Another year dawns, and it’s time to make our personal improvement project goals! Unless of course you’re resolving not to resolve. No judging here.
I personally like the whole New Year’s Resolution tradition because I like to think things can keep improving in the world, and the only way that can happen is one person at a time. The truth is, we can all be better than we are currently, and I like that we begin each year with that thought in mind. Even if our diets are then promptly felled by Mr. Burrito.
Mr. Burrito, why must you be so delicious?? Your accomplices Chips & Guac are not helping matters.
My resolutions for 2011 are (in varying degrees of seriousness):
– No more random gray hairs. Seriously scalp, you have your instructions, get it in gear.
– Happier dog
– Moving it up to level 4 on the exercise bike. Watch out, people.
– Continue to resist computer games. No time. No…. ok just one more round of Civilization.
– Be a better writer and exorcise my writerly tics like the demons they are.
– Finally use one of those tire pressure thingies
– Find three good new bands. No more post-early-20’s-musical-discovering-laziness.
– A more perfect harmony between work, writing, relationships, and fun. My fellow writers, is that not the dream?
What about you?
Don't do it! Telling people your goals has been shown to make you less likely to accomplish them.
Write them down, and in the words of Gandalf, "Keep it secret, keep it safe."
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html
To write a page a day. And yes, that bit about harmony sounds lovely too. 🙂
As for the musical findings, may I suggest Sondre Lerche?
I like to think that I don't need to wait for the new year to make the changes I desire. I'm one of those no resolution people.
I think it's great if you have them, but I don't need them.
I will, by the end of this year, at least be a better writer…but that will come ultimately from the practice.
Happy new year.
To stop being distracted by other people's blogs
Nate – what bands do you like now? I work at Berklee and I'm pretty plugged in, so I might be able to help you find some new bands you'll dig.
You're on your own with the hair, though.
To be nice I'll give you three bands to check out that I think are amazing (if you haven't already): Jason Webley, Jared Mees & the Grown Children, and The Petrojvic Blasting Company.
My resolutions are simple; to write more, to learn more, to be kinder (or to try to be kind in every situation) & to not eat anything fried.
Have a fantastic new year!
One of my resolutions is to write at least one letter a week. Heck, I may even mail them. That stationery I bought on clearance isn't getting any fresher. Besides, I hear the U.S.P.S. could use the work.
instead of resolutions, i follow blogger Christine Kane's lead in choosing a Word for the Year that embodies what i want to work on for the year.
This year's Word for the Year for me is BELIEF.
http://bit.ly/ft2ziB
— Tom
to crawl out of my own head long enough to make things happen in the real world (ie sell that screenplay). uttered while watching roger hodgson sing "dreamer."
Don't mean to seem annoyingly self promotional, but I have 21 resolutions for the year (5 more than last year), and a handful are actually writing related and all are measurable.
They are listed on my blog:
http://matthewdicks.typepad.com/matthew_dicks/2011/01/new-years-resolutions-2011.html
And I find that sharing them makes it more likely for me to complete them. There is actually research on both sides of this argument, so it's quite inconclusive.
I am, however, normally inclined to believe anything Gandalf says.
—
Matthew Dicks
http://matthewdicks.com
Read about my writing career and life at http://matthewdicks.typepad.com
Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/matthewjdicks
Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MatthewDicks
Great goals Nathan! Here are mine:
1) Write five days a week.
2) Practice kata 3 times a week.
3) P90X (Day 3 completed today)
I wrote about realistic, measurable goals at Attacking The Page (a blog about martial arts and writing action) if you're interested.
http://attackingthepage.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/new-year-goals/
Happy New Year!
2010 was the year I finally stopped making resolutions, and it was the first year that I actually got everything I needed (and a lot of things I wanted) to get done, done.
So in that vein, the only resolution I may from hereon out is the same every year:
Don't quit and don't die.
Nathan, I love this post.
Here's to more balance, more exercise, better writing, and new music.
And my personal goal, better discipline, and more submitting. No more writerly crazies for me. At least, I won't let them stop me from subbing my work.
Blog once a week.
Write one short story a week.
Finally build my trebuchet.
The first one should be easy. It's the second that will be a killer. But I have found that the best way for me to get motivated on my longer projects(book 2 has stalled halfway through and book 3 cant get past outline), is to work on other, shorter projects. So far so good, I have my short story for this week already in the can.
And as for the trebuchet, well, who doesn't want a trebuchet? What can I say, I'm a PunkinChunkin fan, and a carpenter, so I have the will, and the skills.
This year, I will chunck a punkin.
I plan to be positive and slow down life. 2010 was too much. Just too much.
My New Year's resolutions were going to be to write this idea that's been nagging me. But then I jumped the gun and did it. So I'm going to say: get that story so polished up I'm ready to query.
I only made one this year; complete book two of my series.
My resolution this year is to get published. My article for MetroKids Magazine will be out in the February print/web issue. But I would like my fiction to gain the same notoriety. Writing down your resolutions and goals makes them more likely to become reality.
Music? My sister gave me The XX: XX for Christmas. I'm really digging them. Or check out Placebo: Without You I'm Nothing.
I should really resolve to lose about 20 pounds. Instead my New Years resolution is to learn how to juggle, not metaphorically but with balls.
Someone special to me recently said he lies to people a lot. My goal this year is to help him be more honest by being more honest myself.
http://writelock.blogspot.com/2011/01/experiment-in-truth.html
No resolution, Nathan, but I can help you with your Mr. Burrito problem — I started passing on the sour cream and cheese, and you knock out more than 300 calories (and minimal effect on taste). Go super light on the rice, and you save another 100 calories or so.
File this one in most ueless bit of advice you get today.
Amen, Nathan! One person at a time is the only way.
Burritos and Chihuahuas are part of Montezuma’s Revenge, gringo! Except they’re not best eaten cold. I think. I’ve never actually eaten a burrito. Or a burro. I like Chihuahuas and probably COULD eat a whole one, but I haven’t yet.
Your exercise bike actually goes places? Wonders never cease. Tire pressure thingies? For the exercise bike?
C. Scott Morris, yes! EVERYONE should build at least two trebuchets. And hurl rotting diseased corpses at any neighbor who complains. THAT’S my New Year’s Resolution.
I'm going to read twice as many books as last year (so I'm going to read 44 books). I'm not going to write every day or do dishes every day or exercise every day, because I refuse to make a resolution I have no intention of keeping. I'm going to have an attainable goal this year.
I'm a big proponent of making resolutions that I can keep…also not making typos in my comments, so that's why I deleted my previous one.
My resolutions are to lose another 20 lbs (since the first 20 were relatively easy to lose), start querying my manuscript, and work on the important relationships in my life.
I'm with you on the computer games. I uninstalled all my games (except one) at the new year so I could get more done. They are evil and my biggest time sink to getting things accomplished!
I use the New Year break to set my writing goals. These days I make sure they are a stretch, yet achievable. No more wishing and hoping for the unnattainable. My goals must show by years end that I have grown in some way…and not just around the middle.
My critique partner and I exchange them in the hope of keeping each other honest. That reminds me she hasn't sent hers yet. Hmmmm?
I blogged about my resolutions, but the basic gist is Do It All…with Calm. Easy! 🙂
Do you really want NOT-random gray hairs?
Happy New Year. c
1. Stop talking about finishing the revisions on MS 1 and just do it.
2. Write a query letter that acts as a query letter and not as a written on napkin.
3. Try my best to stifle the blogging addiction that I am finding myself suffering from and allow for time with resolution #1.
I have 11, and I prefer to call them goals, thanks you.1. Lose 12 pounds
2. Earn $80,000+ with my writing
3. Finish SINS OF THE FATHERS and get a contract for it.
4. Finish A PLAGUE OF STARS and start to market it
5. Finish FREELANCE WRITING FOR A LIVING and e-pub it
6. Make all my current e-books available on PubIt and in paper.
7. Finish CHINA FIRE and begin marketing.
8. Get at least one more book contract signed.
9. Get a ghostwriting gig.
10. Write a nonfiction book proposal.
11. Run a 5K
Suggestion in your band search:
The Avett Brothers
my husband uses that tire pressure thingy a lot and he's not too mechanical…
resolutions
query novel #3 and see what happens…
lose 25 lbs–but I'm going to try and be creative this year with my cardio–maybe ice skate my way to slimness
try to balance writing and friends/family, ie I need to get out more
start a new project…maybe learn to play the ukelele or something…