Thursday, March 19, 2009

What's on YOUR planner?

I'm a goal setter. Always have been. Attend college, find a husband, start a career, have a child, pay off the house. I've always had a plan.

When I worked as a counselor, I'd meet weekly with my clients to write and revise their monthly goal plans. I'd break it down in small attainable steps to ensure success. Same as I did for myself.

I don't know how to function without goals.

So when I started my writers group, I asked each person to share with the other members what they were working on and planned to work on the next month. Eight months later, I see marked results.

When I first started writing, I wasn't even sure what goals a writer should have. The whole concept of writing seemed as fuzzy as my bedroom slippers. I wrote because I liked to. After four years, I finally have a clearer picture of what I need to be doing. After all, writing isn't only about the writing. Words like submitting, editing, querying, marketing appear on my daily planner.

How about you? What's on your planner this month?

19 comments:

Angie Ledbetter said...

1. Continue with third semester poetry course, write a poem a week and begin submitting older revised ones.
2. Make headway on novel revisions.
3. Maintain writers group meeting schedule.
4. Editing prose at The Rose & Thorn, and editing gigs for others.
5. Blog daily.
6. Read.
Oh, I could go on, but I'll stop here. :)

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

Still reworking my daily planner. Starts out okay, but then something fun or necessary distracts me and I feel like I'm stuttering through my writing. Being that I'm an organized, neat and order fanatic, you'd think I'd be disciplined to stick to the daily planner! As Scarlett says, "There's always tomorrow!"

Jody Hedlund said...

I'm all about goals! I don't know how I'd get anything done without a plan.

I'm currently trying to write 500 words a day on my novel six days a week and then 1000 words on Sat. That amounts to 4000 words a week. If I keep it up (which I've been doing!), then I should finish my first draft in 10 weeks!

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I don't have a daily goal as far as a specific word count, but I do try to write something each day. I plan on finishing the second book in my trilogy hopefully by next month so I can start the third and final book.

Tracy said...

I have to admit, goals are not my strong suit. I do understand I would get more done though. I will make it a goal to start using goals regularly! Thanks!

Pat's Place said...

Goals certainly help us move forward. It is kind of like having a rudder on your boat--meanwhile my boat is a bit rudderless right now. Time for some Goal Setting! Thanks for the idea you planted!

Melissa Amateis said...

I need to get my goals in order again. Everything has been so topsy-turvey lately that I need to really get my focus back.

Thanks for the reminder, Terri. :-)

Hugs and blessings to you!

Tana said...

Funny you should ask! I try and make weekly goals and mostly I stick to them. I have always had a goal no matter how small to how big. Yes I still do my five year goals, it's funny I never run out of idea's for those. I always pray for God's will.

Kathleen said...

Wow. We're definitely on the same wavelength today!

Planning is such an intentional thing to do. I'm all over that! I like to plan meals ahead so I can plan shopping ahead. I like to plan how to spend/save money. I plan my work days so as to accomplish all that I need to accomplish. I even plan to have fun, or to rest.

All that said, let me also say I can lose my focus fast ... really fast. Then I have to plan to get back on track.

Kathleen

Jenni James said...

I've just been enjoying all of my company that's come to visit! It's been wonderful!

Greg C said...

I have several goals, some are short term and others are long term. My daily goal is to make someone's day a little better. I have a financial goal to get out of debt. Long term I want to get into Heaven. I have a plan for each of these although my plans shift slightly from time to time. Lately my financial plan has shifted a lot. :)

Yolanda said...

Honestly:

God
Vacation with GOD and my hubs
RESTING In God with my hubs
Loving because He has poured His love into me
Obeying what God puts on my heart

Vickie said...

I honestly don't stick to plans I make. I get distracted and then work on something else. I am always writing down a plan but have a hard time sticking to it.

However I do get work done because I just work. I guess though if I could stick to my plans I could do even more.

Someday, maybe....

Vickie

Ginger said...

Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog! Yes, we are from the south...NC!

I am a planner. Being a teacher, my work life is all about plans and yet being able to go with the flow at the same time. However, I know that a plan must be in place!

At home and in my personal life, I do plan, but I tend to be a little more spontaneous now, than I used to be, because I have to plan so much at work.

I guess you could say that at home I have more things that I "focus" on than do extensive planning for. Listing is something that I do a lot of I tend to plan ahead...long range!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I have six of ten sections completed on my manuscript. Two others are close, and two need serious work. Thus, I want to finish up the two that are close to finish and rework a couple of "older" writings for the other sections. I hope to have everything done by the end of April. Pray for me.

peace~elaine

Jessica Nelson said...

That was smart of you with your crit group. There are people in mine who've never even sent in a sample of their writing. Sigh.
I don't set goals, really. A thousand words on my wip a day, sometimes. I do mental goals more. Like, today I want to clean the toilets. Once I hit my mental plans for the day I coast along...:-)

Great Grandma Lin said...

more important than goals and lists is your priorities- finding them and putting them to use in your life.

Beth Herring said...

What's on my planner??

1. Missing my daughter and 3 grandbabies that are in Indiana right now with her pipelinin' husband!

2. Patiently (ha!) waiting for the arrival of my baby daughters 2nd baby. He will join little fella #1 on March 30th if not before!!

3. Getting my middle daughter ready to leave for Bolivia on a mission trip over her spring break from college. Thank you Lord that my daughter is choosing YOU over FUN on her spring break!

4. Enjoying my daily time with the Lord. Growing more and more with Him each day.

5. Try to learn how to relax!


You have a great blog/ministry here.

In Him,Beth

Kasie West said...

Edits. 30 pages a day, then a full read through. Sigh. Love to write. Not a fan of editing. But, I can do it!