Goals, Motivation, and Perseverance: Interview with Liz Heiter, GDRWA Historian

By Sheri Adkins

The following article first appeared in the February 2006 issue of Write From the Heart, the newsletter of the Central Ohio Fiction Writers. It may be reused by sister RWA ® chapters with proper credits.

GMC is for our characters--For Authors.... It's GMP! As writers, we concentrate heavily on the goals, motivation, and conflict of our characters. Yet, perhaps we should be focusing some of that same wisdom on ourselves. To succeed in this business we know we have to write on a regular basis--that means we have to have goals, and we need motivation, because there most certainly will be conflict (kids, laundry, work, husbands, errands--you name it). The way an author can overcome those all-too common conflicts is perseverance.

The January meeting of COFW focused on how to use motivation and persistence to meet our goals in the New Year. Our first speaker was COFW member and contest chairperson, Beth Morrow. Beth offered the group a specific formula: visions plus deadlines equal goals. A vision will always remain in the future without a plan of action. Goals must be concrete, individual, and specific. First, set a realistic, deadline-oriented goal. Then focus on how you are going to meet your goal, and not on the end result. As creative writers, we often have a problem focusing our activities. Your behavior is the key to achieving your goal.

Behavior is a skill you develop. Behaviors create a bridge between your goal and your actions. You need to modify your behavior in order to meet your goal. If your goal is to write 50 pages this week, try to figure out what in your past behavior has prevented you from accomplishing this.

For example, if you are not writing consistently, then decide to develop a more stringent routine. Or if you see a behavior that is continuously obstructing your writing--such as if you have difficulty getting off the phone when friends or family call--decide to modify that behavior. Be objective in evaluating your behavior; know your strengths and weaknesses in order to identify what behavior needs to be altered to successfully meet your intended goals.

The difference between a dream and a goal is what you do everyday. Your actions will determine the outcome of your goal. Actions are positive, realistic, and finite. Actions should have a deadline and are often kept in check by a support system. You must lay out a plan of action: "I will write one page a day Monday through Friday" or "I will let the phone ring or the machine pick up during my writing time." Your actions will modify your behavior to meet your goal.

Our second speaker was Stephanie Shamroski, COFW president, who reinforced the importance of persevering until the goals are reached. We often have goals in the back of our minds, lingering there like cartoon bubbles. We have dreams and desires, but trying to transfer that dream into reality is where we get stuck. The problem is, a dream (like "I want to be published") is pretty vague. This isn't a goal--it's an aspiration. Goals need to be more specific.

You must have a goal strategy. You must lay out what you want to accomplish and what steps it will take you to get there. Don't fall into the trap of setting just the end goal, such as I will have a book completed by a certain date; set steps within the ultimate goal, such as I will write X number of pages every week. A more specific goal is easier to achieve and less likely to fail. Make your goals attainable. If you set them too high you might be setting yourself up for failure.

Perhaps Nora can write four books in a year, but is that a realistic goal for you? Give yourself flexibility within your goals because life is full of road bumps--holidays, illness, etc. Build your goal strategy with that in mind, and adjust it to compensate. There are going to be events in your life that steal your time and siphon your creativity--don't let them discourage you.

Motivation is what spurs you on to achieve your goal. It comes from within you and pushes you to complete a task. Of course we want to be published, and naturally we seek positive feedback, but most of us are motivated by the desire to write. The key is how strong is your motivation? Are we willing to sacrifice other things we enjoy doing in order to meet our goals?

Sometimes we can counteract the external motivation-stealers. For instance, go to your writing "zone" (office, dining room table, Starbucks--wherever your creativity is nurtured). Re-create this "zone" over and over again until you find yourself motivated there. Enhance that experience with whatever helps you--candles, motivational sayings, music, or complete quiet. Challenge yourself, and then reward yourself. Motivation often builds on itself, too.

If you're motivated to write the next scene, that often leads to the next chapter before you know it. Immerse yourself in the craft of writing--go to conferences, chapter meetings, and workshops. Networking is a great motivator.

Now that you have set your goal and found your motivation, the most important part of the equation is perseverance--being able to persist in an undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or distraction. Hanging in there. Sticking to it. Figuring out your weaknesses and turning them into strengths. Revising and revising again. Sending your manuscript out again after countless rejections. Keeping your eye on the goal.

Nobody has big blocks of time. If you wait to write your book until you have the time, you will probably never write it. Discipline is the difference between those who want to write books and those who do. Now write down your goals, find your motivation, modify your behavior, change your actions accordingly ... and most importantly--Persevere!

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COFW member Sheri Adkins has been writing historical romance for nine years.

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