Breakable

[katiefoolery]

I'm not making any resolutions this year, purely because they seem to have a built in "auto-fail" switch somewhere about their person.  Off-hand, I can't recall a single year where I made a resolution that I kept.  I didn't even manage to keep my resolution not to make any resolutions last year.  All in all, this resolution thing is fraught with inconsistency and confusion for all.

Therefore, no resolutions will be made by this Buneater this year.  Instead, goals will be set.

The only difficulty thus far is settling on said goals.

At this stage, I've settled with the following, rather vague, resolution:

>> Be published.

This is followed by the slightly less vague:

>> Be paid for said publication.

I've decided to set one goal at a time, in order to conserve my energy while at the same time ensuring that said energy is being directed wholly towards one goal.  And once the goal has been achieved I shall either a) rinse and repeat, or, b) set a new goal.  This will all depend on how the first goal goes.

In related news, it occurred to me in the shower this morning that I've been going about this writing thing in completely the wrong fashion.  I should be writing stories and then finding the markets that are likely to accept them.  Instead, I've been trawling through magazines and then thinking about writing stories specifically for them.  This is doomed from the outset, really, since I've discovered I don't write very well when I'm under a constraint, even if that constraint is self-imposed.

Actually, maybe I should tack a modifier onto my goal: write for myself.

There are so many markets out there that I'm sure to find the perfect place for whatever stories I happen to churn out.  And if I don't, then I might as well have fun during the writing process.  I can't imagine anything more off-putting than pushing my way through a story, sending it off to the market I was writing it for and having it promptly rejected.  Yes, I do want to make writing at least half of my career, but I don't want to stop loving it into the bargain.

So that's my first goal for the writing year - be published and paid for it.  Nothing simpler.  Excuse me while I look alarmed.

Well, that'll do for now.  What are everyone else's goals for 2006?

Comments

[blindmouse.livejournal.com]

So that's my first goal for the writing year - be published and paid for it.

That was my goal last year - that and Finish Ceres. So that was 50% success rate, which isn't bad.

Hm. Must make goals for this year. One of them gets to be carried over, of course... :p

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

You did get a lot of work done on Ceres, though. So I'd say it's more of a seventy-five percent success rate.

[burgotastic.livejournal.com]

I've got 3 resolutions one of which I've failed already.

That one was to eat only vegemite on toast.

The other two, still going strong, are:

To only refer to this year as '06.

And to only refer to myself as Dance Commander.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I think you'll end up being grateful for failing that first resolution. Perhaps you could modify it to "only eat vegemite on toast for breakfast". Otherwise I think you'd end up wishing you were dead.

Are you going to pronounce the apostrophe in "'06"?

[burgotastic.livejournal.com]

I don't know how to pronounce an apostrophe. Maybe I'll attempt from now on though, as a kinda glottal stop or something.

"gh-oh-six" - I like it

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That could work. Good luck with it, Dance Commander.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Hehe, no resolutions, good resolution ^_^. Actually, I don't think I have any, really. I started my resolution in October of last year and I'm still going strong. If I can keep the whole excercise thing with weightloss going in 2006, I'll be happy

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Good on you, Naelany. I wish you continuing success with your October resolution. :)

[naelany.livejournal.com]

thanks ^_^

[sarsalot.livejournal.com]

My resolutions are secret (shh!). Some because they're very personal, and other because there are certain people on my friends list (naming no names) who would give me hell over not living up to the not-very-personal ones.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Good luck with all of them, even the super secret ones. :)

[snarkymonkey.livejournal.com]

Excellent goals all around. =3 And I'm not entirely certain why there seems to be a default failure button for resolutions. A bit of a bother that. XD

And you already know my goal for '06. *laughs*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you approve, good Karen. Now to get myself motivated...

[rigel-7.livejournal.com]

I love making resolutions, but I cheat a little in that I always set goals that are entirely achievable such as 'This year I will catalogue and record all of my artwork' - seeing as this is entirely a logical move I don't forsee any problems...

My other goal is to teach myself basic CSS so I can actually make the beautiful layout I have created work! It's all ready to go and I just need to code the darn thing *hates the image map for not working* My persistance will pay off eventually!

Good luck with the writingness! I know you can do it!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Try the W3Schools (http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp) for CSS, good Rigel. It's much easier than you might think. Lissa Explains (http://www.lissaexplains.com/css.shtml) is another great site for an overview of CSS. It's a site for kids, but it explains everything very clearly and is a good quick reference tool.

Thank-you muchly for your good wishes. I'll do my best.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

Two goals:

1. Pass third year.

2. Very similar to yours Bun. Get published ;)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I'm very confident that you will reach both of your goals, good Turks.

[talmina.livejournal.com]

Good idea with the goals, and I completely agree with writing more for yourself than for specific markets.

Good Luck!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you muchly, good Jess. Good luck with your own writing too.

[frohike.livejournal.com]

1. Eat healthier.*

2. Excersize.**

3. there was a third one but I can't remember it.***




*Not necessarily an increase in healthy food. More an alternation of lunch break food sources eg. alternate chicken and chips shop with sandwich kiosk.
**Does not mean gym membership or daily runs or similar. I envisage a walk around the block on my days off. Additionally, I should learn how to spell excersize as I'm certain I've got it wrong.
***It was a good one too.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Hehe! I bet that third one was fantastic - the goal that was going to CHANGE YOUR LIFE in 2006. ;)

I like your goals, good Nomes. They're sensible and practical and I think you'll attain them with no trouble.

[frohike.livejournal.com]

I nearly almost remembered it today too. It flickered close to my brain and then zipped away again. Stupid thing.

That was my idea with them, start with small steps and it'll be easier to do.

[gravityslave.livejournal.com]

I like your goals. I'd like to go with those.
My only original resolution is to start taking my son to the United church every Sunday, no matter how scared I am of meeting a bunch of new people. The United church here is very inclusive and has a strong GLBT community- and that's something I feel very strongly about despite being heterosexual. My dad's a minister and I grew up being taught things about God that I don't believe and definitely don't want to pass on to my son.
I'd also like to record a bunch of my old songs finally, but that's sort of more of a long-range goal given the complications of my schedule.
Augh! Okay, I'm going to have to make a full post about this now. :-)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yep - I think you are going to have to make your own post about your goals. It sounds like you have some good ones in there. Good luck with them. :D

[paulini.livejournal.com]

I just can't seem to set one goal at a time. I have heaps of goals for this year. *sigh* But I'm going to stick to them. ;)


>> Be published.

This is followed by the slightly less vague:

>> Be paid for said publication.
GO YOU! That is a great goal to set yourself. I love writing but even though I have that talent there It seems to have dwindled. Maybe I need to do more writing.....you have just inspired me dear buneater! lol

What are everyone else's goals for 2006?
Finish Learning Shorthand
Get most of my schooling through with
Study drama and acting
I don't know if I'll reach the END of my goals by 06 but I at least want to start them and keep at them. ;)

Happy New year!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you muchly! Happy new year to you, too. I hope you have a fantastic one. :)

You have some fantastic goals there.