WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR?

            I just discussed a variation of this last week in Fits And Starts and numerous other articles here at Fred Central.

            This is another specific discussion that comes up continually, especially by motivational advisors on the forums.

            Everyone wants to give you a kick in the pants.

            I say, if you don’t already have the passion and drive to get it done, why are you here in the first place? Haven’t I already made that clear enough times?

FRUSTRATION

            Okay¸ Boss, this writing stuff is hard!

            Oh yeah?

            What’s so hard about it?

            The effort?

            Trying to get published?

            Trying to get something done?

            Coming up with ideas?

            Navel gazing?

            Finding a muse?

BRASS TACKS

            You want to be a killer guitar player.

            You pick up a guitar and…wait a minute…you sound like crap.

            It’s hard to press down the strings.

            You don’t know how to play a melody.

            What’s a chord?

            How do you structure a rhythm?

            Do you have a tin ear?

            Not so easy, is it?

            For some, it’s a natural and you can slide right into it with little effort.

            For others, it’s going to be a struggle all the way.

            If you love it, are you going to quit in frustration, or plug on until you get somewhere?

            Back to what are you going to accomplish this year?

SAME OLE SAME OLE

            I’m not going to give you some inspiring motivational speech. I’m just going to tell you either you have it, or you don’t.

            As for me, I don’t set goals.

            I just write.

            That’s it.

            I never know what’s going to come out in the wash because I never know what kind of circumstances are going to hit me.

            Therefore, I don’t stress about it.

            I have things I want to write, and I write them.

            Eventually.

            Does that sound lackadaisical?

            Just look at my record. It speaks for itself.

            Nothing to freak out about.

            You, on the other hand are not the same as me. You have to do what you do and maybe you need to be kicked in the butt to get going.

            I’m not going to do that, but there are plenty of others out there that are more than willing.

SUMMARY

            If writing is truly a passion and a love for you, you’re going to get it dun didded no matter what anyone else says. You should not need artificial goals set for you. Should is the key word here. There are no absolutes.

            It’s up to you.

            Happy writing.