The Journal: I Was Astonished: A Little More on Goals

In today’s Journal

* Quotes of the Day
* I Was Astonished: A Little More on Goals
* Another fairly good day
* The Numbers

Quotes of the Day

“What’s the worst thing that could happen if it doesn’t work?” Elaine Viets

I Was Astonished: A Little More on Goals

As read the other comments on Terry Odell’s post from yesterday, I was astonished. I kind’a felt like I’d been dipped in a tank of piranhas in baloney underwear. Or I’d gone wading in a Louisiana bayou filled to the banks with swamp donkeys. I finally left this comment of my own:

“I guess I’m the only one, but I don’t get how ‘Write X number of novels in a year’ is a dream instead of a goal since, as you say, Goals are within our control and Dreams are not (with which I agree).”

A Digression…

Many commenters wrote that they don’t set goals because they know they can’t attain them. That’s a conscious, critical mind self-defeating thought in my opinion.

Or as my paternal grandmother used to say, “You can do anything if you set your mind to it.” And for her, that wasn’t just a feel-good mantra. It was a guiding light for her life.

Grandma Sylvia also believed in dreams. They were things for which you should hope and pray. But as she famously quipped several times, “But you have to put feet in your prayers.” Meaning you have to put in the work and take steps toward what you want to achieve.

I continued my comment:

“I set goals every day, month and year that make me stretch. They’re obtainable, but only if I’m disciplined enough to stick to my plan. And I always break my annual goal down into monthly and daily goals. Like eating the elephant one bite at a time.”

I guess I’ve lived with goals for so long, the kind of thinking I encountered in the comments just doesn’t compute for me. I felt like I was in Bizarro World as I read most of them.

The whole experience kind of reminded me of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” or of a modern critique group that’s deteriorated into a mutual-admiration society. Ugh.

Even if you’re used to only writing two novels in a year (I don’t know how many Ms. Odell writes, but I assume it’s fewer than 3) that still doesn’t mean you can’t write 3 or more within a year If You Want To.

Another fairly good day of writing yesterday with a little over 5000 words. Still looking for that 8000 word day.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Holiday Stories” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/holiday-stories/.

See “Writers in Waiting” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/12/writers-in-waiting.html. Another post that astonished me. To her opening statement, I thought “Nope.” And I added another “Nope” to every item on her list. Seriously, has the world gone crazy? Sigh. To each their own. I just don’t understand.

See “5 Tips For Promoting Your Book This Christmas” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/5-tips-for-promoting-your-book-this-christmas/.

See “‘Greenlighting’ a Novel” at https://mystorydoctor.com/david-farlands-writing-tips-greenlighting-a-novel/.

The Numbers

The Journal…………………………………… 510 words

Writing of The Journey Home: Part 2 (novel)

Day 10… 4264 words. Total words to date…… 45042
Day 11… 5020 words. Total words to date…… 50062

Total fiction words for December……… 45042
Total fiction words for the year………… 497573
Total nonfiction words for December… 6210
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 191420
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 688993

Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 7
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 13
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 52
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 214
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31