Okay, the next couple of days I’m going to be thinking about the goals and deadlines I’m setting myself as a writer over the next year.  I always do this and I think it’s helpful to set clear resolutions when it comes to something as slippery as writing.  Without fixed outlines, it can be hard to ever get that novel or short story on the page.  Months can slide by without the work I want to do getting done.  Writing needs dedication and, for me, dedication comes from setting myself a timeline and ensuring I meet it.

Have you thought about setting yourself writing goals this year?  Make your goals realisitic, specific and measurable and see if it helps you achieve what you want as a writer.  Think too about setting some goals for reading – I always write a list of books I plan to read through the upcoming year, believing that reading is crucial for any writer.

Write a list tonight of ten things you want to achieve in writing/reading over the next twelve months.  Hone and think about this list between now and New Year’s Eve.  When you toast in 2011, know your writing is off to a good start.

I’m reading a book called The Artful Edit by Susan Bell as I gear up to edit my third novel.  The book is helpful on all levels.  She writes about the importance of understanding your INTENTION while you’re editing your work.  I keep thinking about this as I reread my own book – what is my intention?  what am I doing with the text?  As I think, I excavate and try to discover what my intention is truly.

Here’s a direct quotation from Susan Bell to think about: ‘… to edit is to listen, above all; to hear past the emotional filters that distort the sound of our all too human words; and to then make choices rather than judgements. As we read our writing, how can we learn to hear ourselves better?’

Use this word to inspire a poem, essay or personal essay:

FISH