editor, Black Velvet Seductions,
the MM in Workshops with MM
|
 Do
you make New Year's resolutions?
Maybe a better question is, Do you keep your New Year's resolutions?
We all have the best intentions on January 1st with our new list of
resolutions, whether that list has one resolution or many. Here are some tips
to fulfill your resolutions in the new year.
1. Translate vague resolutions into concrete goals with a specific time
period, not the entire year.
Resolution: I'm going to write a book this year.
Goal: I'll write (insert number) words every day or week.
Month or Year is not a choice, even though either
one is the more likely choice of procrastinators.
WHY? Turning your resolutions into concrete and specific goals helps
you keep a handle on them. You can easily see if you are going forward or
backward at the end of every day or week, depending on the time period you
have used for your goal. Fall behind one day, you still have more days that
week or another week to make up the words you didn't write that day.
2. Make sure that your resolutions are truly yours, not your family's for
you.
Why? Your life is yours. You have the right to choose
your own goals. Even if you self-disciplined enough to achieve someone's
goals for you, you won't feel self-satifaction at their completion.
More than likely, you will use every excuse that shows up to delay working
on their resolutions for you.
3. Make your resolutions visible. People learn many ways: by seeing,
hearing, doing. Paint a picture, write a poem or a journal, compose a song or
music, make a poster -- whatever works for you. Here's the important part:
put your picture, etc., where you will see it every day WHERE you will work
on your goals. When you get so used to seeing your visual aid that it becomes
"invisible," move it to another place in the same room.
Why? Creative people need to create -- think of that poster as a
brainstorming activity. You must think about your resolutions/goals to
compose that song.
You pour a part of yourself in your creation. You make an investment in
time and in yourself just to make your resolutions visible before you have
done one thing toward fulfilling them.
Let's say you spent hours writing that poem. If you quit, that poem
becomes worthless. Do you know a poet who wants to write, who enjoys writing,
worthless poems? I think not.
4. Reward yourself when you have achieved a small goal, like writing your
word count goal for the week.
Why? Writing a book is a HUGE goal. Expect it to be WORK. A year is a long
time to wait to reward yourself for your daily successes. Reward yourself
along the way as you achieve your small goals, and you'll be more likely to
fulfill your New Year's Resolutions.
In my
workshop Moving from Resolutions to Results, sponsored by FFnP,
students will learn to appreciate where they are in their journey as a
writer; let go of shouldas, wouldas, couldas; break down goals into action
statements with deadlines; manage their time; and face
and defeat procrastination.
The two-week
workshop begins January 6, 2014. I hope to see you in class,
MM Pollard
|
About
MM Pollard
As
an English teacher for fifteen years and, currently, as acquisitions editor and
copy editor for Black Velvet Seductions, MM Pollard has helped writers correct
ungrammatical grammar, misused usage, problematic punctuation, and poor
writing.
MM
has presented workshops on Savvy Authors and Writer U. Many RWA chapters,
including Colorado RW, Kiss of Death RW, Passionate Ink, Fantasy, Futuristic
& Paranormal RW, Maryland RWA, and Florida RW, have also sponsored her
workshops. Through her fun workshops – English class can be fun! – she is sure
she can help you, too, master the fundamentals of English composition.
MM’s
Fundamentals of English – blog – mostly English-related
information and a complete list of MM’s workshops
MM’s
Fundamentals of Writing – monthly newsletter – sign up on her
blog
Also, I hope you will join my class titled
MOVING FROM RESOLUTION
TO RESULTS
Hosted by
Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers
This Two Week class starts January 6th
For more information click HERE
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