Behind the Scenes
Writing Down Your Goals [6.5 years later]
In light of Justin’s excellent post below, I started thinking about how I used to think about things. Early on I wrote a lot, and constantly. I had a lot of things I hoped to do. I remembered at one point a friend had told me that one common element to many successful people was that they had early on written down their goals on paper. The concrete object of those goals existing in words then was supposed help them become true. I think I remember scoffing at that some, but then one day in 2003, before I’d really published anything I can remember, I followed his advice. Today while digging through my hard drive, I found the file there in an old folder. This was just after I’d finished the first novel I eventually abandoned, before the next 3 novels I abandoned, before I got to anything I would keep today: each one, as I realized I had to give it up, from which I learned something that helped me write the next one, and write it better, I believe. In the meantime, while those to-be-destroyed words were growing older on my hard drive, I continued to work more.
Which is maybe at least part of the point Justin was getting at: that, in all the makings, it should be about the making first, and that the spread thereafter is something else entirely, and by no means necessarily a goal in and of itself, but one that should be attended to with care. I don’t think I knew then it would be I think 3 years before I started to gather toward actualizing the first item on the list. Maybe if I knew that then I would have done something else. Maybe not. Still, since 2003, a lot has changed, environments, forums, access, but on the other hand, a lot has not. Whatever these mean for ‘where I am now,’ and as goofy or green as they may seem almost seven years later, you can take for what it is: a continuation of an idea, one still in the manner of its cycle, every day:
My Goals as of May 5, 2003
– Get short stories printed in small to medium sized magazines, starting probably with online ones, and then hopefully spreading out to print.
– Get either an agent or a publisher to accept my novel. In the meantime, continue editing the second one. In this case, a publisher would be better than an agent, but in the end, both are acceptable.
– Continue working on new short stories and random text ejaculations. Keep working on the next thing.
– DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE. Refuse to allow my aspirations to be subverted by narrow margins. Create.
– Continue to make small relationships with other writers, no matter how unaccomplished they might seem to be. At the same time, no unwarranted ass-kissing.
– After one of the first two novels has been finished, hopefully substantiate readers by spurring interest online. This part of the plan is still hazy, as I’m not sure how that operates yet, but it will come.
– Writing is writing.
Tags: writing is writing
Blake, this is a really interesting post. For those of us who aren’t familiar with your work, can you tell us how many of your goals you accomplished and how they’ve evolved/changed over the past six years. Do you have any new goals for 2010?
Blake, this is a really interesting post. For those of us who aren’t familiar with your work, can you tell us how many of your goals you accomplished and how they’ve evolved/changed over the past six years. Do you have any new goals for 2010?
This is a great list, Blake. “Keep working on the next thing” is particularly good. I also like the (more-or-less equivalent) mantra “Keep putting one word after another.”
This is a great list, Blake. “Keep working on the next thing” is particularly good. I also like the (more-or-less equivalent) mantra “Keep putting one word after another.”
Hi Dan,
i accomplished the first two goals.
i continue after the 5 other goals every day, and hopefully will continue to do so.
Hi Dan,
i accomplished the first two goals.
i continue after the 5 other goals every day, and hopefully will continue to do so.
thanks Tadd. Yes. One word. One word. One word.
thanks Tadd. Yes. One word. One word. One word.
“- After one of the first two novels has been finished, hopefully substantiate readers by spurring interest online. This part of the plan is still hazy, as I’m not sure how that operates yet, but it will come.”
i thought this was interesting.
“goals”
“- After one of the first two novels has been finished, hopefully substantiate readers by spurring interest online. This part of the plan is still hazy, as I’m not sure how that operates yet, but it will come.”
i thought this was interesting.
“goals”
ZWEET LIST, BB
ZZZIP NEEDS TO MAKE HIS OWN LIST
INSTEAD OF THE SIXTH ONE MAYBE “TRY TO RESIST TURNING INTO A PHOTON” WOULD BE A BETTER GOAL FOR ZZZIP, TURNING INTO PHOTONS CAN BE DISTRACTING
ZWEET LIST, BB
ZZZIP NEEDS TO MAKE HIS OWN LIST
INSTEAD OF THE SIXTH ONE MAYBE “TRY TO RESIST TURNING INTO A PHOTON” WOULD BE A BETTER GOAL FOR ZZZIP, TURNING INTO PHOTONS CAN BE DISTRACTING
awesome list, b. i’d hate to even look at my list from years ago. it’d be too embarrassing…
awesome list, b. i’d hate to even look at my list from years ago. it’d be too embarrassing…
wow, this is so much wiser than anything i had about this same time. making connections with other writers/readers, spurring interest online, etc. thinking those things was something i just could not have thought then. was still trying to know story.
wow, this is so much wiser than anything i had about this same time. making connections with other writers/readers, spurring interest online, etc. thinking those things was something i just could not have thought then. was still trying to know story.
online to print implies print is preferred…this is something I deal with daily in good ol’ academia. I wonder if 2009 print/online status are different than when you made these goals?
I think the print/online mag conversation has many offshoots and is interesting.
online to print implies print is preferred…this is something I deal with daily in good ol’ academia. I wonder if 2009 print/online status are different than when you made these goals?
I think the print/online mag conversation has many offshoots and is interesting.
It is great to see someone else who has a list of goals articulated. I don’t really think these are goofy or green. I think they are ambitious and earnest. I would love to see a conversation here, some day, on ambition measured with conscience.
It is great to see someone else who has a list of goals articulated. I don’t really think these are goofy or green. I think they are ambitious and earnest. I would love to see a conversation here, some day, on ambition measured with conscience.
Would you care to be brave enough to publish your current goals? Just curious.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
Would you care to be brave enough to publish your current goals? Just curious.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
five years ago i kept all my writing in a folder called HELLO WRITE SOMETHING BETTER THESE ARE STUPID
i don’t know if that helped or not
five years ago i kept all my writing in a folder called HELLO WRITE SOMETHING BETTER THESE ARE STUPID
i don’t know if that helped or not
let’s hear yours, father
let’s hear yours, father
Sure. Not a problem. I won’t mind committing to a goal, Paul, not in the least. Sharing a goal with you on the internet, so it can be randomly accessed, is something I am willing to do without a moment’s hesitation. Would you be willing to offer a goal of yours? I’d still like to see Blake’s growth, and compare how his current goals compare with his past goals.
One of mine. . . here goes:
To keep writing the things I want to write.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
Sure. Not a problem. I won’t mind committing to a goal, Paul, not in the least. Sharing a goal with you on the internet, so it can be randomly accessed, is something I am willing to do without a moment’s hesitation. Would you be willing to offer a goal of yours? I’d still like to see Blake’s growth, and compare how his current goals compare with his past goals.
One of mine. . . here goes:
To keep writing the things I want to write.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
I agree. These goals don’t seem lame to me at all, and a post on ambition would be great.
By the way, Blake – I’m reading (and loving) Scorch Atlas.
I agree. These goals don’t seem lame to me at all, and a post on ambition would be great.
By the way, Blake – I’m reading (and loving) Scorch Atlas.
interesting that you consciously set a goal of building relationships. i always sort of assume that’s just a natural thing with certain people. i should probably set a goal like that, maybe then i wouldnt be so antagonistic. i think i set a goal a long time ago of get a novel published before you turn 30. that was a dumb goal. i dont even have a goal anymore. my goal is do whatever interests you and dont let things get in the way of that, be it writing or music or whatever. live.
interesting that you consciously set a goal of building relationships. i always sort of assume that’s just a natural thing with certain people. i should probably set a goal like that, maybe then i wouldnt be so antagonistic. i think i set a goal a long time ago of get a novel published before you turn 30. that was a dumb goal. i dont even have a goal anymore. my goal is do whatever interests you and dont let things get in the way of that, be it writing or music or whatever. live.
how antagonistic are you?
how antagonistic are you?
i can be very, but ive been suppressing it a lot lately
i can be very, but ive been suppressing it a lot lately
miiiiike, that is silly. you’re like the best writer here. jeesh.
miiiiike, that is silly. you’re like the best writer here. jeesh.
Thanks, B. B. As in all things, writing things down makes a difference. This includes goals.
It seems “newage-ish”, I suppose, to write down goals, but I still do so. Also, everyone I correspond with commits in writing, usually on paper, what their goals are. The opposite would be something along the lines of. . .
I have this great novel. . . in my head.
Thanks again.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
Thanks, B. B. As in all things, writing things down makes a difference. This includes goals.
It seems “newage-ish”, I suppose, to write down goals, but I still do so. Also, everyone I correspond with commits in writing, usually on paper, what their goals are. The opposite would be something along the lines of. . .
I have this great novel. . . in my head.
Thanks again.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
Makes me smile. Do you feel smaller or larger than this list now?
Makes me smile. Do you feel smaller or larger than this list now?
hahaha, i dunno about that. =) now i have a mac and i just keep things in a folder called Documents.
i just watched the movie Extract and realized that everything mike judge does is full of repressed disdain for everyone. it would be funny if mike judge and todd solondz did a movie together.
hahaha, i dunno about that. =) now i have a mac and i just keep things in a folder called Documents.
i just watched the movie Extract and realized that everything mike judge does is full of repressed disdain for everyone. it would be funny if mike judge and todd solondz did a movie together.
i would watch it
i would watch it
This post made me feel happy and positive about the coming year.
This post made me feel happy and positive about the coming year.
Oh. Blake deleted his comment. Meh. Just as well.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
Oh. Blake deleted his comment. Meh. Just as well.
– –
Okay,
Father Luke
TO ME DARBY THIS COMMENT REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE DARBY/JEREME DICHOTOMY. YOU CAN BOTH BE A LITTLE BIT SOUR, YOU CAN BOTH BE A LITTLE BIT ANTAGONISTIC, YOU BOTH HAVE PRETTY COOL NAMES, SO THAT SOMETIMES I GET THE TWO OF YOU CONFUSED: BUT WHILE JEREME SEEMS MORE LIKE A CONCEPT YOU ARE A PERSON, WITH ALL OF THE WEAKNESS AND SINCERITY THAT THAT ENTAILS.
TO ME DARBY THIS COMMENT REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE DARBY/JEREME DICHOTOMY. YOU CAN BOTH BE A LITTLE BIT SOUR, YOU CAN BOTH BE A LITTLE BIT ANTAGONISTIC, YOU BOTH HAVE PRETTY COOL NAMES, SO THAT SOMETIMES I GET THE TWO OF YOU CONFUSED: BUT WHILE JEREME SEEMS MORE LIKE A CONCEPT YOU ARE A PERSON, WITH ALL OF THE WEAKNESS AND SINCERITY THAT THAT ENTAILS.
Ditto, too, especially re: relationships, which is important to me but at first felt weird to do consciously after spending a very long time writing in a cave — the only way I could get the book done. Now I’m cool with it.
Goals are great. Not attaching to outcome of the effort is key.
CG, I’ve got 20 pages to go w/ Scorch Atlas. Would be happy to discuss (email?), if ya like.
Ditto, too, especially re: relationships, which is important to me but at first felt weird to do consciously after spending a very long time writing in a cave — the only way I could get the book done. Now I’m cool with it.
Goals are great. Not attaching to outcome of the effort is key.
CG, I’ve got 20 pages to go w/ Scorch Atlas. Would be happy to discuss (email?), if ya like.
not sure if i’d use the word repressed
agree that he and solondz would be great…if they could stand to work with one another
not sure if i’d use the word repressed
agree that he and solondz would be great…if they could stand to work with one another
fuck you, darby, let’s see what you got.
i’d like to see if you could ko me in 91 seconds, beeyotch.
fuck you, darby, let’s see what you got.
i’d like to see if you could ko me in 91 seconds, beeyotch.
Yes, sounds good. Just need a couple days to finish and absorb. (I’m one of those readers who has to read every sentence he likes four or five times.)
Yes, sounds good. Just need a couple days to finish and absorb. (I’m one of those readers who has to read every sentence he likes four or five times.)
thanks CG and Jesus, as always
thanks CG and Jesus, as always