Monday, June 6, 2011

Looking to the Future

A couple of weekends ago, I attended my college graduation ceremony. I sat in the very back row, behind two very tall people. Even with my two inch heels, I stand no more than 5 feet 2 inches. Needless to say, I didn’t see much.
Luckily for me, the ceremony was short. (No pun intended.)
And the lack of visibility gave me time to reflect on the past three years in which I attended college, babysat full time, began my writing career, raised two children and helped my husband farm.
When I first began school, my plan was to double major, get a great job, and work full time once my children were both school age.
Things sure have changed since then.
About halfway through school, I realized writing is what I really wanted to do. I took a look at the classes I’d taken and figured out which degree I was closest to completing so I could be done with school and focus on writing.
It seemed like a waste, for a small amount of time. But I realized that I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now if I wouldn’t have gone to school. My first re-acquaintance with writing came when I had to take a children’s literature class.
I also wouldn’t be as self-disciplined as I am now if I hadn’t been forced to study. Because really, who wants to spend hours upon hours a week memorizing medical terms and parts of the nervous system?
The bottom line is – my time at school molded me into who I am today.
My motivation to return to school was not only earning a degree so I could be more competitive in the job market – I also wanted to be able to tell my children, “I went to college, so can you.”
When it came to the decision to quit college and focus on my writing…Well, needless to say, that was a tough decision. The writing industry is tough. I knew going in I may never sell my novel. I may never be published.
But I was more motivated to follow my dream than I was to work in a stuffy office for the rest of my life.
So, what motivates you to write? Why did you choose to start your novel?
In the grand scheme of things, are you where you’d thought you’d be by now? Where do you think you’ll be in a year from now?
And as for the short term…What are your goals for this wonderful Motivational Monday?
My challenge for you is twofold.
First, I want you to make a plan. Write down where you want to be next month, in three months, in six months, in a year. Put that paper somewhere you’ll see it every day – on your bathroom mirror, in your planner, on your desk or your fridge.
I want you to know it’s okay if plans change because life is always changing.
I also want you to keep your dreams in sight.
Second, set your goal for the day. And remember it’s the first step toward the big picture.
And if you don’t make your MoMo goal?
Well…the picture shows you what you’ll be suffering – lipstick smeared across your face the next time you go to the grocery. And no, you can’t just run in, get one item, and run out. You must be in there for at least 30 minutes.
So go forth and plan for the future!
~Kim

6 comments:

  1. Wow.
    And...
    wow.

    I *refuse* to fail in accomplishing my goal for today. Not only do I abhor lipstick, I also do not like that shade :)

    My goal for today is writing an additional scene for my MS and revising a subsequent scene. And deleting some description from 3 chapters to improve pacing.
    All by 5pm my time.

    I won't be humiliated at the grocery!

    I will be making that list of where I want to be and hanging it on my closet door so that when I get dressed everyday I can put on goals in addition to clothes :)

    Hope everyone makes their goal-
    not really. I *really* want to see lipstick smeared faces!

    Get to work.

    Love,
    Vivien

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  2. Yes, that's a bad color. But I don't wear lipstick, so I had to dig this out of the halloween supply box, lol.

    My goal for today is to edit both my synopsis and my query one time. It's almost 3 and I'm just now sitting down at my desk. I had a lot to catch up on after being out of town twice last week!

    And if I make my goal, I'm going to work on the plot for my new project!

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  3. Love the picture! The visual aids alone should keep people coming back to this site. And put fear in the hearts of all who dare participate.--my goal for today is to have either 1,000 new words OR to edit 30 pages by 11pm.

    Great idea about writing down goals! Usually I've got some obscure ideas floating around in my head of what I want to achieve, but when I wrote them down, they suddenly seemed real--and attainable.

    Great blog!

    Abbie Rhoades

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  4. I made it!

    Even had a little time left over to repair a couple glitches from the last edit.

    Woohoo no lipstick!

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  5. Good Luck Abbie! I'm glad making your goals a vison helped you see them as attainable!

    I made my goal - edited both my synopsis and my query. Although, I still want to print them out and set fire to them both...

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  6. Edited 33 pages by 10:30pm then went to bed a bit early. Thankfully I achieved my goal.

    Abbie Rhoades

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