Writing Goals for 2008

Sorry it's been a while, actually not sorry to you out there on the web since I have no following, but sorry for me. I am goal oriented person. Not to the point where I forsake all to meet my goals...well, it actually depends. Work goals are different and it I don't complete them, my supervisor tells me about it. This is usually not a problem since I usually set my own goals even at work. My personal goals are much more serious to me and are the ones that really get under my skin if I fall short, behind, or otherwise don't complete them. Sometimes when I don't meet my personal (and work) goals, I begin this very destrucitve habit of "negative self-talk". This is where you chastise yourself for not doing what you promised to yourself. This is where the little voice in your head give you shit for not completing something. Not meeting goals for me is about 97% because I lack time management. I am not all over the place, I just sometimes don't want to work and sometimes, and I need to admit it, writing is a bit like work. Writing is not easy. Writing is fun and very rewarding, but it takes commitment. Funny, in my mind, I am a writer because I have taken the first steps to actually do something with my desire. What I am finding, though, is that after the romantic notion of sitting down with the intent of writing, the ADD demons find their way in and often, I let them in. This has got to stop! I have to remain focused. I have to stick to meeting my goals.

The intent of this blog is to focus on writing and in particular, focus on my writing and to see how it turns out. Goals....OK, here are my writing goals for 2008:

> Finish the first draft of 'The Ring'
> Submit at least three manuscripts for publication in magazines (free/pay)
> Keep Wannabewriter up to date
> Write five short stories
> Read one book every two months
> Complete NANOWRIMO

The toughest goal her is NANOWRIMO by far. 50,000 words in a month?! Thats like 1666 words a day! There'd be some cross over with some of my other goals, but the intent of NANOWRIMO is to sit down and commit to writing a 50,000 word manuscript.

Finishing my first draft of 'The Ring', which by the way is not about the movie, shouldn't be too bad, I am already 12,694 words. But this is sporadic and I write when I feel like writing. To meet my self imposed goals, I'm gonna need to get beyond sporadic, I am going to have to become really commited. Well, that really is the point of goal setting, isn't it? You set goals to measure your success and to keep yourself on track. I clearly stated at the onset of this blog that I want to write. I need to set goals to meet my own mission.