I also ran into another wall. I was sick, which didn't help. As such, I was unmotivated to work on the goals I set out. As a few of my regular blog readers are already familiar with, I'm still feeling under the weather. This means I'm still dragging my feet to get the goals from last month accomplished. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Are my goals too large? Am I doing far too much blogging and not enough story writing? I guess I shall be exploring that this month.
My Goals:
Old Goals:
1.) Finish the next chapter in my 'Writer's Block' series.
(I failed to do this, this month. I will try again this month.)
2.) Remove the sample chapters of my story from my blog.
(This was one goal I accomplished. I hope this will encourage me to move forward with the goal above.)
3.) Start compiling a list of what I need to be working on and questions I should be researching in regards to my writing and what to do with it.
(Perhaps I shall put this goal on the back-burner till I get nearer completion of the four story YA series I'm writing.)
New Goal:
April is going to be a blogging explosion here. My goal this month, is to get a few posts prepped and ready to post before April 1st.
My Encouragement:
If you think you are a writer, you are a writer. So write something grand!
Questions to ponder:
How do you deal with a failed goal?
Do you think it's better to set difficult goals? Or simple baby-step goals?
Should an unfulfilled goal with a time limit be scraped, amended, or extended?
* * * * * * * * * *
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When you're sick, it zaps your energy. Don't be too hard on yourself.
ReplyDeleteRemoving the story from your blog was a good idea. Now, you are all set to work on it.
I've been so sick I've fallen behind with many blogs I normally follow. Well, better to be sick now, than in April I guess.
DeleteTaking down your chapters was a smart move. Many writers have had to do the same to publish their book.
ReplyDeleteIf you feel you're blogging too much, you could certainly cut back where possible. Making small goals to reach bigger goals (like a ladder) always helps me.
I'm thinking of keeping active in my blogging till April. Then in May, I'd like to take a mini-blog hiatus and work on my writing for the month. With luck, I can find a guest blogger for at least one post in May. I'll also do my A-Z wrap-up post and possibly only one BOTB.
DeleteHow do I feel with a failed goal? Some of them I shrug off as " well at least I tried ". But, there are some goals which I worked really hard to meet ( running a Marathon) and simply could not finish the race. I beat myself up all the time over that one. I try to set sewing goals now. Goals to complete certain items in a certain amount of time. I still have goals and I still struggle to meet them . Sometimes , obstacles get in our way / circumstances we have no control over . So continue to set goals but try to not best yourself up when you don't accomplish that goal . Set another one and keep climbing that mountain .
ReplyDeleteI do like to run, (when I try to keep in shape), but not sure I could even attempt a marathon. I give you lots of credit for even giving it a go. The closest I've come to running a marathon is running 5k's. And even then, I walk most of them.
DeleteSo true, we can't beat ourselves up over unattainable goals. I like to think failing a goal will only make me more determined the next time I set a similar goal.
I sympathize with being sick. I was zapped all through January. Failed goals can make me drag my feet for a little while, but I push on forward. Chocolate is my motivator! :) For some people, big goals are good because they strive harder for them. Others need the baby goals as not to feel overwhelmed. In writing, I have the big goals, and in the rest of life, it's baby steps.
ReplyDeleteI like the chocolate as a reward. I can set a bar of chocolate out (away from where I am writing) and only give in to it when I accomplish my goal. For big goals, anyway. I think baby step goals are a good way to keep motivated.
DeleteYes! I think you've bitten off more than you can chew right now with being sick. I'm sorry, but health always trumps work. You can't work if you aren't healthy, right? Can't give it your best. So ease up on yourself and heal, then get behind those goals and PUSH!!! Thanks for dropping by!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the motivation to heal. I'm so bad at taking it easy. I really should be doing this more, so I don't end up being sick longer.
DeleteGood advice.
I set deadlines for myself and make plans but I don't do many short term goals. I do want to have all my A to Z posts ready by the theme reveal day.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be working on my A-Z posts soon.
DeleteI'm anxious for theme reveal day. That's coming up soon.
I set deadlines to achieve goals but sometimes life happens to get in the way of that. When it does, it's usually best to amend or extend those goals/rewrite your writing plan. Your choice.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, whatever works best.
DeleteYes, amending a goal if it seems insurmountable may be the way to go.
Sounds like a great list of goals! Yes, A to Z is quite a month, isn't it? I just wrote my April 1st and 2nd posts today...I always write a month ahead and schedule, but A to Z requires blogging six days a week. They ARE supposed to be shorter, but some posts can't be limited to 100 words!
ReplyDeleteI keep telling myself to get to those April posts. I hope I don't become an April fool and wait till the first.
DeleteYes, I have some very shorts posts. Kind of. Depends how you look at it. More details later. ;)
Hi Jeffrey - appreciate all the comments to my posts on my series. I do hope you can completely recover and then be ready for the longer, easier Spring and Summer Months .. and the A-Z does set the scene doesn't it ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYes, and I'm anxious and worried about April. All at the same time. LOL
DeleteSome goals need to be abandoned because you missed a deadline. But, most of the time, you just recalculate. Put it at the top of the next list. We're human. Stuff gets in the way. Great post. The A to Z challenge will be fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. Mary at Play off the Page
IWSG co-host
Recalculating is a good option. Then I don't feel so much like I'm giving up, or the goal is unattainable.
DeleteMaking a list of things I want to get done for the day really helps me stay on track most of the time. But often I haven't added my writing goals to my daily list, which is what I need to get better at this year! I think if you're working on a goal but just haven't quite made the due date that's fine, just adjust your time.
ReplyDeleteAdjusting the time is a good suggestion.
DeleteGoals are a tricky thing indeed. I have learned the hard way to make a lot of small goals that I know I can accomplish. I have also given myself a lot of options on the timetable, I never scrap a goal, because it didn't get done in a timely manner (unless a deadline has passed - like to enter a contest of something). For me, the answer is just to keep plugging away.
ReplyDeleteAs far as not putting any of your work out to Beta readers until a whole series is complete, I would suggest that as each book/story is finished to get it some daylight and critique. That way if something isn't working, you can make the changes and not continue them on into the next book/story. Just my opinion, but it is pretty much what works for me.
Having said all of that, I do know how hard it is to stay motivated when health issues get in the way.
Good point about working on a story by story basis. Never much thought of it that way.
DeleteYes, everyone and his mother seems to be sick this time round. We need to start a sicko blogo blog hop. LOL
Hi Jeffrey. It's hard to meet goals when your head is foggy and your body just doesn't cooperate. I am a strong believer and trying doable goals and keeping them realistic so you don't burn out. I rarely scratch a goal unless my heart was never into it. I like to take what I have and amend them. I wish you much luck! It helps me to put most of my energy into the thing I love the most so I don't burn out.
ReplyDeleteI try not to make a goal unless I am really zealous about doing it. But some times burn out does come because I try to make too many goals. I need to tackle one at a time I think.
DeleteIts hard to believe April is only one month away. Well Jeffrey, I've no doubt you'll get those dilithium crystals firing because as they say in showbiz - the show must go on!
ReplyDeleteWarp 6. Engage!
DeleteGoals can be great motivators, and sometimes I need complex goals to goad me into accomplishment, other times I need something simple just to feel I did accomplish something. Right now I'm on a blogging break to not have that as an excuse for not writing. Yep, I know, I'm visiting. But, visiting when I feel like it isn't like the whole committment regularly posting/networking entails.
ReplyDeleteFlexibility is also a good goal :)
As for posting samples; I'd say posting an intriguing, 300 words to generate interest is enough, whether you post it permanently or just as a one time to get beta readers interested. And all this networking within the blogs should help get critique partners. Of course, there are many sites to go to for requesting readers, or critique partners. The IWSG website has a forum, I'm pretty sure.
Yes, I'm going to listen to the suggestions offered and try to find a critique partner. Something perhaps I should do before I move onto the next story in my series.
DeleteThanks for your input.
I usually shoot for very modest goals, like getting a least one story traditionally published per year, which happened for three out of a four year span. Once that goal became unattainable, I modified it to getting something published at least once per year.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to writing, I decided late last year that I needed to cut down on my blogging in order to concentrate on my writing, and so far it has worked just fine for me. I'm working on two different projects and I'm having a blast while doing so.
Perhaps that's something to consider once the April madness is completed.
Father Nature's Corner
Yes, I want to keep blogging till April, then I may need to make some blogging decisions. But only if the sacrifice means I KNOW I will get more legitimate writing done.
Delete