Writer Goals are My Servants, Not My Master

IWSG

Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) asked, “It’s holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?” I’ll share my thoughts and would love to read yours.

Writing Goals

Writer goals are a dime-a-dozen, but lessons learned are priceless.

Don’t get me started on all the different goal-setting methods adopted and abandoned over the years. Sometimes the lesson I learned while failing to achieve a goal proved more valuable than if I had accomplished my aim. Also, many times, my initial goal became meaningless.

I realized writer goals are my servants, not my master, and if the initial ambition no longer holds meaning, I now discard it like a used tissue.

Our Future Comes One Choice at a Time

This month’s IWSG question served as a reminder that writer goals can add to or take away from our lives.

Our future comes one choice at a time. How we spend the time influences our well-being and those around us. The passing years encourage us to choose wisely.

For the holidays, I’m choosing to not focus on my writer goals.

Conclusion

As this year comes to a close, my mind will naturally reflect on goals achieved and failed during 2022, and that’s okay.

But if you ever feel frustrated or guilty about incomplete or unsuccessful efforts, try this. As master of your writer goals, adopt worthwhile lessons and toss the rest in the bin. Then let go — it’s like taking out the trash.

My writer goals for 2023 will be there when the New Year arrives, so for this holiday season, I’m focusing on my family — a gift best enjoyed right now.

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It’s holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Take a moment and checkout Alex Cavanaugh’s popular Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I encourage you to sign up and take part in the monthly blog challenge. You will also find a list of bloggers signed up for the monthly challenge that are worth checking out. The first Wednesday of every month, we all post our thoughts, fears or words of encouragement for fellow writers.

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7 responses to “Writer Goals are My Servants, Not My Master”

  1. wordsfromanneli Avatar
    wordsfromanneli

    I agree with you. Trying too hard takes the fun out of writing. Somewhere there’s a balance.

    Reply
    1. Grant at Tame Your Book! Avatar
      Grant at Tame Your Book!

      The best days are those that feel like play. If we’re the master, why not set goals that replace OR with AND, producing the work AND generating the fun?

      Reply
      1. wordsfromanneli Avatar
        wordsfromanneli

        You’ve got it!

  2. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    I need that reminder occasionally, Grant — that I am the boss of my goals! Have a wonderful holiday.

    Reply
    1. Grant at Tame Your Book! Avatar
      Grant at Tame Your Book!

      Yep. Me, too, Jacqui. The IWSG question cleared my vision, not only on the holidays, but the year to come.

      Reply
  3. Esther O'Neill Avatar
    Esther O’Neill

    Catch-up time, definitely, with precious people, some very old, some still counted in months. Missed, for nearly three years (apart from the months old). If I finish the first draft of a complete rewrite, hopefully, a real book next year. This December, the real me, not a writer yet, can’t disappear behind a closed door.

    Reply
  4. Stuart Danker Avatar
    Stuart Danker

    I like the fact that I pursue more of a ‘slow burn’ when it comes to my writing. That way, I can keep going every day, no matter the season, and not feel any significant fatigue. In an ideal world, my writing duties will be the same regardless.

    Reply

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