My title sounds a bit like Lewis Carroll, doesn’t it–sort of a Mad Hatter line. But I’m not mad yet, just stating the facts. We’re posting today so everyone can celebrate. And what are we celebrating, anyway? Raise your hands.
INSECURITY!
Well, not exactly, but we are taking that demon on each month and wrestling him to the mat by offering support and information to all writers who might have insecure episodes.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
July 3 question – What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?
Be sure to visit the awesome co-hosts for today: Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne!
Quite honestly I have one ultimate writing goal–to write the very best I can and enjoy every minute possible while trying to do that.
Of course my goals have changed since I started writing. First I just wanted to write a book. Then I wanted someone to publish that book. I reached those goals, so I set some new ones: write another book, have someone publish it, repeat. After a few young adult novels, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at something different, so I set a goal to write for the middle grade reader. Check!
Goals are great to set, great to reach, and great to look back on. I see a lot of writers who blog and put down theirs regularly. It’s always exciting when they post a follow up to say they’ve accomplished what they set out to do.
REMINDER: THE NEXT #IWSGPIT IS COMING JULY 19, 8AM to 8PM. For details click HERE.
I can’t do my Featured Author for a while, but today I want to give a shout out to some writers whose books I’ve enjoyed. Carol Kilgore is writing a series that has me waiting for the next installment. THE AMAZING GRACIE TRILOGY, BOOK 2 is on its way. You might want to pre-order Bluebonnet Ballerina now. It’s on sale for .99. Good only through July 9th.
I read book 1, THE JALEPENO CUPCAKE WENCH. My review’s here.
Jacqui Murray’s another writer who grabs my attention. I really enjoyed her book, Twenty-four Days (my review) and her latest one, Born in a Treacherous Time (my review). This is quite a different kind of story, and points out that this writer has some excellent storytelling talent.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: (since I’m only posting monthly for a while) “I will keep smiling, be positive and never give up! I will give 100 percent each time I play. These are always my goals and my attitude.” Yani Tseng
Kelly says
These are great goals! All the best!
J.H. Moncrieff says
Hope you’re doing well, Lee. Thinking of you often.
You are loved. 🙂
H.R. Sinclair says
Goals are good! I set them but don’t often publish on my blog. But I like how you set goals. Write, publish, write, publish. That’s mine too.
Olga Godim says
I like your approach of small, consecutive goals. Finished one – on to the next. Much easier to handle than something big but amorphous.
Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine says
I think you’re ultimate goal is a pretty darn good one! =)
Lynda Dietz says
I like reading about other people’s goals, because sometimes they remind me of things I’d thought about and forgot about just as quickly. It also inspires me when someone has a larger goal and shows how they’ve broken down the steps to reach it.
I’m glad you’ve reached the goals you’ve set. And I’m glad you’re not done writing. I think you have a lot of stories left in that brain.
Gwen Gardner says
I like to see people post their goals. It’s motivating. Being an introvert, I tend to keep mine to myself, unless it’s for something like today’s IWSG question. Thank goodness for my fellow writers who bring me out of my shell!
All my best to you, Lee!
Nicki Elson says
To write your best and enjoy are excellent goals. 🙂
Denise Covey says
Hi Clem!
It would be a sad thing if our goals, writing and otherwise, didn’t change over time. Sometimes we force the change, other times, change is forced upon us. It’s what we do with it that matters.
I hope you are waking up every day and finding the positive.
Thoughts and prayers
Denise x
Juneta says
My goals changed with time too. Happy IWSG!
Beverly McClure says
Those sound like great goals to me.
Nas says
Hello Lee,
Yes, goals do tend to change and we need to adapt to changing landscapes and times to our changing goals.
You have a fantastic goal!
Nick Wilford says
I think it’s natural that our goals change as we learn more and our expectations change. There’s always something more to achieve!
Liz A. says
It’s great that your goals changed because you achieved your goals. Congrats.
Michelle Wallace says
My crazy, disjointed writing path needs to find some solid direction… time is not really on my side, you know what I mean?
Having said that – there IS a loose structure amongst all the madness! It’s not all erratic and all over the show.
Well, not as much as I thought it was. Ha!
Hope you’re well, Lee. 🙂
Lynda R Young says
“Goals are great to set, great to reach, and great to look back on. ”
I so agree with this statement. Goals give us focus and so much more.
Louise (Fundy Blue) says
You inspire me, Lee! Sometimes when I’m writing, Terry asks me if I’m enjoying myself. He can’t imagine that I’m enjoying tearing my hair out; but I’m actually having a ball. Here’s to succeeding at your next writing goal!
Louise (Fundy Blue) says
btw ~ I think it was you who wrote the post about setting a goal of writing 100 words/day. Today I’ve made it to 90/100! thanks. This is working for me!
Louise (Fundy Blue) says
Duh ~ 100 words/day for 100 days; and I have reached Day 90/100.
Cathrina says
Great Goal. To write one book at a time and enjoy every minute possible!! I love it.
Perfect Quote.
Natalie Aguirre says
That’s great to have new goals as you accomplish the old ones and reach those too. While I don’t have any with my own writing now, I do try to have changing goals with work to keep it fresh.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’ve said something important about goal setting, Natalie. If we don’t continually refresh, I think we can get stuck in a rut.
Hilary says
Hi Lee – it’s good to see you with us … and you’ve done so much with your books already – and I know that’ll continue on … also you’ll be so supportive to fellow writers. Being positive helps so much – even in challenging times … I hope you’ll have friends and family with you tomorrow – take care – cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you, Hilary. I’m off to a friend’s house. She lost her long-time partner last year, so we’re celebrating this holiday together. It helps to have good friends. Thank you for your kind words.
Hilary says
Oh good … I’m reading my blog posts to the youngsters … aged 6 and 3 … they’re enjoying them … off now – for a bbq and I have to swim the 6 year old says!! Bye … have a peaceful day …
Tamara Narayan says
You’ve accomplished quite a lot. Here’s to making that next goal…
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Tamara. This goal of improvement is like a carrot and this old mule just keeps plodding on. 🙂
Cherie Reich says
That’s a fantastic goal to have!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Cherie and Happy 4th to you!
Sarah Foster says
I love your ultimate writing goal! It’s important to remember to enjoy the writing, even when it’s difficult.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I suppose if it were an easy matter to create beautiful stories, none of us would be here. We’d be off finding other challenges.
Elephants Child says
Hooray for writers (insecure or not).
Love the books of Carol’s I have read and when my unread towers are less in danger of an avalanche I will dive into this series too.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Those towers can grow, can’t they? Just when I think I’ve reached stability in the pile, I add more. Love it!
Carol Kilgore says
Thanks for the amazing shoutout! It’s much appreciated.
I have the same overall goal as you. And I hope that the more books I write, the better written each one will be.
Happy 4th!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I remember when I thought I was a really good writer. Ah, the good old days. Glad to give your books some attention. When I like something, I think others might, too. Good luck with this next one. Love the cover.
Sherry Ellis says
Do your best and keep writing. Those are great goals!
Have a Happy 4th of July!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know you’ll have a lively 4th! You’ve got a remarkable young man and that amazing dog to spark up any. celebration.
Mark says
It’s good to adjust your goals to ever changing conditions. It shows that you’re adaptable:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
No alternative, heh? Life keeps changing, so we must also. Hi Mark, and Happy 4th to you and your family,
Tyrean A Martinson says
That’s the best goal, C. Lee! Way to go with making it happen!
(Love your quote at the end, too.)
C. Lee McKenzie says
I like people who express positive attitudes. They help me along.
Loni Townsend says
Excellent goal. We should always do our best at what we do, right?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yep. I’m often disappointed in my results, but I’m better at recognizing how to improve the product than I used to be. 🙂
Pat Hatt says
Get one out and then on to the next. Way to be. Good to try new genres and things too.
C. Lee McKenzie says
New things are always a challenge and kind of exciting. I agree.
Jemi Fraser says
Love that quote!!!
Goals change as we do – and hopefully we keep evolving and working toward getting better every day!
C. Lee McKenzie says
We’ve certainly been on this evolving trail in writing for a while, haven’t we?
Jacqui Murray says
Your goals are more what I had dreamt mine would be, that I’d change goals because I achieved them. I like where you are now with your goals, Lee–write and enjoy it. Me2! When that changes, I will probably quit writing rather than change goals.
Thanks for the shout out for my book! Yay and RT.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hope you do keep writing. Love to read your stories!
Anna says
I love that too. It shares hope with the ones still striving toward something. It is possible to succeed! If one person can do it so can another. The dream seems that much closer if we know them. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
C. Lee McKenzie says
Identification is the first and sometimes most challenging part of this trip, right? You bring up a very interesting point.
Carrie-Anne says
That’s a great goal to have! Just enjoy the journey, instead of worrying about meeting a grandiose goal. My own ultimate writing goal, the Nobel Prize, is admittedly very grandiose, but it’s not something I’ll feel bad about if it never happens. It’s just a dream to aspire to.
C. Lee McKenzie says
“Those who build beneath the stars build too low.” I read that ages ago and have always had it tucked in the back of my brain.
Julie Flanders says
Hard to beat your ultimate goal. That’s the way to do it. I love the quote too – perfect.
I have both Carol and Jacqui’s books on my list. Such great ladies.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They’re each so different–writers and stories– but enjoyable to read.
Thomas Anderson says
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
It’s great to see you, dear friend, and to read, on a Tuesday, your not-so-Wordless Wednesday IWSG post. (I just wrote a mouthful!) If your ultimate writing goal at this point in time is to write the very best you can and enjoy every minute of it, then I would say it is a goal worth attaining. What good is success if the process of achieving it is more like work than play? Your attitude is similar to that of LPGA golf champion Yani Tseng whose work IS her play. Smile, stay positive and resourceful, and always give 100%.
I wish you a safe and happy 4th, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love Yani Tseng’s attitude. Work and play indistinguishable! I’m glad you that out here, Shady!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oops! I meant to tell you happy 4th over at Shady Dell.
L. Diane Wolfe says
Just what will you tackle next? The sky’s the limit. And enjoy the journey there.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You have the brightest outlook, Diane. Great to work with positive people like you.
Raimey Gallant says
I hadn’t thought about reflecting back on my old goals, I wonder, perhaps, if it’s because I have some insecurities about not having reached them yet? 😉 Great quote!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Maybe those goals are you long-range ones. I’ll be you’ve reached some of the shorter term ones.
Pat Garcia says
Hi,
I love your goal because it speaks to my heart. That is a part of my own goal. To be the best writer that I can be. Discovering who I am as a writer is a lot of fun for me.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think I’ve read that in your posts, Pat. We’re on the same path, and I love that.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
One book and then the next – that’s how I’ve done it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It seems to have worked!
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says
That’s a great quote 🙂 I’ve always been impressed by folks who list their monthly goals and then give progress updates. It’s probably a great way to make sure they keep themselves accountable.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I supposed that technique is also a motivator. “Hey, see what I did? I know I can make that next one on my list.”