The Plan

I've been thinking a lot lately about having a "plan" and I've noticed that in my writing circles, there's a lot of talk about it, as well, seeing as how we've started a new year and it's always good to assess or reassess your plan—your goals—for your writing career.

It's a daunting idea because I can't say I've ever sat down and actually made a plan for mine. I know I'm capable of writing a first draft in a month, when I put my nose to the grindstone. I can edit till I'm blue in the face. I'm learning to write query and synopsis while pulling out my hair.

But I've never looked ahead to 6 months, a year, five years down the road.

I guess that comes from growing up believing you should live for today, because tomorrow is not promised. It's hard to balance between that well meaning adage and real life, wherein you need to plan ahead if you want to have a successful life, family, career, time for recreation, etc. It's good to have goals for IF and WHEN tomorrow does come because usually it will, even if we shouldn't expect it.

It quite the conundrum. To be or not to be- to plan or not to plan...

Well, I'm starting February off with a bang. It's better than sitting around staring at the wall and wallowing in silly useless self-pity because I'm too afraid to step outside my comfort zone. I stepped outside it today, but I'll save that for another blog sometime.

At least if I make my objectives known to myself and I make them obtainable, I have something to work toward. Writing is a business and in order to succeed in my little corner I'm scratching out, I have to look at it that way and remember I have to work at it, stay consistent and follow through on goals in order to get it off the ground and keep that business afloat.

No plan down on paper yet, but I'm heading in that direction. I need to know what I'm doing. I need to make a plan, plan the work and work the plan. Sounds complicated, but I'm up for it.