Goals and Deadlines by Jo Wanmer

Are you a procrastinator? 

How do you make sure you get things done, or do they sit forgotten? We all struggle to get to some tasks. Especially if they are difficult to start and harder to complete. 

Take for example the laundry. I mean who wants to wash clothes? Boring, menial task. But yet we manage to do it…repeatedly. Why?

We want to smell good, look fresh, be clean. That’s our goal. And we need the item that is hidden in the laundry basket…we want to wear it tonight.

 A deadline. 

And so the job gets done. 

 A simplistic example I know. But it demonstrates a life principle. To get anywhere worthwhile we need goals. SMART goals. Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recordable and have a set Time limit. 

How does that affect our writing? Ask anyone who has participated in NaNoWriMo, the classic writer’s SMART goal, and they will talk of increased productivity. 

What is a SMART goal and how do we set them? 

Let's look as NaNo’s method to get us productive.

 S - Specific Goal – 50,000 words 

 M - Measurable – our software counts for us. 

 A - Achievable – it’s a push, but possible. Thousands have proved it. 

 R - Recordable – a daily graph comparing where we are in relation to our goal appears when we record our daily word count. 

 T - Time limit. – One month, strictly. 

Therefore, the task for each day, or each week is clear. I thrive under it's discipline and have written three books that way. I love to write...to tell a story and the system inspires me. But, where are those books? Reclining on my computer, visible only to me. Why? In my head, publishing , seems to be an insurmountable task. 

I need a goal. That’s easy. The goal is to publish them. 

How to achieve that aim? Not so easy. 

One manuscript has been edited, adjusted, rewritten, re-edited, and yet still waits on my laptop. Several readers have read it and given positive reports. So wouldn’t you think some publisher would knock on my door and plead to publish it! 

After a strong encouragement from the Lord last October, including an Encouragement award from Caleb awards, I have pushed myself to cast off discouragment and return to writing. In that time, I’ve written another book (under the discipline of NaNoWriMo) and finished another that was languishing, awaiting inspiration. Good…but not good enough. They need to, deserve to be read.

How do I make a SMART goal to help me release these books out in the world?

First, I researched and wrote a list of necessary tasks that must be done to have a book ready for publication. It then became obvious. I need a progression of goals…and time limits.

So I created a deadline. I booked tickets for Omega Writer's Conference in September. By then I need to have blurbs, synopsis, book summaries done. I need to be ready to sell myself and my books to an agent. I need to improve my platform. Polish another book. The specific goal is to have two books ready for publication.  

I created a goal sheet with monthly goals that can be recorded, trying to keep the goals achievable. The chart enables me to record progress. 

To help with this, I’ve also created personal goals, covering health and spiritual well-being. I’ve yet to create a recording chart to track progress in this area. Until I do that it is not a SMART goal. However, my sugar readings, that are measured every day, have dramatically improved. 

After conference, I will set another goal. This will be TO GET PUBLISHED. I am determined. I have pushed down the negative voices and will self-publish if necessary. My stories carry God's heart and deserve to be distributed.  

 Accountability…is another important ‘A’ word. I guess you are now my accountability partners! 

How about you? How do you keep yourself on task? In this self-appointed, isolated occupation of writing, how do you keep yourself choosing keyboard over other pressing, time-stealing occupations, like the washing?

Jo Wanmer has lived in Queensland for over seventy years. She is currently celebrating 53 years of marriage to Steve. They have two children,eight grandchildren and nearly 9nine great-grand children. They are hoping this trend slows a little!

She writes out of her passion to bring a dynamic faith and daily experience of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to her readers. He loves everyone of them and is waiting to embrace them, chat with them and laugh together.

Her first book, Though the Bud be Bruised, won a Caleb award and was published in 2012. The other titles are coming!