Hopes, goals and resolutions

Christmas Morning, by Carl Larsson

I'm not exactly a New Year's Resolution type of person. I'm more of a "take advantage of every change of season to make new goals" kind of girl.

I'm also not really an advice-giving kind of person, but I'll break into that role today, because I hate to see so many writers and artists become so discouraged after two months when their resolutions are broken that they lose the drive to create.

So here's my advice:

Don't make resolutions.

Make goals.

And set requirements.

The goals can be lofty, but should be reasonable. The requirements should be things you can definitely accomplish if you set your mind to it--and not be dependent upon chance or the world around you.

The key thing for us dreamers to remember is that goals are different from hopes. In 2013, I hoped to find an agent, to sign a contract and to have another book finished entirely--not to mention have a perfectly clean house with a new kitchen floor and newly-decorated bedroom for the girls. But it would have been crazy to resolve to sign a contract--because that is dependent upon someone other than me. My actions can't change the way an editor or agent will feel about my work, not to mention the current trends or economy.

However, I did make goals that ensured that any failing in the hope department really wouldn't be my fault. My goals were to finish revising CIRQUE, to send it out to critique partners, to revise it again, and to start querying while writing the rough draft of my next novel. All those goals were more or less met (more--because I revised the novel one more time that I thought I'd need to; less--because I only managed a few chapters of that rough draft). So when I look at my hopes for 2013, I can assure myself that I did all that I could to make them happen.

Then, there are requirements. These are harder, but definitely worth setting. My writing requirements were simple: write or read (or both) every day. Sometimes it was only a paragraph or two, but if I hadn't required it of myself, even that little wouldn't have happened.

So for 2014, make some small requirements. Set some amazing, but achievable goals. Be reasonable, but don't underestimate yourself! And hope, hope, hope like crazy.

A blessed Christmas season and happy new year to all of you!