The Fabulist Flash

Issue 66

2006 Red Rock Swirl

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Ready, Set, Goal
3. Write SMART!
4. New LA Times Book Review editor
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

My first television experience last Thursday was a thrill. It was great fun meeting all the crew, going through the experience of makeup and wardrobe, and watching the show waiting for my turn on air. The host was fun and pleasant, not to mention helpful. I also experienced a phenomenon I've read about, the on-the-air, out-of-body experience. The host asked questions, I answered them and I have no idea what came out of my mouth. The host and producer were quite pleased when it was all over and I somehow managed to calm my shaking hands enough to sign books for them both, so I'm going on faith that I didn't say anything horrible.

Later that night, I attended the Book Publicists of Southern California holiday gala dinner. Among the four speakers that night was Dave Ulin, the new LA Times Book Review editor. For more on Mr. Ulin's thoughts and plans for the LA Times Book Review, see the third feature below.

On Saturday, I spent all day at a National Speaker's Association-Las Vegas event. The seminar was presented by Fred Gleeck (www.fredgleeck.com). He presented an amazing amount of information on internet marketing and sales. As I explore his "systems" I'll report my thoughts to you. I can already tell you I think many of his ideas will be incorporated into my 2006 goals!

I've been doing a lot of radio interviews this week. The more of them I do, the more comfortable and confident I become. I don't get quite so nervous now and I've been having a lot more fun with most of the hosts. And, I've survived my first, full-on attack as a conservative host tried to push me into gay-themed corners with questions and material unrelated to my book. I learned a lot about staying calm and turning the conversation back to my own topic. Thankfully, not getting what he wanted from me, he cut our interview a bit short. It ended up being a good experience, because of the lessons I learned.

My first touching piece of fan mail arrived this week, too. A reader thanked me for writing my book. Her nephew committed suicide several years ago because he was gay and didn't know where to go to escape his homophobic family and town. Hopefully, she wrote, your book will help other young people with the same feelings.

I think you'll find some more great ideas and inspiration in this week's goal setting articles Ready, Set, Goal: Goal-Setting for Writers by Brandy Stoner and Write SMART: How to Create Terrific Writing Goals--And Achieve Them! by Katey Coffing, Ph.D.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a writer, photographer, professional speaker and author of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.kompes.com

2. Ready, Set, Goal

Ready, Set, Goal: Goal-Setting for Writers
by Brandy Stoner

First, what goal-setting is not: dreaming about book tours and televised interviews and six-figure paychecks from poetry collections. Not making to-do lists and going down the line -- that’s busywork. It’s not absorbing someone else's manifesto of what defines success as a writer and following each step of their dictums. Goals must be quantifiable, reachable, and personally meaningful.

Can you count the ways?

How do you know you've arrived if you have no idea where you’re headed? Set measurable goals. Commit to numbers and time frames in writing. Solid goals help us focus, awaiting inspiration doesn't. In the words of Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “all things are created twice,” first mentally and then physically. The responsibility for each creation is that of the creator. If you don't create the blueprint, it will create itself. So forming goals may be the most important part of reaching them.

Examples of goals:

• Submit two queries each week.
• Write one hour each day.
• Prepare children's book dummy for submission in eight weeks.
• Polish three chapters and prepare outline in ten weeks.
• Make $20,000/year from writing by the time I am thirty.
• Write three pages of novel daily.
• Write one chapter this month.
• Locate five new markets each week.
• Attend two writing conferences this year.
• Enroll in four writing workshops this year.

Break it up

Having trouble getting started? Psyching yourself out? Instead of thinking about writing an entire novel and not being able to even set pen to paper, break down projects into manageable pieces. Then your goal will show itself to be attainable.

Every achievement is backed by a plan. Take a look at the example of writing three pages of your novel each day. That is a measurable, short-term goal. That short-term goal, however, makes your long-term goal more approachable. In just four months, you will have 366 pages to start editing and eventually submit. That is quite a manuscript, and you will have accomplished it in about 1200 words a day.

Find meaning

Get clear on what you want to do. A long list of things you think you want to do is not the same as knowing what you really want to write. Basing your track on someone else's will not ultimately satisfy. The best time of day, or best place to work, is as individual as your writing. Reconsider your goals and write what matters to you. Your enthusiasm will radiate when you write about what is interesting and meaningful to you. Elaine St. James, author of Living the Simple Life, speaks on goal-setting in her chapters "The Things That Really Matter" and "Zero In on Your Top Four or Five Priorities." As a writer herself, she realized she had to cut back on her list of projects to focus on what she could realistically handle. She simplified and re-ordered her priorities and by doing so, regained focus and expanded her writing career. She continues to re-evaluate as she reaches goals. Narrowing your options expands your opportunities -- imagine that!

Once you have reached your goals, don't forget to reward yourself. Those who excel in other careers receive rewards, and writers should too. Whether it is a candy bar, a book, or a pack of new pens, small tokens will keep you positive, make work more fun, and encourage you to move on toward the next achievable goal on your short, focused list.

About the Author
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Brandy Stoner is a freelance writer and artist, as well as a staff proofreader & writer for TheWritingBug.com. Want to learn more or visit her CafePress stores? Read her bio or follow the links at http://www.geocities.com/ston_bran/.

3. Write SMART!

Write SMART: How to Create Terrific Writing Goals--And Achieve Them!
by Katey Coffing, Ph.D.

Open up your favorite calendar and circle today's date.

Why? Because no matter what day it is, you've been given a wonderful gift: a bright and shiny year ahead to make your writing dreams come true.

What are your writing goals for the coming year? If you don't have any, this is the perfect time to create them. Clear goals help you stay focused as a writer. If you choose what you want to accomplish, you can arrange your time and priorities to get them done.

Take five minutes right now to decide what big things you'd like to achieve this year. (I'll focus on your writing, but this technique can work for any area of your life.)

A long-established acronym, SMART, can help you create great goals. SMART stands for

Specific
Measurable
Action-Oriented
Risk/Realistic
Timed

Here's how each of these words can help you succeed.

Specific:

When determining your goals, be precise. Instead of "I'll write more this year," consider "I'll complete a new chapter every two weeks."

Measurable:

For each goal you choose, make sure you can measure progress. For example, how will know you've completed it?

Action-oriented:

Choose goals you control so they're not at anyone else's mercy. Rather than "This year I'll get a book contract," set goals to complete and polish two novels or mail 30 queries to agents.

Risk/Realistic:

It's always good to stretch yourself. However, if writing ten pages usually takes you several weeks, don't count on writing six novels this year. Unrealistic expectations can get you so frustrated you'll lose momentum. Instead, create goals that motivate you without being burdens.

Timed:

Setting a particular deadline will help you pace yourself to get things done. For each of your goals, establish a completion date.

Next, take these big SMART goals and figure out what smaller steps you'll need to achieve each of them. Design these subgoals to be SMART too!

Once you have a list of goals for the year, put them where you'll see them every day. Print them out and tape them to your computer, your office wall, even your bathroom mirror.

See them, know them...do them.

Writers, I hope this coming year brings everything you wish for. More importantly, I want you to *make your dreams come true*!

About the Author
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Katey Coffing, Ph.D. is a novelist and book coach who helps women delight in writing (and finishing!) their books. Visit her at http://www.Women-Ink.com/. To receive additional articles and tips for women writers, subscribe to Katey's ezine, The Write Calling, at http://www.Women-Ink.com/the-write-calling.htm.

4. New LA Times Book Review editor

At a dinner last week, I met David Ulin, the new LA Times Book Review editor. He's a great guy and has an open and fun philosophy about the future of the LA Times Book Review. And, yes, I gave him a copy of my book. Here are a few of the highlights of what David said:

• The crisis in publishing is, if not a lie, at least a mistake. It's the publishers who are perpetuating this myth because of their bottom lines. Lots of books are being published every year and their success is only limited by inaction.
• Book reviews in his paper are considered part of an ongoing and important literary conversation and he's interested in reader responses to reviews.
• The LA Times Book Review will focus on reviewing books of interest, not just from big publishers, but also self-published and small press books.
• They're at about a 3 month lead time, unless a book has a close relation or tie to current news and events.
• Readers don't just read a single style or genre and the LA Times Book Review is moving toward reviewing the entire gamut of styles and genres that readers are reading.

5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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Make plans now to attend the 2006 Las Vegas Writer's Conference March 30-April 2, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.