tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post4787762380221954867..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Michele Dunaway on GoalsBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-38168178157063670052008-09-10T20:39:00.000-04:002008-09-10T20:39:00.000-04:00For a long time, I've been a firm believer in goal...For a long time, I've been a firm believer in goal-setting in writing. Glad to know it's not just useful for those of us striving to reach the big time.T. M. Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04315726033990784930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60456770439821615732008-09-10T18:40:00.000-04:002008-09-10T18:40:00.000-04:00Definitely a great post, and timely, Michele. The ...Definitely a great post, and timely, Michele. The nice thing about setting goals is that they help you narrow your focus--if I look at my calendar and see that I have a gazillion things that HAVE to get done, I end up accomplishing very little. If I prioritize those things and give myself time limits in which to complete them--or at least get a healthy start--they're suddenly more manageable.Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-39386995901961006312008-09-10T18:29:00.000-04:002008-09-10T18:29:00.000-04:00I've just started implementing this policy of week...I've just started implementing this policy of weekly, bite-sized goals again, and it has been very effective. My revisions are now moving smoothly, instead of getting mired down at every little obstacle.<BR/><BR/>Good stuff! Thanks.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600030574995481267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86457159814875011682008-09-10T15:41:00.000-04:002008-09-10T15:41:00.000-04:00Wonderful post. My biggest villain is lack of conf...Wonderful post. <BR/><BR/>My biggest villain is lack of confidence. That's been a real goal killer. <BR/><BR/>Also, I'm someone who thrives on external deadlines. But as an unpublished writer who doesn't have an agent or editor waiting, it's so easy to tell myself, "Well, this is just a hobby right now, so if you don't meet that word count goal this week, no one but you will care." I need to figure out a solution to that problem!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-48122741218760421342008-09-10T14:49:00.000-04:002008-09-10T14:49:00.000-04:00Robena,I agree. It's important that not meeting yo...Robena,<BR/><BR/>I agree. It's important that not meeting your goals is not failure, but rather a chance to reassess. Oftentimes a goal we set is really nothing more than something we wish would happen.<BR/><BR/>I like to think that wishes are something you make; goals are something you do.<BR/><BR/>One thing about having a time limit is so that you can change things as necessary.Michele Dunawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683297130591848826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-65846122396254361152008-09-10T13:36:00.000-04:002008-09-10T13:36:00.000-04:00Thanks Michelle. I love your energy level and your...Thanks Michelle. I love your energy level and your priorities, it's important for we aspiring authors to learn from someone whose life is working. Your goals and your success speak for themselves.<BR/>This was very timely. I looked at my goals for '08 yesterday and had a sense of satisfaction that most had been met. <BR/>Writing down your goals is key, and I agree that knowing why you want them is important. I do set my one year goals each year, but divide my year into quarters and find achieving the smaller goals easier and I stay on track better. I can scroll down and check the upcoming goals and they remind me of my big picture.<BR/>I think it's also important to understand not reaching a goal doesn't mean failure because often times we learn on the journey and we grow from that learning.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-48940255453577155112008-09-10T12:07:00.000-04:002008-09-10T12:07:00.000-04:00This is an excellent post. Thanks for sharing this...This is an excellent post. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing this.<BR/><BR/>JulieJulie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-42981908598521561372008-09-10T11:14:00.000-04:002008-09-10T11:14:00.000-04:00Thanks, Michele, for such a great reminder. Realis...Thanks, Michele, for such a great reminder. Realistic goals really are so important. Now that I have found goals I can meet, I've become a much more productive writer.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75983709891204098792008-09-10T10:48:00.000-04:002008-09-10T10:48:00.000-04:00That is a great post! I love studying and talking ...That is a great post! I love studying and talking about goals. To the point it's one of my villains, LOL! :-)<BR/><BR/>I did read that people are motivated by different size goals. Some people need easy, baby-step goals: anything else overwhelms them. Some people need achievable goals: anything too big and they quit before they try; too small and they don't bother. And some people need way out there goals: an achievable goal bores them, so they won't bother.<BR/><BR/>I'm a way out there person, but my problem is I need to learn to <I>plan</I> achievably, and set goals way out there so I'll work the plan. <BR/><BR/>That didn't make sense. Oh well. :-) Great post!Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34574920535073715142008-09-10T10:44:00.000-04:002008-09-10T10:44:00.000-04:00Great post, thank you! You are an impressive woma...Great post, thank you! You are an impressive woman with all that you do!<BR/><BR/>I learned a lot about setting goals as a physical therapist - for our insurance documentation, goals have to be specific, realistic, attainable, measurable - just like your "SMART" approach. It has definitely helped me in setting goals for writing.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!ccallicottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10926547166946821209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-18428863901761685762008-09-10T10:35:00.000-04:002008-09-10T10:35:00.000-04:00Dang girl! With all those activities you MUST know...Dang girl! With all those activities you MUST know how to prioritize!<BR/>Thanks for the tips!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-30835963309633717332008-09-10T10:23:00.000-04:002008-09-10T10:23:00.000-04:00HI Suzan,I simply just don't have time to worry ab...HI Suzan,<BR/><BR/>I simply just don't have time to worry about someone being jealous of me. I always say someone stole my normal, quite, sane life and I want it back. So the grass really isn't greener. I could tell you stories...<BR/><BR/>So simply, I remember that someone might envy me, but that's because they only see the gloss. Not that I'm a troubled celebrity, but that's the closest analogy I can find. Just because you have your name on a book cover doesn't mean all your problems immediately vanish.<BR/><BR/>MicheleMichele Dunawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683297130591848826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-18607643090128069092008-09-10T08:56:00.000-04:002008-09-10T08:56:00.000-04:00Great post, Michelle!Dealing with your own jealous...Great post, Michelle!<BR/><BR/>Dealing with your own jealousy is one thing (I do it by acknowledging my feelings and reminding myself how long it took the person I'm envious of to reach THEIR goal).<BR/><BR/>How do you deal with other people's jealousy toward you?<BR/><BR/>Thanks!Suzan Hardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600258874634909988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86781556293346626952008-09-10T08:21:00.000-04:002008-09-10T08:21:00.000-04:00Great post Michele! It means so much coming from a...Great post Michele! It means so much coming from an author that works full time and still has twenty some novels under her belt. Very encouraging to those of us that have jobs and are trying to work on WIPs.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your "secret to success." :-) Your system of goal setting is very simple and attainable. And thanks for the link, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com