| On the first day of a bright and shiny new year, | | | | uncomfortable, resolve to buy something better |
| stretching out ahead of us full of possibilities, it's so | | | | before the end of the year - the sooner the better! |
| easy to feel a sense of determination. ("This year I'm | | | | |
| DOING it! I'm going to write a book / lose weight / | | | | 4. Make Stepped Resolutions About Your |
| take more time for myself... etc etc.)But as the first | | | | Writing.We've already talked about the really easy |
| month of the new year gives way to the second, | | | | resolution - the one you would have to be comatose |
| what happens? The old, comfortable routines are still | | | | not to achieve! That can be the bottom step of an |
| there. The problems from the previous year haven't | | | | imaginary staircase.Let's say you have ten steps. The |
| magically disappeared. | | | | lowest step is your "easy" goal. Now you need to |
| | | | decide on the next nine. We're going to do the tenth |
| There's still not enough time to write. | | | | and highest step first. (This is where you have to aim |
| There are still family responsibilities to be taken care | | | | high!)Goal number 10 should not be something out of |
| of, and | | | | reach. It should be something you feel you can attain |
| editors still send out rejection letters.So what do | | | | with some hard work (and maybe a little bit of luck). |
| you do?You ease into it. A new year resolution is, | | | | A goal where you stretch yourself a bit. |
| after all, just another name for a goal. Goals become | | | | |
| difficult to attain when you set your sights too high. | | | | It might be "have a completed, polished novel ready |
| (Am I saying "Don't aim high"? No, not at all. Read | | | | to send away".It might be "have my own literary |
| on.)Here's a step by step method of setting goals | | | | agent".It might be "start selling my own e-book from |
| (or, if you like, making new year resolutions) that | | | | my own internet site". |
| work.1. Make A Resolution That Is Impossible Not To | | | | |
| KeepThis one has to be ridiculously easy. Like "Write | | | | Once you have your very easy goal and your |
| a polished first chapter by the last day of December." | | | | stretch-yourself goal, it's time to fill in the eight middle |
| That gives you 365 days to plan, write and polish | | | | steps. These should be relatively easy - just ask |
| just that first chapter.Or: "Join an online critique | | | | yourself how you can move steadily from Goal 1 to |
| group."Or: "Find 5 websites for writers and print out | | | | Goal 10.Here's an example: |
| some good advice from those sites."Your resolution | | | | |
| may be entirely different. Whatever it is, make it so | | | | Step 1: Find 5 internet sites for writers and print out |
| simple you'd have to be comatose not to achieve it.2. | | | | useful articles.Step 2: Decide on the project you most |
| Make A Resolution That Involves Your Family | | | | want to work on. Outline it.Step 3: Look for other |
| Friends.To be able to write effectively, most of us | | | | writers to give you support. (An online critique group, |
| need cooperation from people who are important to | | | | a local group that meets in each others' homes, a |
| us. Think about what you need. | | | | writing buddy in the same town.)Step 4: Keep |
| | | | working on the project decided on in Step 2.Step 5. |
| Do you need more time to yourself, without | | | | Look around for a writer's workshop or seminar or |
| interruption? (Start by negotiating small amounts of | | | | festival. Commit to going.Step 6. Keep working on |
| time with your family. You can increase this later.)Do | | | | main project. (If it's not working, solve the problems |
| you need encouragement, not put-downs? (Talk to | | | | or start again. Don't give up.)Step 7. Decide on what |
| those who are negative about your career. Tell them | | | | you need to learn. (To develop characters? Write |
| that you really need their support if you're going to | | | | dialogue? Improve grammar? Write a proposal? Build |
| make it.)Do you need to cut down on outside | | | | a website? Create an e-book?) Take action to build |
| activities? (Be firm. If committee work is draining you, | | | | your skills. Enrol in a short course, download |
| let someone else step into the role. Organize other | | | | information from the Internet, work with a friend to |
| parents to take turns driving kids to sport or dance | | | | overcome problems.)Step 8. Keep working on main |
| lessons.)Do you need to take action against time | | | | project. Review your ten-step "new year resolution" |
| bandits? (Friends who talk for an hour on the phone; | | | | program. What's working? What's not working? What |
| neighbors who drop in for coffee 3-4 times a week; | | | | needs to change? Be adaptable. Nobody knows what |
| relatives who are always asking you to do things for | | | | life is going to throw at them. You could have a |
| them.) Take a stance. Tell them you're going all out | | | | dream year - or everything could fall apart. The |
| on your writing career this year. Use the answering | | | | important thing is to be flexible, call on supportive |
| machine; make appointments for coffee. | | | | friends and family, and set some new goals if |
| | | | necessary. Just don't give up.Step 9. The end is in |
| 3. Make A Resolution That Keeps You | | | | sight. Keep working on your main project or projects. |
| Healthy.Writers spend a lot of time sitting and staring | | | | Are you close to your 'stretch yourself' goal? If so, |
| at a computer. They get cramps from crouching | | | | that's great - you've had a good year. If not, analyse |
| over a desk editing drafts. In order to squeeze in as | | | | what went wrong. Rather than getting angry or |
| much writing time as possible around other | | | | frustrated, move into damage control. There's a |
| commitments, good health goes out the window.It is | | | | solution for everything. Learn from roadblocks; see if |
| essential to look after your health if you want a | | | | you can turn obstacles into opportunities.Step 10. |
| long-lasting career as a writer.Here are some simple, | | | | Have a completed, polished manuscript in your hand |
| easy-to-keep resolutions to keep you healthy. Well, | | | | get an agent. If everything's gone according to plan, |
| at least a little healthier! | | | | you're either one of the lucky ones (life didn't |
| | | | intervene!) or you're very well organized. If you didn't |
| Keep a glass of water on your desk at all times. Sip | | | | achieve what you'd hoped, go back over your ten |
| constantly, and keep refilling it as you work. Don't | | | | steps and see what you did get done. |
| underestimate the importance of a regular intake of | | | | |
| water.Choose a form of exercise you can live with | | | | Many writers, frustrated at their apparent lack of |
| for at least one day a week. If you hate jogging, | | | | success, overlook how much they actually have |
| don't do it. If you hate the gym, don't go. Everyone | | | | achieved. You're sure to have moved ahead in your |
| can find ONE thing involving physical activity for a | | | | skills, your achievements and your career |
| 20-minute stretch. Go bowling - go swimming - take | | | | generally.Just keep moving forward. After all, |
| up line dancing. Commit to just one day a week. If | | | | resolutions are not made to be either broken or |
| you choose well, you'll enjoy it so much that you will | | | | rigidly adhered to. They're made to give you direction. |
| want to increase your time.If your weight is a | | | | Use them to cast a light on the path - and especially |
| problem, commit to healthy eating for one day a | | | | keep looking up to that bright, shining light on Step |
| week. Even one day is better than none! Choose | | | | No. 10!(c) Copyright Marg McAlisterMarg McAlister has |
| simple food that's easy to prepare. If you can do it, | | | | published magazine articles, short stories, books for |
| opt for a healthy eating day every second day. | | | | children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and |
| (Another way of looking at this: decide to change | | | | web content. She has written 5 distance education |
| your eating habits for the better, but allow yourself a | | | | courses on writing, and her online help for writers is |
| 'junk food day' once a week or once a month.)Check | | | | popular all over the world. |
| your desk and chair. If one or both are | | | | |