The Fabulist Flash

Issue 118

with Photography by Gregory A. Kompes

2007 Cattail Print

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. 11 Compelling Reasons to Set Goals
3. Seven Secrets for SMARTER Goal Setting
4. Elizabeth Pomada takes the 18Q
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

There's nothing like an "Aha" moment, nothing. When that light bulb goes on, lives change for the better. It was nice to hear that I inspired three of those moments last week. I had dinner with a fellow writing coach to compare notes and brainstorm a presentation idea. By the end of our time together, her light bulb was on and the coach was off to finally finish a book. While a mentor of mine was lamenting her life, I reminded her of all she'd accomplished and all the people she'd helped, her light bulb came on with a bang. And, a manuscript coaching client of mine had a light bulb go on, her writing has loosened, her voice is on the page and her agent query is producing manuscript requests.

We all have the potential to give and receive "Aha" moments. We never know when they'll happen and often don't exactly know why. But, when they happen, lives are motivated to the next level of understanding and accomplishment.

Part of goal setting is reflection. As you reflect on the past year, think about your own "Aha" moments. How did they change your life? What new ideas and motivations were created? What did you do with that new knowledge? Use those memories as you set goals for 2007. Remember that anything is possible. And, trust that more "Aha" moments will happen.

To help you along the goal setting road, Terry Vermeylen explains Why Goal Setting is Extremely Important and Ed Sykes encourages you to Romance Your Goals. Plus, literary agent and author Elizabeth Pomada takes the 18Q.

Reminder: If you're in the Vegas area and looking to meet some authors and pick up some fresh produce, stop by the Henderson Farmer's Market at the Downtown Event Plaza on Water Street every Thursday 11 AM - 6 PM December 14, and 21.

Books make great gifts!

Until next week,

Gregory

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Gregory A. Kompes (www.kompes.com) is a writer, manuscript consultant and author of the bestseller 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, The Endorsement Quest, The Everyday Gay Activist and Turning Your Writing Hobby into a Writing Career.

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Preview 9 essential books for writers on The Writer's Bookshelf

2. 11 Compelling Reasons to Set Goals

Why Goal Setting is Extremely Important
by Terry Vermeylen

Do you want to be happy and successful in the future? Then set goals. People live successful, happy and living meaningful lives because they have taken the time to set goals. Below are 11 compelling reasons why goal setting is extremely important to you.

• Goal setting helps us realize what we really want to accomplish in life.
• Goal setting helps us to commit and take the necessary steps to make our desires a reality.
• Goals setting give us direction and purpose.
• Goal setting reduces the clutter in our mind and makes it clearer as to where we are heading.
• Once we commit goals to paper or a computer, it makes them more tangible, specific and concrete.
• Goals that are written down can be easily reflected on, changed, admired and analysed.
• As you change you can change your written goals.
• Once goals are written down they can be broken into manageable parts.
• Goal setting allows us to look at our present, past or future and learn from mistakes.
• Goal setting helps us get over the fear of change.
• Goals can help boost your confidence as you reach them.

About the Author
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Terry Vermeylen is one of those rare people that is passionately driven to help others unlock their own barriers toward fulfillment, meaning and purpose. He is the founder of http://www.mylifechanges.com/, an Internet value identification and goal setting enterprise. terry@mylifechanges.com

3. Seven Secrets for SMARTER Goal Setting

Romance Your Goals: Seven Secrets for SMARTER Goal Setting
by Ed Sykes

It's that time of the year when you are motivated and ready to take on the whole world. You know you need to set goals, but in the past you have set goals with mixed results. However, this year will be different. This year you will be S- M-A-R-T-E-R to romance your goal setting.

Romance your goals? What am I talking about? Think about a great romance you are experiencing or did experience. What makes or made your romance great? Passion. Well, we are going to create passion for your goals by applying these techniques so that you will achieve more in life.

The following are seven secrets to romance your goals for success:

1. Specific

When you were searching for romance, you had a specific idea of what type of person excited you. Suppose someone asked you, "What would this person look like?" or "What qualities or attributes are important to you?" Most likely you could, with out even blinking an eye, describe what type of person would excite you. In other words, what person would create passion in you? You probably visualized how this person looked, sounded, acted, and even smelled. Because you visualized this mate, "You would know it when you saw it."

Apply the same techniques to your goal setting. Take the time to visualize exactly what you want to accomplish. Take a few minutes, find a quiet place, relax, close your eyes, and think about what you want to accomplish in life. What is it and what does it feel like? The more senses you involve in your visualization, the more real it becomes, and the more passion you have concerning your goals. The more detail the better.

Know what you want!

2. Measurable

In a romantic situation, the question is, "What is the next step?" or "Where is this relationship going?" or "Where are we going to be?" As in a romance, you need to be able to answer the following questions:

* What are the steps along the way to accomplishing my goals?

* How do I keep track of the steps I've accomplished?

* What will happen when I accomplish each step?

Make sure your goals can be measured so that you know whether you are on track or behind and what appropriate actions you need to take to stay on track.

3. Action-Oriented

In a great romance, you are always working to take the actions to further the relationship. You buy flowers, go to the movies or a concert, or take some action that furthers the romance. In goal setting, what actions do you need to take to achieve your goals? Are these actions tangible? Are you clear on what steps to take when progressing to achieving your goals? Document the actions needed, take the action, and document that you took the action.

4. Realistic

Great romances have realistic expectations about the direction in which they are going. The romances last because they are realistic in terms of values, perceptions, finances, etc.

Are you realistic with your goals? You may want to make $20 billion by the end of this year. Is that realistic? Most likely not since that depends on your resources, experience, confidence, network, etc. Work on your baby steps. For example, if you made $50k last year working for an organization, you may say, "I want to make $75k by December 31st of this year." Is that possible? What actions do you need to take? Would you need a promotion or overtime? Are you thinking of starting a part-time business?

Once we start asking these questions, we will come away with the realistic answers for setting goals.

5. Time Sensitive

Great romances are time sensitive. The people involved are excited about their relationship and are sensitive about the time needed to accomplish their "love goals."

It is important that you make your goals time sensitive. What are the deadlines to accomplish your goals? Make sure you break your deadlines into smaller time lines or events so that your goals are more manageable and realistic.

By setting time lines, you will have constant feedback to gauge where you are along the path to accomplishing your goals.

6. Encouraging

In a great romance, each partner is encouraging each other to improve themselves, to do better, and to believe in themselves. They are excited about the romance and are inspired to take their relationship to the next level, even through the ups and downs of life.

What inspires or excites you with the goals you want to achieve? Is it a good feeling, a new sense of confidence, encouraging? Use the positive energy and thoughts to fight through challenges you may encounter along the way to achieving your goals.

7. Rewarding

Great romances are very rewarding. The rewards may be the love of another person, peace of mind, finding a soul mate, etc.

How rewarding are your goals? Once taking the steps to achieve them or achieving them, what rewards will you receive? What financial, spiritual, health, educational, family, community, career, and business rewards will you receive? At each step to achieving your goal, what reward will you give yourself? It's okay; I encourage you to give yourself an award or pat yourself on the back for achieving your goals. It could be as simple as renting a movie, going to dinner, or playing inspirational music. But the important point is to reward yourself.

Use these tips to romance and create passion for SMARTER goals and you will achieve what you want.

About the Author
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Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress management, customer service, and team building. You can e-mail him at mailto:esykes@thesykesgrp.com, or call him at (757) 427-7032. Go to his web site, http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint, and receive either free ebook, "Empowerment and Stress Secrets for the Busy Professional," or "Secrets of Outstanding Customer Service."

4. Elizabeth Pomada takes the 18Q

Elizabeth Pomada takes the 18Q

Biography:

Elizabeth Pomada worked at David McKay; Holt Reinhart & Winston; and the Dial Press before moving to San Francisco where, along with Michael Larsen the opened the Michael Larsen-Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agents in 1972. They represent adult, book-length fiction and nonfiction, are members of the Association of Author’s Representatives, and they’ve sold hundreds of books to more than a hundred publishers.

Bibliography:

The Painted Ladies series

URL:

www.larsen-pomada.com

Elizabeth's 18Q

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?
The writing profession definitely chose me.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)
My writing skill, and ease in writing clearly, got me scholarships so I could graduate from Cornell University. Then, after working at NASA's theoretical division, translating "science" into "English," I vowed never to "talk science" again--so went into publishing. I worked for the woman who created Library Promotion at Holt, then David McKay and the Dial Press. Worked for a PR firm for a year before heading west and ended up writing articles for about 30 "shelter" and "lifestyle" magazines. So knew I could earn my living that way.

3. When did you 'know' you were a writer?
I knew I was a writer when I was still in school--it was just so easy. And I got good marks!

4. How would you describe your style of writing?
I write clearly, always thinking of who it is I'm "talking to."

5. What is your writing process?
I think about it a lot. Then sit down and start with the perfect (I hope) introductory sentence. Then, if all my notes are in order, it just flows out. Then I polish/rewrite until it's ready.

6. What was your path to publication?
I was paid to do it by my company. When I moved to San Francisco I had my name on a great many articles for magazines like NEW YORK, McCall's, Bride's, Metropolitan Life, etc. so I proposed fun articles for the Sunday Chronicle Magazine, California Living. The first one, on "Best Brunch in the Bay Area," cost more than I was paid. But then I got a free weekend (with dinner and breakfast) at one hotel, and another free dinner at another restaurant. And any article I proposed I got to do. Then I approached a publisher and said I wanted to write a book about California artists. He said "fine, but first of all, I just got a divorce and don't know what to do with the kids. So can you write a book on Places to Go With Children in Northern California?" I've re-written that now and revised completely 9 times over 30 years--it was the first "Places to Go" book for Chronicle Books (or anyone). And that got me to do the Painted Ladies books with not even a sample chapter.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?
Put chocolate bars in the book to make people keep reading. Seriously, I wish I knew how to take more advantage of the internet.

8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer?
How respected one can be. You'd be amazed at what your name on a page can do to people.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?
By awarding myself the time to write something--squeezing that time is the biggest challenge. My source of creativity? My nosiness. I like to find things out, hunt things down. Research things. I like to answer my own questions.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?
Proudest writer moment? The time Michael [husband, Michael Larsen] and I went into the Library of Congress and found our names in the card catalog.

11. What's the best advice you were given about writing?
Get a better photographer.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?
Dutton put the second Painted Ladies book in a huge "window" at the ABA. I walked down the aisle, looked at it, and said, "That's nice, but I think it should be a little higher."

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?
TIME MEANS MONEY. If I had the time, I could do tons more.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?
I don't understand what a writer life philosophy is. I guess it's when you cannot do anything else but write, you will.

15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun?
Read! Travel. Go to the movies.

16. Who do you like to read?
I like to read commercial women's books--contemporary or historical. Anything fun.

17. What's your advice for new writers?
Write anywhere, anytime, and don't worry about the money. Prove yourself first. Then the money will come.

18. What are you currently working on?
I'm currently working on an international Painted Ladies book.

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Are you a published writer? Take the 18Q today!

To read all the 18Q responses or take the 18Q visit EighteenQuestions.com

5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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