So, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. You might know her- she's getting famous!- it's...
Jennifer Young!!
We met through... Wait, what did we really meet through? For me, it started when she was my competition in the first round of the MeeGenius Great Author Challenge. I read her book, and I said (completely out loud!), "Oh CRAP. I'm so out of my league." She finished 9th that round, and me? *whispers* 57th... Anyway, I ended up sending her a message on Facebook asking her if she was a finalist in that challenge. Long story short, we both went through that loooong ordeal together, and now we're pals! She's awesome and she just got her first book published (have I mentioned that 100 times yet?!)- but I'll get to that later. For now, Jennifer... the stage is yours!
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I feel so honored to be here at your blog today Bethany. To top it off, you want me to be a guest ponderer!!! How fun is that?! I always love hearing what you have to say on Wednesdays. So here's a big THANK YOU for having me on. I will try not to disappoint and to stay in true likeness of your fabulous feature.
I have always had goals set for myself.
Graduate college- check,
Get married – check,
Have kids- check,
Yes, there's more that I won't bore you with. But, when it came to my writing I didn’t set up a long term goal plan. I think it was because at first I wrote in hobby form (a little here and there). I'm good at short term goals and I know I will always write but I’m still not sure how much.
So I find myself pondering-
When I imagine myself older, many many decades from now…okay maybe just a few, I imagine myself as a writer but I wonder what level of writing I want to be at? Will I look back at my life and be happy with having only a few stories published or will I be disappointed I didn’t take time out to write more? Will I be satisfied creating hundreds of stories and publishing dozens of them? Will I become a full-time writer, part-time writer, or will my writing still be a hobby? These are the questions I wonder about myself.
Are you a goal setter when it comes to your writing or
do you sometimes wonder about your writing life, like I do? If you do set goals, what type are they and do you make them easy to obtain?
do you sometimes wonder about your writing life, like I do? If you do set goals, what type are they and do you make them easy to obtain?
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Thank you, friend!
Guys, Jennifer's debut eBook , Poison Apple Pie, is available now! Please go check it out! Also, she has a fantastic blog that you can get to be clicking HERE.
Guys, Jennifer's debut eBook , Poison Apple Pie, is available now! Please go check it out! Also, she has a fantastic blog that you can get to be clicking HERE.
Hey Jennifer!! Great post woman! Setting goals is a part of life. My hopes and dreams are my goals. I see myself still writing form the rocking chair of the porch on our farm here. Or while on a trip to Ireland, writing from our castle, *wink* Oh yeah. Most writers aren't the Rowling kind. *wink*
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn!! Writing from a castle in Ireland (maybe over looking rolling green hills)sounds wonderful. Please send me postcards ;)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Robyn!
DeleteThanks again for having me on today Bethany! You are too sweet to say all those kind things about me. *blushing*
ReplyDeleteYou. Are. WELCOME!!! However, I kind of enjoyed having you do all the pondering this week. My brain was a bit tired!! ;)
DeleteThank YOU for helping me out!
Anytime Bethany, it was fun being here today!
DeleteExcellent ponder, Jennifer! If a goal isn't clear, then it's too easy for it to get shuffled aside in the busyness of life. You have inspired me to set some clear goals for myself instead of the vague ones I have now!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Heather. You're right about those easy goals being lost. My problem is I set too many little ones and I'm left leaving myself notes around the house. haha
DeleteA sneak peek at one of them...
1)Finish your ms and stop diddle dallying online.
2) Once you finish #1, stop to reward yourself with a coffee break and maybe a cookie :)
Hehehe... Jennifer's got jokes today! ;)
DeleteGoals are important. But, so is meeting those goals. Hood to know that you've been inspired to make reachable ones, Heather!
Excellent ponder! Thanks for giving us all some things to ponder....goals. I am the one "years down the road"...I started late...and kids were out of school, but you know what? I still need goals. Yep, some things never change. It's never bad to set goals even if writing is a hobby. It brings clarity and consistency to your pursuit, and for me, that's a good thing. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear. Even if I'm writing as just a hobby down the road goals for that are important like you said. Thanks for the advice.
DeleteKeep up the good work, Sharon!! You inspire us all!! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteJennifer and Bethany, this post has given me such an appreciation for the writing communities I belong to. As a new writer, you get lost as to how to move from blank page to storytelling. My writing communities help to set goals and keep me on track. They posts links to read posts like these. These posts allow for some amazing kinships. These kinships are such a supportive network of talent that kick you in the pants or give you a standing "O." For me, that kind of support is priceless. So here's to another goal: Always remember to stay in a posture of appreciation and thankfulness. Cause sometimes I forget. Thank you for this post, ladies.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's wonderful Pam. I'm happy that you found such a rewarding and supportive community. Just about every writing community I bump into out here in the cyberspace/blogsphere world I find many others willing to help and share. I guess we are all in this together and just have to reach out our hands if we need help. Thanks for the advice on always staying appreciative and thankful. I like that attitude :)
DeleteBravo, Pam! I will definitely keep that posture, at all times. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you can find a lot of support here. :)
DeleteI never been much of goal setter. This year will be the first year that I get to write full-time before that being a writer was only a dream. With all the ideas running through my head I'm going to have to live for a long time so that I can attempt to write them all. Congrats on the book!
ReplyDeleteHaving that many goals is wonderful Rena. I wish you all the success with accomplishing your dreams. You being so organized (with the poetry challenge and all) and coming up with such creative ideas I can see you obtaining your goals before you know it! :)
DeleteYou? Rena? NOT a goal setter? I find that impossible! :) You have such great things to boast about and share. Your blog is a place of great love and wonderment. I cannot imagine what your life would be like if you actually sat down and made goals!! Ha! What in the world would they even be?! :)
DeleteThanks for coming by, Rena. It's always a pleasure!
Haha! Thanks. I have an idea of where I want to go, but for some reason every time I write a goal down or really think about something it makes me not want to do it. Weird, I know. I blame it on my indecisive and rebellious nature.
DeleteI have enjoyed interacting with Jennifer through Rena's (A-Z Poetry Challenge). She has such a positive spirit and is always very encouraging. Congratulations to both of you on your success in the MeeGenius competition! ;)
ReplyDeleteAw, how sweet are you Natalie! The poetry challenge has been a great experience and find all the members to be very supportive (which I love since I'm such a newbie at it) Thanks for the kind words and congrats!
DeleteThank you, Natalie! It's an honor having you here!!
DeleteI am definitely goal-oriented when it comes to my writing, but my goals are more process based versus outcome-based. It is an interesting question to ponder though.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... "Process-based vs. outcome-based". That is VERY interesting! I think I am that way, too. And when I get to that place where I cross that line (to outcome-based), I get overwhelmed. I worry. I stress.
DeleteYou just made me really stop and think. I love it!! Thanks for sharing!
That is something I can relate to Kirsten. I guess that falls under my short term writers goal. Deal with each process at a time. Although, I do want to know the outcome beforehand unfortunately – that’s my impatient side coming out.
DeleteI tend to have more long term goals than short term goals when it comes to writing. I should probably define my short term goals better. Excellent ponder Jennifer. You've got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Hannah! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThank you so much! So glad you now have your thinking cap on Hannah.
DeleteI think Jennifer Young is going viral! She is all over the web! I just reread her book Poison Apple Pie last night!
ReplyDeleteI ponder about my writing life a lot, because I know I won't be a stay at home dad forever. My children will someday get big and go to school!
Goals are important for me too! Short-term manageable goals work well for me. I like to feel successful.
Haha, busy busy today Eric! I agree, it's important to feel like you are being successful with most of your writing.
DeleteSometimes I take advantage of having more time than usually being home with my girls. I know I'll be back to work in the blink of an eye so I guess I better start setting more solid writer's goals. Soon I hope, like tomorrow or Friday, maybe :) lol
Thanks for stopping by, Eric! I agree with you, but I also find it difficult constantly worrying about the future and all the what-ifs. Short term goals... That's going to be my mantra from now on!
DeleteWhat a great question to ponder! I admit I haven't thought much more than 5 years out, but now you've got ME pondering...
ReplyDeleteGreat interview ladies!
That's great Julie, so glad you found this useful!!
DeleteThank you, Ms. Julie!! If you ever find yourself pondering something, feel free to talk to me! We'll get you all set for your own I Ponder... day!
DeleteGoals..hmm...Well, I am only thinking short term here in regards to specific goals. I start back to school in fall and I am attempting to stockpile polished mss to submit to agents at that time. (Current status on polished manuscripts...ONE!) I know that school will limit the time I spend writing for pleasure, so my short term goals are to write and revise as much as I can before that day comes. :) Long term? All I know is I don't want to do anything else but write for children for the rest of my life! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post Jennifer! Thanks so much for the juicy topic. Bethany, can't wait for the next Wednesday!
Me too, looking forward to next Wednesday!
DeleteYour short term are very similar to my own as well as your long term. Thanks for sharing and best of luck in the fall! :)
You know, I think you work best when you havea bunch of things piled up, Elizabeth! Get those short term goals accomplished, and it won't feel like you're under so much pressure,
DeleteThanks for sharing!
Great post thankyou ladies. I need to knuckle down, I have set a couple of goals but I need to keep my end of the bargin up and do some work on it....lol. Thanks ladies.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'd like to do that very much as well. I wish someone was giving me instructions to actually get these goals written in stone or at least paper. I'm way too easy on myself when it comes to deadlines:)
DeleteYep... I feel ya! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteMy main goal is always to do the best I can, so I don't regret. My short-term goals are being met right now, which I hope leads to the long-term publication. Recently, a writer's conference I'm attending had a success story in a local paper. Author Marie Lu landed an agent about eight years ago with a novel that isn't being published. She continued to write and now Legend (http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/author-games/Content?oid=2447166) is being published. It's a great reminder that our goals get revised like our stories.
ReplyDeleteLove it! You're so right, Stacy! Thank you!!
DeleteYou hit the nail on the head with saying "goals get revised like our stories" so true. Best of luck with getting your long term accomplished Stacy!
DeleteCongrats on the book Jennifer! I love that line 'goals get revised like our stories.' You also don't know what you write the best until you've tried a few things out. Love your ponderings!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jennifer! I liked your book the first time I read it in the MeeGenius Contest. It has great appeal. I am really enjoying getting to know you better in our poetry challenge that Rena has put together.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bethany & Jennifer for a great post!
Way to go Jennifer and Bethany! I am the type that sets little goals. That way I can look back and see the trail of accomplishments I have left behind...and then before I know it I am standing in front of a bigger goal. Baby steps... slow and steady is my journey. Rome wasn't built in a day. I am waiting for that one idea or mss to be THE ONE! Until then..... I just keep writing. :)
ReplyDeleteGoal setting is definitely important, but sometimes the accomplishment of those goals is out of your control e.g. the state of the publishing industry etc.) Me? I just want to write :) I hope I'll be able to look back on lots of published work, but if I have only a few and people really like them, that would be okay. I will still have written lots of other things even if no one ever sees them.
ReplyDelete