwhelming sense of doom at bay.
So keep dreaming big and having faith. All that’s left to do is back it up with action. Happy New Year!
I never make resolutions, only goals. Goals are attainable and there’s a certain amount of accountability involved. I make sure my goals are realistic, too. I have to be able to have control over them.
Exactly. I need to feel that I’ll at least be able to affect the outcome somewhat.
I tend to avoid resolutions, but I make lists with goals. Happy 2013!
See, that’s smart. It took me a while to figure that out!
Happy New Year!
Yeah i make resolutions, but they’re more like goals. Such as revise this, and query that, and read this many books. It works well for me
I’m glad to hear that. Best of luck with your goals!
Totally agree! I may have bitten off more than I can chew with my goals of 20113 but I’m definitely going to try to stay on track. It’s only going to make me better. Thanks for the tips! Happy New Year!
I like your ambition! I can’t wait to see what you achieve this year.
Hopefully all of it, but I’ve also taken on doing You Tube videos. The editing is so hard for me. Wish there was a shortcut. Come over to my channel where I review books. My channel is called frenchiedee.