composeconceivecreate

Just another WordPress.com site

  • About Laura Kostur

Setting Goals

Posted by kosturcompose76 on February 1, 2012
Posted in: My Progress, Writing Exercises.

Last night a friend shared their plan to do 2000 kettle bell swings that day and the next.  Why?  (I had the same question.)  To meet a goal he set at the beginning of the month; 10,000 swings in the month of January.  He is rather driven and he had a plan so I believe that by the end of today he will have achieved his goal.

The conversation made me think about my own goals (and gave me sympathetic muscle pain).  My writing goal for 2010 was to finish the first draft of Riveted.  Check.  My goal for January was to set aside Riveted for the month (while it was reviewed by a wonderful friend) and write daily on a different project.  Check.

Tomorrow is the first day of February and my new goal; a second draft of Riveted ready for review by the end of the month.  I have a lot of enthusiasm for this goal.  It’s ambitions, but so am I and my reviewer’s comments have given me a great direction for the novel.

Goal setting is a very important part of my creative process.  I am rules based.  Guidelines and deadlines bring out the best in me even when those rules are imposed by nothing more than my own decisions.

While rules and deadlines are not universally seen as a positive force, goals should not be feared.  After all, how can I ever pat myself on the back for a job well done, if I don’t know the definition of done?

Writing Exercise:

Do your character have goals?  Goals, and the barriers we put between our character and their goals are writing gold.  They help us with tension and conflict and everything else that keeps a reader turning those pages.

Think of your main character and ask yourself what are their three most important goals.  For each goal, ask yourself the following questions:

*       Why is this goal important to the character?
*       When did they develop this goal?
*       What are the barriers to the goal?
*       What are they willing to give up to achieve the goal?

Your character’s goals will illuminate the direction your story should take.  When complete repeat this exercise for your protagonist.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posts navigation

← Migrating Visitors
Wishing Myself Away →
  • Recent Posts

    • I may be a criminal at heart
    • Fire and Ice
    • Miette Resort = Kellerman’s – Dancing
    • Roadtrip!
    • Seeking a Use for My New Special Skill
  • Archives

    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • May 2017
    • November 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • January 2016
    • July 2015
    • May 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • Latest Tweets

    • My husband the speaker and the light of my life. #proud twitter.com/AndreKostur/st…Tweeted 1 month ago
    • “You need to play hard to get lucky… luck is a big part of the publishing industry. But, none of that will matter i… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Tweeted 3 months ago
    • RT @YouTravel: #Writers brainstorming @SiWCtweets this weekend at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford #SiWC2022 #SiWC22 https://t.co/c1265dfmSBTweeted 3 months ago
    • “Success is contagious; like Covid.” - @DarrenGroth #siwc22Tweeted 3 months ago
    • “Today you are one day closer to your next inevitable success.” - @DarrenGroth #SiWC22Tweeted 3 months ago
    Follow @LauraKostur
  • Blogroll

    • The Bloggess
    • Pioneer Woman
    • Women at War – Veterans Affairs Canada
    • Surrey International Writers' Conference
    • Academie Duello
    • Home – ComposeConceiveCreate
  • Blog Post Categories

Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • composeconceivecreate
    • Join 28 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • composeconceivecreate
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
%d bloggers like this: