Motivation for the Goal-Challenged Writer
Am I the only one who goes to a goal-setting workshop with this one thing in mind—if I just set the right goals and work hard enough, I'll be published by ___(insert your own demon date and publisher). I just KNOW all I need in order to succeed is a better plan. So I write out my plan. Something like this: write four best selling books in two years, sell them to Biggest Name In Publishing publisher and be rich and famous. You know what I mean, don't you? Don't you? Or AM I the only one with this so totally wrong idea of goal setting though, cerebrally, I do understand that's not what's meant as goals. Chant with me: goals are measurable, definable and achievable. My problem is that in my mind and imagination my dreams totally are all of the above. I have no trouble seeing my name up in lights. And don't bother reminding me that my dreams/goals are not something I have control over. Let me live in my clouds. After all, I'm a fiction writer. I specialize in pretending. I do not want to downsize my dreams/goals. I need them to spur me on. It doesn't matter how impractical, impossible or unachievable they are. I don't want to be confused by reality.
What I need in goal setting is different. Simpler. Something that gives me those high and noble attributes of measurable, definable and achievable yet doesn't destroy my dream. I need to set...well, not goals really. That's far too solid for me. I need to figure out achievable micro steps. Like meeting my daily quota. Heck, getting myself to do one word on a blank screen is a big deal.
Do I hear chortles in the background when I call these goals? I'll have you know my goals are very noble. One word, one sentence, one page and then another and another until voila, I have a book. So, it's just a rough draft and needs tons of work. At least it's something solid to work on. And I can set new micro goals—refine a word, tighten the dialogue, polish a sentence until page by page, the manuscript is completed.
And it's very easy to see the rewards of my system of setting micro goals. I have the words, sentences, and pages to count as they pile up. And if I get discouraged because the dream-sized goal seems illusive, I can shamelessly bribe myself to conquer the micro goals. There is NOTHING like instant (or almost instant) gratification. A cookie with my tea if I do my quota. A trip to the fridge if I do a twenty-minute don't-take-your-fingers-off-the-keyboard session. Coffee at Tim Horton's with a friend if I make my weekly quota. And if my cheeks are getting too pudgy, I can substitute whatever reward works at the time in place of the food reward.
What's wrong with keeping my goals small and manageable? What is it they say? Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves? Works for me.
Now excuse me. I have tea and cookies waiting—my reward for writing this article.
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