Goal Setting

My day planner, as I think I have mentioned before, has insight from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.   Though I don't always, I happened to read the hint for today which is based on Habit 2:  Begin With the End In Mind.  Covey says (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, pages 135-137):

"Many people jump from goal setting to execution.  However, to achieve a goal, you must first define and then master the specific activities, tasks, behaviors, and events required to reach the goal.  It is also helpful to clearly define how you will measure success and to proactively think through possible barriers to your success and mitigate them."

This was like a lightbulb for me this morning, a major "duh" moment.  So often, I think we set our goals, do our best (or not) to achieve them but really give little consideration to how to go about it specifically or how to fight through or prevent any road blocks.  At least, I know that I don't do so.  If there is something I want to accomplish, whether it be writing or work related, I often set it as a goal but do not really set up my environment and day-to-day life to foster the completion of the goal. 

I'd love to hear any strategies you use to help yourself be successful in goal completion in your life, writing or otherwise.  Thanks, in advance, for your insight.

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!  Enjoy the holiday and stay safe and cool.  Thank you all for fighting for our independence and freedom.

Hiatus

I wanted to touch base briefly rather than disappear with no warning.  Despite my inconsistent posting, hopefully someone would notice:-)

I am planning to take a brief blogging hiatus while I tackle a bunch of continuing ed for work that needs to be completed, much of which I can do with a few self-study programs that have been collecting dust on my desk.  I just keep procrastinating and am tired of it all hanging over my head so am going to take care of it all in the next few weeks and be finished.  I will then get back to regular (or more consistent) blogging.

Thanks for understanding and happy summer!

Habits

I was updating my daily planner this morning and found a section I didn't even know was there.  It discussed The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  I bought the book by the same name years ago and still have not read it all nor have I paid much attention to the daily habit lessons adorning the bottom of my calendar pages.  It sounded like a great idea when I ordered the calendar; however, it seems to get lost in the shuffle as each day rolls by. 

As I sat reading this morning, it made me really think about habits, both good and bad, as it applies to my writing.  Stephen Covey said, "Habits are patterns of behavior that involve three overlapping components:  desire, knowledge, and skill.  Because these three components are learned rather than inherited, effective habits can be learned and ineffective habits can be unlearned."

Makes sense to me...one has the desire to write, spends a great deal of time gaining the knowledge needed to develop the skill to do so well.  Each and every one of us has his/her own habits in terms of writing.  Mine continue to be hit-and-miss during these summer days and nights filled with ball games, tennis matches and softball tournaments; but I am always thinking of the next story and paying attention to all the happenings around me to shape into my next WIP.  Which leads me to the next tidbit I found interesting this morning. 

Covey's Habit 2 is Begin with the End in Mind.  In discussing this habit, Covey indicated it is based on, "imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes."  He further said that first one creates something mentally and then does so physically.  This spoke to the writer in me so much as this is what we do.  We get the inspiration from our imagination (or an actual life event) and "create" the idea in our mind before physically taking pen to paper (or hands to keyboard). 

So, now I am trying to focus on the imagination and mental creation of ideas for stories and articles in these busy summer times in hopes there will be a quiet moment sometime soon after to address the physical creation.

I'd love to hear what good (or bad) habits work or don't work for you if you are willing to share.

Know Yourself

So...it seems I am still inconsistent with blogging!  I log in, read a few blogs I follow but then run out of time before needing to take a kid somewhere or get to an appointment.  I always think I'll get back to it later that day and never seem to do so. 

This morning, I read a chapter of UNLEASH THE WRITER WITHIN by Cecil Murphey.  I was ruminating a bit on what I read while exercising and figuring out what I was going to post about once finished.  I had it all mapped out in my head then and viola...poof!  It's no longer there!  Such a surprise.  Perhaps I should keep a writers notebook next to my treadmill as well.

What Murphey was talking about in the chapter I read this morning was liking oneself.  He says, "If you learn to capitalize on who you are and appreciate who you are, you're on your way to becoming the best writer you can become."  He suggests there is a connection between our weaknesses and our gifts and further intimates, "...perhaps your weaknesses may not be the negatives you think they are."

This chapter made me think of all the things around me useful to my writing.  I do frequently write about various thoughts and feelings but, all too often, do not use all that I could nor explore as fully as I could.  I'm going to make a concerted effort to really look within, search who I am and analzye the environment around me to create various story and article ideas.  What a wonderful time summer is for this.  Perhaps I'll go into Fall with numerous manuscripts to submit or ideas to write. 

Summer Schedule

I've been quite lax about blogging in recent weeks as the school year wound down.  Between driving for field trips, finishing the Spring sports season and wrapping up my school/work year obligations, it was a bit of a hairy time.

I've always dreaded the start of summer in terms of what it meant for my writing time fearing there would be no time with chauffering kids around and having them underfoot each day.  I believe this summer will be different.  The school year was full of various work obligations, school functions and sporting practices and events.  Summer seems to be bringing more peace, during the days at least as most softball and baseball is in the evening.  I've found myself sitting outside on my front deck watching my kids shoot hoops or play catch while working on a picture book or catching up on market research reading. 

I do need to set some sort of schedule to accomplish what I'd like to complete this summer with some degree of consistency but feel this summer, more than any other, is going to be ripe with productivity.

So, I am curious...what works for your summer schedule?  How do you modify your goals and objectives during the summer months?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas if you are willing to share.

To Dummy or Not to Dummy?

Have you made a dummy book?  A dear friend just passed me some good information on how to do so as I have not prior.  So, I will be tackling this project soon with two of my current PB manuscripts. 

My question is...if you have made one, did you find it a helpful process?  In your experience, is it worth the time and energy?  How many pages of front and back matter did you use?  Did you begin your story on page 6?

I believe this will be time well spent for my current WIP but would love to hear any hints or suggestions you may have if you've gone through this process.

Thank you in advance for your time!