In my tiny mind, goals are doable than resolutions. If you don't achieve a goal you can keep trying, whereas you fail to meet a resolution--YOU FAIL. At least that's the way my mind categorizes it.
I'm not going to go into details about SMART goals, but go to this link to refresh your memory of how to set a good goal. Make your goals attainable--not easy, but doable and within your power. For example: Don't write down on your goals to sell to a NY publisher--it's out of your hands. This could be listed as a 'dream' goal or you could rewrite your goal in more appropriate language. 'Write the best damn book I can' Doable? Yep. You still might not get picked up by NY, but you did the best you could at your current writing ability.
One of my yearly goals is to read 40 books, fiction and writing craft. I also write them down on my goal sheet, which forces me to revisit my yearly goals every week or two. It doesn't do you any good to have a goal and never look at it again. This keeps me in the goal loop, but doesn't nag me on a daily basis.
That's it for today.
Write on!
I failed so badly on my goals last year, I'm not setting yearly goals this year. For once, I'll do them as it comes. I'm setting weekly word goals for my wip and other than that, I an making resolutions. I'm going to put writing first, and I'm getting up early to do this. If that doesn't work, I'll try a different way. But I WILL DO IT.
ReplyDeleteFor the last couple years, I've resolved to write every book better than the last. So far I've done that. I'm keeping that up for this year.
A few other things that are non-writing. Good luck with your yearly goals.
i just posted somewhere that i always seem to fail at resolutions, but goals? I always hit goals, sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteI have the same goal, "Write the best damn book I can."
ReplyDeleteHappy Goal.