Be More Specific With Your Goals

"Soar Like an Eagle" ©Mary Montague Sikes

It's that time of year when you start wondering whatever happened to my New Year's resolutions. They are so inspiring when you write them. They give you a special kind of energy at the beginning of a hopeful wonderful year. But, by now, time has sapped the energy, and the inspiration might be little more than a memory.

That's what happens in many, perhaps most, cases. The dream is there, but the means to fulfill it is lacking.

Why?

According to a blog I read today by Michael Nichols, it's the specifics that are missing. Nichols points out that making your goals more specific can provide the energy and momentum you need to accomplish your goals. That is the secret.

What a great idea!

It's like my writing mentor, Jane Deringer, used to tell me. Be specific in your descriptions as you write and revise your novel. Be specific in the details you give in your story.

The journalist is urged to use what, when, how, and why as they write an article for publication. It's like an outline for your life.

Be more specific, Nichols says. 

• Be specific in exactly what the goal is you wish to accomplish.
• Be specific about the time by when you plan to achieve this goal.
• Be specific as you decide how the goal will be met.
• Be specific about the help you need to reach your goal.

Take your most important New Year's resolution and type it at the top of a page. Put down each specific step you will follow to achieve this goal by a specific time that you specify. Now see if you accomplish this resolution. See if your dreams soar like an eagle!

Going Full Circle

Last year, when the Public Safety Writers Conference in Las Vegas opened  with a brief history of the organization, I was delighted to hear about its beginning as the Police Writers Association with Roger Fulton serving as the founder. Roger was a member of the Chesapeake Bay Writers Club (in Virginia) at the time. Jane Deringer was his mentor. Roger, Jane, and I were all founding members of the CBW. In fact, Roger came up with the name--Chesapeake Bay Writers--which was selected as the winner of a contest. Jane was also instrumental in the founding of the Police Writers Association. I remember her advising Roger, judging contests, and attending some of the earliest conventions, at least one of which took place in Williamsburg, VA near my home town.

Roger moved away from the area, and I lost track of him. Jane died a few years ago--a tremendous loss to the Tidewater Virginia writing community.

As I attended the excellent conference presentations, I thought about how things have a tendency to come full circle and how pleased my friend and writing teacher extraordinaire, Jane Deringer, would be to see the evolution of PSWA. 

 

Earlier this week, I asked my publisher, Billie Johnson, to take a look at the blog I had written about book promotion. She was pleased with it, and I pointed out that this was another case of things going full circle. This time last year, I knew nothing about writing and promoting blogs. Billie turned me in the direction of Dani Greer and urged me to take her blog book tour class. I did and learned so much from her and from the other members of the class. That was another case of going full circle.

In writing, and in life, it's amazing and rewarding when things go full circle.

Women's History Month - What Woman Most Influenced Your Writing?

March is Women's History Month. Thinking about women and history, what woman in your life most influenced your writing?

Since I am part of a roundtable discussion on this subject, I've been thinking about the women who have greatly influenced my writing. The one with the most profound inspiration for me was the late Jane Deringer.

When our daughter Amy was 14 years old, we received a telephone call from Rappahannock Community College inviting her to participate in a creative writing class they were offering. Amy had been in gifted programs for young writers since she was in the sixth grade, and I was happy for the opportunity for her to further develop her talents. However, since she wasn't old enough to drive, I drove the ten miles to the college and decided to take the evening class with her.

Jane was the instructor, and I loved her and I loved being in the class. With her encouragement and guidance, I started writing a romance novel. The class fascinated me. I enjoyed listening to others read what they were writing. Amy wrote as well, but she was growing up and didn't continue taking Jane's classes in the following years like I did.

When Jane encouraged me to become a member of the Richmond Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, I joined as an arts member. Since I was not published at the time, I did not qualify in letters. I learned about travel writing from Jane and from other members of Pen Women. With their helpful tips, I submitted travel articles and photographs to newspapers and magazines that published them. I was thrilled to actually get paid for my writing!

Jane was a huge advocate for writers. She encouraged everyone and actually started the Chesapeake Bay Writers Club. I was a charter member of that group. Roger Fulton was one of Jane's writing students. A retired police officer, he started the Police Writer's Club with Jane's help. That group is now the Public Safety Writers Association with members who are among my writing friends now. Jane also started the Chesapeake Bay Branch National League of American Pen Women. Since she needed six members to have a branch, I transferred my membership from Richmond and became a charter member of the new group.

Jane also planned an annual writer's conference at the community college that continued for at least 16 years. In the beginning the college served an outdoor barbeque as part of the event which became quite popular and drew people from several states. Each year she invited me to help with it, and on several occasions I was one of the speakers.

Because of her dedication to others, Jane didn't publish many books herself. She encouraged Dr. George Ritchie in his writing about his near-death experience. She was instrumental in many authors getting published, including me.

As writers and creative people of all types, we need mentors. These are people we will never forget. I will certainly always remember Jane Deringer and the influence she had on my writing life.

Simple Pleasures Books and Gifts is sponsoring the roundtable discussion March 26, 1 to 4 p.m. at Ashland Coffee and Tea in Ashland, VA about the women who influenced the lives of  authors Ruth Doumlele, Sylvia Wright, Pamela Kinney, and Mary Montague Sikes. Due to a death in her family, Joanne Liggan is unable to participate.