Michael Ehret
Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, is one of my favorite books. An exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat perfectly illustrates the importance of goal setting.
Alice asks, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”
The cat replies, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where—“
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
“—so long as I get somewhere.”
Writing for the Soul
Still time to register for the Writing for the Soul conference! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from professional writers, pitch your work to agents and publishers, and be inspired by keynote speakers Liz Curtis Higgs, Ken Davis, and McNair Wilson.
Here at the Christian Writers Guild, we recognize the value of goal-setting. We’re here to help you get to where you want to go as a writer. In that spirit, I asked my co-workers to share their New Year’s resolutions with us. Accountability is good for us all.
Here are mine:
1. Revise my current manuscript and research the next.
2. Read The Art of War for Writers and one other craft book.
3. Deepen my relationships with God, family, friends.
Jerry B. Jenkins, Owner:
After reading the Bible through in 2010, made easier by having it on my Kindle, in 2011 I am resolved to read two 365-day devotionals—one on prayer and the other Scripture based.
Kerma Murray, Operations Director
Spend more time with my family—and my piano.
Tanya Shtatman, Office Assistant:
1. Try to read at least one new book a month.
2. Continue to deepen my children’s faith in God.
Matt Brown, Web Development and Communications:
1. Finish reading my book on programming design patterns.
2. Put my (soon-to-be) wife’s interests before my personal projects.
Julie Adams, Office Assistant
Find a great Bible study to grow in my faith and relationships.
Leilani Squires, Admissions Manager
Submit at least two articles per month.
Janice Mitchell, Office Manager
1. Put all others before myself.
2. Love my family more (if possible), while making memories to last a lifetime.
If you need help setting goals, read Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals. If you have a goal, or resolution, share it below.
Thanks for the inspiration Michael and CWG Staff.
My writing related goals include:
1. Earn enough money in January to register for another CWG writing course.
2. Prepare book proposals for CWG Conf (one Fic/one NF)and find an agent who will love me
3. Join a new critique group in my new area
4. Write something significant or as Hemingway said “at least one good sentence” everyday!
Carmen, Those are worthy writing goals for 2011. Glad you shared.
I am encouraged by the profound simplicity of the goals written here. I would be more likely to attempt too much and be discouraged when I fail to reach any of them. A few of my goals this year are to attend a writer’s conference for the first time, submit more articles for publication (I’ve only submitted one so far), finish my poetry book (almost done!) and, as always, grow deeper in my relationship with God.
Jon, I am with you. Keep them simple, but honest. Your goals sound doable, yet still a challenge to shoot for. Hey, I know this great writer’s conference … it’s called Writing for the Soul! Hope to see you there.
I’m all about goals, so the title to this article jumped out and snagged my eye. When it comes to writing, however, sometimes I am at loss as to where to start. Okay, so I’m a writer, of course I want to get published. I’m also a very young writer. I often tell people that my goal is to have my present manuscript published. Some smile. Others smirk. I hate when they smirk. Forget my age for a moment. You’d think that young people would be given the chance to be published – if someone would just give us a little time, a little faith, and a little advice. To be published. That’s my goal. I’ll smile the day that goal is no longer a dream, but reality….no, I’ll grin.
Rebecca, nothing wrong with a goal of being published! At least I hope not, I have that one too. The smirkers? Don’t worry, there are smirkers for every age–not just for youth.
Let them smirk. You know what you are called to. Keep plugging away. Keep doing what you need to do to advance: Writing, reading, writing, reading, submitting, writing, reading, seeking counsel, etc. And don’t forget to write and read!
I love “Alice in Wonderland” too.
1. Not completely stress myself out before graduating.
2. Write down anything that sparks my interest that could potentially turn into a novel — no matter how absurd it seems at the moment.
3. Blog more than once a month.
4. Start working on my first novel.
5. Start saving money to go the CWG WFTS 2012 conference.
6. Remember to let God take care of the rest.
Oh…and save the money to take the Writing Essentials course as soon as possible!