Veronica Bane's Blog - Posts Tagged "goals"
July snuck up on me.
It always does. One day, it’s my birthday month, summer has just started, and I’m enjoying the sunshine. The next minute, Los Angeles heats up to 100 degree weather, and I start to panic about losing out on my summer.
But I still have all of July! In order to enjoy it, I know that I need to slow down and set some goals to focus on. In that spirit, here are my goals.
July Goals
1. Finish 35,000+ words of current project.
2. Read (at least) ten new novels.
3. Reread summer favorites (entire Harry Potter series, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
4. Submit personal essay for publication.
5. Get out and enjoy the summer! Go to the beach, hike some trails, and try new restaurants.
6. Make sure that all websites and social media pages are ready to go for the book release!
Hope you’re all enjoying the summer! Keep writing and reading.
But I still have all of July! In order to enjoy it, I know that I need to slow down and set some goals to focus on. In that spirit, here are my goals.
July Goals
1. Finish 35,000+ words of current project.
2. Read (at least) ten new novels.
3. Reread summer favorites (entire Harry Potter series, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
4. Submit personal essay for publication.
5. Get out and enjoy the summer! Go to the beach, hike some trails, and try new restaurants.
6. Make sure that all websites and social media pages are ready to go for the book release!
Hope you’re all enjoying the summer! Keep writing and reading.
Revisiting July's goals.
Hello everyone!
Wow! I can't believe that July has flown by. It really does feel like yesterday that I was drafting them, but it's already time to reflect on my progress.
Before I begin, I do want to say that I didn't get to as much of my own writing as I had anticipated because I got an opportunity to edit another project. It also kept me from reading as much as I would have like, but it helped spark my brain in other ways. Life seems to always find a way to give you exactly what you need, and it's important to keep that in mind.
So, without further ado...
July Goals
1. Finish 35,000+ words of current project. Fell a bit short here due to other projects, but I still made consistent progress and that's a reason to be proud!
2. Read (at least) ten new novels. I didn't quite meet this, but I did catch up on my Goodreads goal!
3. Reread summer favorites (entire Harry Potter series, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) Luckily, there's still some summer left to get these read. I'm rereading the Harry Potter series now.
4. Submit personal essay for publication. Here's where I succeeded! I actually have submitted three and hope to hear back soon.
5. Get out and enjoy the summer! Go to the beach, hike some trails, and try new restaurants. I have definitely been enjoying this one!
6. Make sure that all websites and social media pages are ready to go for the book release! I've been a social media machine! Connecting with readers and writers in the community has been a blast. The website should be ready to go ASAP in time for the launch on Saturday!
I'll be posting August's goals by Wednesday. Until then, how has your July been?
Talk to you all soon!
Wow! I can't believe that July has flown by. It really does feel like yesterday that I was drafting them, but it's already time to reflect on my progress.
Before I begin, I do want to say that I didn't get to as much of my own writing as I had anticipated because I got an opportunity to edit another project. It also kept me from reading as much as I would have like, but it helped spark my brain in other ways. Life seems to always find a way to give you exactly what you need, and it's important to keep that in mind.
So, without further ado...
July Goals
1. Finish 35,000+ words of current project. Fell a bit short here due to other projects, but I still made consistent progress and that's a reason to be proud!
2. Read (at least) ten new novels. I didn't quite meet this, but I did catch up on my Goodreads goal!
3. Reread summer favorites (entire Harry Potter series, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) Luckily, there's still some summer left to get these read. I'm rereading the Harry Potter series now.
4. Submit personal essay for publication. Here's where I succeeded! I actually have submitted three and hope to hear back soon.
5. Get out and enjoy the summer! Go to the beach, hike some trails, and try new restaurants. I have definitely been enjoying this one!
6. Make sure that all websites and social media pages are ready to go for the book release! I've been a social media machine! Connecting with readers and writers in the community has been a blast. The website should be ready to go ASAP in time for the launch on Saturday!
I'll be posting August's goals by Wednesday. Until then, how has your July been?
Talk to you all soon!
August goals/fitting writing into busy schedules.
What a month! August is more than halfway over, and I still haven't drafted up my goals. I swear that they've been in my head, but I just haven't put them up yet. So, without further ado, here they are.
August Goals
1. Finish 35,000+ words of current project by writing 8,000 words a week.
2. Read (at least) five new novels.
3. Reread summer favorites (entire Harry Potter series (halfway done!), To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) before Labor Day.
4. Submit personal essays for publication.
5. Launch website by the end of August.
6. Finish editing project by the end of August (if possible).
7. Try and use some of the group fitness deals before they expire!
In addition to my goals, I also wanted to write on fitting writing into busy schedules. My job started back up again on August 5, and it's definitely been a balancing act to accomplish everything that I want to get done. I don't want to sacrifice the job that I'm passionate about or the writing that I'm passionate about, and I really do believe that both can be done. It all comes down to planning. Here's my advice for getting it done!
Set a schedule and stick to it.
Figure out how many words, pages, chapters, etc. that you want to accomplish in a day or week and get it done. You may need to wake up early to write or you may need to set aside some time after you get home. Pencil it in your day planner or set an alarm on your phone. Make it a priority!
Don't wait for inspiration. Just write.
If you're going to be a professional writer, then you must give up this fantasy of writing only when the magic strikes. You must write consistently to get better. It's a fact of the business.
Get your friends and family on board.
It can be hard for friends and family to understand that writing is just as valuable to you as your day job. When you get home, they may want to do dinner, see a movie, etc. But it is very important that you set boundaries for your writing and protect those boundaries. If you have writing scheduled, let them know of another time when you would be able to hang out. Don't give up writing time if possible. If you don't see your writing as a priority, no one else will.
Outline!
A well-structured outline can save you a lot of time. Pick a point in the outline to write to, and you'll have a clear path to follow. Obviously, deviate from it as necessary, but use it to guide your writing as needed.
Carry a notebook.
Bring a notebook at all times. Use it to jot down ideas while waiting for copies or during your lunch break. Be ready for inspiration throughout the day!
Stay healthy.
Eat well, exercise, meditate, or do whatever else to keep your mind and body healthy. Being a writer will be a much easier task if the rest of your life is balanced.
Read.
You must read as a writer. This is the other necessary part of your practice, and it cannot be sacrificed. A steady flow of reading material will elevate your writing and keep you informed. I suggest bringing a book or Kindle in your bag or car to help with this.
Thanks everyone! I'm running off to follow my own advice and grab a cup of green tea and a book on my lunch break. Happy Monday!
August Goals
1. Finish 35,000+ words of current project by writing 8,000 words a week.
2. Read (at least) five new novels.
3. Reread summer favorites (entire Harry Potter series (halfway done!), To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) before Labor Day.
4. Submit personal essays for publication.
5. Launch website by the end of August.
6. Finish editing project by the end of August (if possible).
7. Try and use some of the group fitness deals before they expire!
In addition to my goals, I also wanted to write on fitting writing into busy schedules. My job started back up again on August 5, and it's definitely been a balancing act to accomplish everything that I want to get done. I don't want to sacrifice the job that I'm passionate about or the writing that I'm passionate about, and I really do believe that both can be done. It all comes down to planning. Here's my advice for getting it done!
Set a schedule and stick to it.
Figure out how many words, pages, chapters, etc. that you want to accomplish in a day or week and get it done. You may need to wake up early to write or you may need to set aside some time after you get home. Pencil it in your day planner or set an alarm on your phone. Make it a priority!
Don't wait for inspiration. Just write.
If you're going to be a professional writer, then you must give up this fantasy of writing only when the magic strikes. You must write consistently to get better. It's a fact of the business.
Get your friends and family on board.
It can be hard for friends and family to understand that writing is just as valuable to you as your day job. When you get home, they may want to do dinner, see a movie, etc. But it is very important that you set boundaries for your writing and protect those boundaries. If you have writing scheduled, let them know of another time when you would be able to hang out. Don't give up writing time if possible. If you don't see your writing as a priority, no one else will.
Outline!
A well-structured outline can save you a lot of time. Pick a point in the outline to write to, and you'll have a clear path to follow. Obviously, deviate from it as necessary, but use it to guide your writing as needed.
Carry a notebook.
Bring a notebook at all times. Use it to jot down ideas while waiting for copies or during your lunch break. Be ready for inspiration throughout the day!
Stay healthy.
Eat well, exercise, meditate, or do whatever else to keep your mind and body healthy. Being a writer will be a much easier task if the rest of your life is balanced.
Read.
You must read as a writer. This is the other necessary part of your practice, and it cannot be sacrificed. A steady flow of reading material will elevate your writing and keep you informed. I suggest bringing a book or Kindle in your bag or car to help with this.
Thanks everyone! I'm running off to follow my own advice and grab a cup of green tea and a book on my lunch break. Happy Monday!
November goals and writing from life.
Hello all! I feel like it has been forever since I last checked in. October really was a blur. I'm excited for November to be a bit calmer so that I can generate more material, do more reading, and do more living.
November Goals
1. Finish current WIP by November 10.
2. Read (at least) five new novels.
3. Get started on holiday shopping early.
4. Finish knitting a scarf.
5. Start work on new piece and write at least 10,000 words by the end of November.
6. Enjoy the time I get to spend with my family and friends. I want to treasure the moments I'm given.
I want to talk a bit more about that last goal. As writers, we're often encouraged to lock ourselves away, to guard our work, and to shun companionship. Someone recently joked to me on Twitter because I call myself "the happy writer" in my bio. This person said, "A happy writer? You're not tortured? You sure you're doing it right?" I'm fully aware that it was light-hearted, but it got me thinking about why we have this view of writers as isolated and depressed.
In order to write, you need to live. You need to go walk through the city to see how the lights look when they're dying, you need to taste the different spices in a dish, you need to feel how the leaves this time of year crackle beneath your fingertips. How can you write about life if you don't go experience it? Characters need memories, and these memories should be vivid. You cannot know everything; science fiction writers have often written about planets they have never seen with great detail. But the details you can pull from this life can serve you well: pay attention the next time it rains and see how the water traverses your skin, and when you write about the rain on your made-up planet, use those details to guide you.
Of course, some experiences we go through are tragic and terrible. Some writers have been haunted by these, and their ability to so accurately recount these memories makes the moments visceral for their readers. Some have lived "tortured" lives. But there are many other writers who are so adept at capturing moments that they can take a small tragedy in their own life and use it to inform the greater tragedies that they write for their characters. I wrote my response on Twitter: "My characters are tortured, but I don't need to be."
No matter whether you're writing sad stories or happy stories or the stuff in-between, research can take you only so far. There must be life in you for there to be life in your writing. So, for this November, I will be writing down the sights, tastes, smells, and more that I notice during family dinners (awkward or otherwise), late night walks, and more. I'll bring some back to you all, and I hope you'll report back, too.
Until next time,
V
November Goals
1. Finish current WIP by November 10.
2. Read (at least) five new novels.
3. Get started on holiday shopping early.
4. Finish knitting a scarf.
5. Start work on new piece and write at least 10,000 words by the end of November.
6. Enjoy the time I get to spend with my family and friends. I want to treasure the moments I'm given.
I want to talk a bit more about that last goal. As writers, we're often encouraged to lock ourselves away, to guard our work, and to shun companionship. Someone recently joked to me on Twitter because I call myself "the happy writer" in my bio. This person said, "A happy writer? You're not tortured? You sure you're doing it right?" I'm fully aware that it was light-hearted, but it got me thinking about why we have this view of writers as isolated and depressed.
In order to write, you need to live. You need to go walk through the city to see how the lights look when they're dying, you need to taste the different spices in a dish, you need to feel how the leaves this time of year crackle beneath your fingertips. How can you write about life if you don't go experience it? Characters need memories, and these memories should be vivid. You cannot know everything; science fiction writers have often written about planets they have never seen with great detail. But the details you can pull from this life can serve you well: pay attention the next time it rains and see how the water traverses your skin, and when you write about the rain on your made-up planet, use those details to guide you.
Of course, some experiences we go through are tragic and terrible. Some writers have been haunted by these, and their ability to so accurately recount these memories makes the moments visceral for their readers. Some have lived "tortured" lives. But there are many other writers who are so adept at capturing moments that they can take a small tragedy in their own life and use it to inform the greater tragedies that they write for their characters. I wrote my response on Twitter: "My characters are tortured, but I don't need to be."
No matter whether you're writing sad stories or happy stories or the stuff in-between, research can take you only so far. There must be life in you for there to be life in your writing. So, for this November, I will be writing down the sights, tastes, smells, and more that I notice during family dinners (awkward or otherwise), late night walks, and more. I'll bring some back to you all, and I hope you'll report back, too.
Until next time,
V
