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Monday, January 12, 2009

Writer's Resolutions 2009

Hope 2009 is treating you all well. And if it started out rough, like it did for me, I hope you are in a better place mentally now. I began my new year by angrily questioning the Universe, "Why THIS lesson again? WHY??????? I thought I learned it already!"

Once I calmed down, I was able to see that it is not the lesson that shows us what we've learned, but how we deal with the trials and tribulations of life that REALLY illustrate what we've mastered. And so, now that I am in a proper frame of mind once again, I want to talk about resolutions.

But I am not speaking about resolutions to lose weight or exercise more… Those are important goals too. After all, your health IS important. I am speaking about my favorite kind of resolutions - Writer's Resolutions of course!

Whether it be to sell a magazine article, finish three dummies in the year, or polish your manuscript, setting goals is the first step to obtaining them. Without setting a goal in writing, it is too easy to forget or forgo. Something magical happens when you put something in writing. We all know this - after all, we're all writers! But when you put something in writing, you automatically become accountable. Don't know where to start? Start small and obtainable.

Feel free to borrow any of these goals if you can't come up with your own…

  1. Make a space that is just for you and your writing. A place where you and only you go to write.
  2. Decide on an amount of time you will try to write each day or each week. For example…. I will write two hours five days a week, rain or shine. Or… I will write ten hours a week.
  3. Some novelists like to work with word count instead of time. So maybe your goal could be… This year I will strive to write 5,000 a week. (Believe me, that goes fast! Take it from a past NaNoWriMo contestant!)
  4. Maybe you've had a novel (harrumph!) you've been working on for quite sometime so your goal is to (once and for all, for crying out loud, G-d willing) finish the (darn!) thing.
  5. Maybe it's to read more books in your sub-genre… This year I will read 20 books in my field.
  6. Maybe it's to test your book to a live audience… This year I will reach out to schools or libraries to see if I can read my books to a classroom and test it out on a live audience.
  7. Or here's my favorite… I will treat my writing like a business and be present each day, ready to work as if my livelihood depends on it.

Whatever your dreams are, turn them into goals. And then watch your goals become reality!

Happy Writing!

13 comments:

Jason said...

I'm going to have writing resolutions, too. I've been holding off making them until I find out how hard some of my classes, so I know how much time I need to devote to homework, how much to devote to writing, how much to reading, etc.

I'm glad you're in a good frame of mind again. I hope this year you accomplish all your goals that you're setting for yourself.

Unknown said...

I like the last one in particular...an excellent one to strive towards.

Keri Mikulski said...

Love this post and especially number 7. :)

PJ Hoover said...

Thanks, Sheri! Great post! I think treating writing like a business is a huge one. And you are the CEO. The success depends totally on you.

Casey Something said...

Great post Sheri! I was considering #1 just this morning - I think I could use it. I can't figure out where I could create such a space though. But, it's something to work towards!

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Jason - thanks Jason. I hated to post any downer postings, but I suppose sometimes they can't be avoided. And hey, there's nothing wrong with sharing some honest feelings amongst your best blogger buddies, right? Anyway, you're being smart. Look before you leap!

Beth - thanks!

Thanks, Keri! Number seven's my favorite too.

I couldn't agree with you more, PJ. CEO. I like that!

Casey, sometimes you can turn a closet into an office. We did that for my husband. He uses a spare bedroom, but he built a desk in the double closet for his computer and all his books and papers. He loves it because when people come over he can just close the doors and leave the clutter of work behind. Maybe you can do something like that.

AND... CONGRATS CASEY ON THE BIRTH OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY. lOVE THE NAME. sOUNDS LIKE A STRONG MAIN CHARACTER TO ME! AND YOUR DAUGHTER'S ADORABLE TOO!!!!!

Clementine said...

Oh my goodness, I love the last one but I'm glad my family doesn't look to me to pay the bills. Yikes - this writer is in the hole.

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

AMy, I know I agree. I feel very thankful that my money as a writer oges to things like money in our pocket, gas in our cars, and food on the table. My husband's money pays the bills. But one day we will be able to return the favor!

Kelly H-Y said...

Wonderful goals for 2009! So true about treating it like a business! Thanks for the great post!

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Thanks Kelly and welcome!

cindy said...

great resolutions! good luck, sheri!!

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Thanks Cindy.

Casey Something said...

You've gone MIA for a week now! Busy, busy?

I tagged you on my blog!

“Personal limitation exists only in our ideas of who we are. Give up all notions of who you are and your limitations will vanish.”

- Anonymous