Say hello to our last guest blogger of the year, Shannon Nemechek…
Goal setting for the pantster? Sure, why not?? As a pantster born and bred there has always been one GOAL- well maybe a few but basically my number one goal has always been write, write, write. I have tried to plot but the story always changes, then I feel like I wasted half my life on plotting.
If you are looking for the holy grail goal setting in this post, well darling you won’t find it here. But if you do find it somewhere send me a message because I need to read that.
I decided to take a couple of classes given by some of my fellow authors and I won’t lie they’re amazing classes my problem is all I want to write. What is it they say you can teach an old dog new tricks, not exactly true- you can teach them the problem is getting them or yourself to listen? So, this old dog usually sits down in December and write out Goals for the following new year. Not as easy as one might think. It is comparable to finding time to write. What do you do to find time to write? Do you make excuses on why you can’t, or do you take the time driving to your job and dictate into your phone ideas? Which as a side note I have tried, and it worked but Siri has a hard time understanding my mix of southern and northern accent. So incidentally the voice to text looked like well I won’t say but needless to say I think next time I will just voice record. Because what Siri thought I said and what I actually said was nowhere in what you dictated. Ha ha.
It is difficult for a Panster to Goal set, at least for this Pantster it is. I will begin writing and then inspiration for another story starts to talk to me. Yes, I think like most writers, a character or an idea will rear its ugly head in the middle of writing another then we must stop and write those down before they disappear. Some may call that undiagnosed ADHD that may be possible, but I think it as planning my year of writing. So instead of writing a long list of plans for the year I started doing Vision Boards.
For me Vision Boards have an ever-changing life you can add or take away at any time. So, this is what I do. Remember your board can be as big or small as you like to start off then build on or take away throughout the year.
- Start of just by writing a few ideas down on paper. Do you have big or small goals? Maybe you want to start a new series or finish as series? Do you want to make more with your writing or maybe leave your full-time job?
- Choose a couple of areas you want to focus on but for this we will plan on focusing on writing of course. Be as specific as you can. Really believe in yourself if you believe it you can achieve it and you will achieve your goals. Take your time on this because this is the most important step.
- Now start gathering images for your vision board. Magazines, printing photos from internet or use your own. Search the internet for visual representations of your dreams.
- Grab your board and get gluing or taping. I keep my board in my office next to me Find a place that is perfect for you.
- Execute your ideas. Don’t give up and remember our goals change daily so add or take away and achieve your dreams. Don’t rush yourself and don’t compare yourself, compete with yourself but not with others. Support your fellow writers and they will support you.
So that is what I do, and I hope it helps you to plan and achieve your 2019 Goals. Take the time out for yourself and enjoy the ride.
About Shannon-
Shannon started her writing career while still serving in the US Army. As an NCO in the Army she lead and trained soldiers.
Shannon grew up in Macomb, IL where she graduated from High School in 1987 and soon after joined the US Army. Shannon served from 1987 to 2015 during Operation Desert Storm and during Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In April 2015 Shannon retired from the US Army with 23 years of service as a Unit Supply Sergeant in several Army units overseas and the United States. She served as a US Army Recruiter for 4 years and She holds a degree in clinical psychology and has been awarded multiple awards during her Army service. She is a mother of 4 children and a grandma to 2 beautiful Grand-daughters. She has been married 25 years to her husband, Ken. They reside in Staunton, IL a small town along Old Route 66
