BHAGs for 2012

]\Big Hairy Audacious Goals. We all have them. They might hover within our own heart and mind, never shared with family or friends, but they exist as much as we live and breathe. They are goals we might be hesitant to make but find necessary to note. After all, we're told to dream big and this is our opportunity to do so.

As writers, we tend to chart out some annual goals, 5-year goals and even beyond. We want to see some progress in our careers and this makes total sense. If we're serious about this writing life, then we need to push ourselves to produce, to create, to make some headway. Personally, it begins with writing each day. I see a definite increase in not only quantity of words but quality when I write each day. Maybe it's the satisfaction of knowing I've completed what I set out to do, or just modest word count goals.

The key is to build on these goals and to reach for the sky. I have many writer friends who are amazing with their output, their ideas, their creativity, their spunk. I find myself quite envious at times. But most often I find myself inspired. Writers are a different breed and we all know it. Inspiration is hard to find and a welcome friend indeed. So when I see friends entering contests, having an article published, signing with an agent - I'm just as giddy as if it were happening to me.

So, now you're wondering, "Ok, Kirk, so what IS your BHAG for 2012?" Honest question. I have ten goals for the year. Major ones, not just fluff 'n stuff. At the top of the list would be finding an editor or agent who falls in love with my novel(s). Let's not even worry about whether they purchase the story. While certainly the reason for celebration, I would much rather receive some positive feedback, have someone "get it", first.

Now it's your turn. What is your BHAG for the year? In future posts, I'll be sharing my ten primary goals for 2012 and how I hope to reach each of them.

Thought for the Week: Facing Your Fears

"Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a classic quote and one you could take a number of directions. As this is a writing blog, let's focus on facing fear in that arena. I've been writing since third grade but it took me many, many years to reach the point where I felt confident enough to actually write something I wanted other people to read. I'd boxed up most of my writing aspirations (my dreams!) and left that life behind me. At 40, I unboxed story ideas and worked on finishing a novel. As with anything in life, to overcome a fear, you must face it. My fear was that I wasn't good enough and that no one would ever want to read what I wrote. I won't lie and say I've completely eliminated that monster, but I have come to realize my writing is a gift. To not write is to neglect a precious blessing.

Moving Write Along

2012. It's amazing to me that yet another year has passed. Each one seems to end up in the past faster than the year before. Perhaps it's how short the Washington summers seem to be. Or that my children are growing at an astronomical pace. Or maybe it's just as you get older, time seems to pass more quickly than when you're young and carefree. No matter. I'm convicted more each day to live --- and write --- with more purpose, a brighter outlook and a youthful heart.

But each year does present its own challenges. Thankfully, last year only brought forth the challenge of unemployment. Yes, thankfully because they didn't include hospital stays and liver transplants. While my own parents' health slowly deteriorates, I see my young children and realize soon the baton will be passed. Theirs are the lives of promise, of unbounded optimism.

I don't mean this post to be filled with sadness or regret because there is indeed great promise in the days ahead, for all of us. For me, part of the promise will be rediscovering my daily writing habit. Thrown off by the layoff and period of unemployment, it will take some effort to regain what I thought was a sure thing.

At the same time, regaining confidence in the quality of my writing will be key. I've faced some measure of rejection and yes, overly harsh self-critique in the past year but I know I CAN write. And so I shall endeavor to reacquaint myself with the stories and words I love.

Finally, I realize 2012 is my year to write the "hard" stories - those of things closest to my heart, particularly my youngest daughter's liver transplant and our family's journey through that valley. The story does not yet have an ending but there are many lessons to be culled from that field of uncertainty that I pray will be a balm and encouragement to others.

What challenges do you face in 2012? Do you have "hard" stories of your own that need to be told?

Best Intentions

I've had good intentions, really I have. I never intended to be looking for a job this long. Or to lay my writing aside while becoming consumed in the career search. Or expected to not have the motivation to write, let alone think about it. I really believed I could maintain my torrid pace, finish and edit two novels, begin another and start sending queries. All this while looking for a job to pay the bills.

It's like the old saying, "my eyes were bigger than my stomach." Indeed. If I've learned anything from this exercise, it's that my writing is a key component of my life and can not be neglected for such a lengthy time, no matter the reason. Even if I had written gibberish or trash during this time, at least words would have found their way into a Word document. As it is, besides an outline for a nonfiction idea, I've written scarcely 2,000 words since March.

But how times change! I begin my new position with a local aerospace company today and await the challenge. And the stimulation. For I've found that work itself can inspire my writing and some of my best work and consistent writing times have occurred at my breaks and on lunch. I don't expect this to change and am eager to not only get back to work, but get back to writing. Even if my good intentions failed miserably, the time of redemption is at hand. Time to get cracking and reignite the habit & love once again.

Recognizing Milestones

One week ago Sunday I celebrated my 12^th wedding anniversary. Sometimes I find it incredible that I have a wife and four children. I was single for so long much of my life it can seem like a fairy tale, having relocated from a solo journey to one joined by a complementary partner filling in the white space of my life. Relationships color our lives and help make us the people we can or should be.

Anniversaries, births, graduations, job changes. These are all milestones we experience in our lives. As writers, just as in our regular lives, we need to make a point to celebrate milestones. These can vary from what we see as mundane to the thrilling. For me, the mundane would qualify as keeping a writing log of words written each day. This led to me ultimately completing my first novel, and nearly a second, and permanently forming the habit of writing daily. The thrilling might be landing an agent or selling your first book. I’m still waiting for that type of excitement but that’s what goals are for, right?

The point is writers should not underestimate how vital recognizing milestones is to their life. No matter how small you think they are, you deserve to take the time to celebrate and make a big deal of it. Writing is solitary enough without bypassing a small celebration. It can be a long road to publication and a writing career is no different from other parts of your life which require practice, determination and perseverance. Take the time to mark the small and great successes along the way.

The Similarities of Interviewing and Writing

You just don't consider how alike some things are until you're fully engaged in them. For example, until my current venture into the job market, albeit unwillingly, I never once believed interviewing and writing shared any common traits. Oh, how wrong I was. I'd like to share what I've learned on this recent journey. The list is by no means exhaustive and I'm sure many of you could conjure up other similarities I've overlooked.

1. Selling yourself
This may seem obvious to some. When you send out your query or when you walk into an interview, you must possess the frame of mind to present yourself as the best option for that agency or company. There's no sense dancing around things. Take control and let your personality (and talent) shine.

2. Making a good first impression
This could easily be #1 and is very closely related. Come out strong, as someone who knows what they're talking about but without appearing boastful or arrogant. The key is to get the interviewer or editor/agent to like you. Building rapport helps them take you more seriously.

3. Tell your story
We all have a story. In a job interview, it's how you can ease the employer's pain points with your experience and know-how. In writing, it's letting words flow from your mind through the keyboard and ultimately to the reader, whoever that may be.

4. Leave them wanting more (or "closing the deal")
Have you ever felt like there was something you could have done better with your query letter? Your story? Do you replay the questions and your answers from an interview, performing some type of self-torture, over analyzing each one as if it was a deal breaker? We can always improve, no argument there. But if you can close the deal the right way, having presented your best case as the ideal candidate or author, you can move along with confidence and not second guess yourself, no matter the outcome.

Have you observed other similarities between interviewing and writing? Or perhaps you've noticed similarities between other seemingly dissimilar things?

The End of My Long Silence

It's true. I've returned to the blogosphere! I'm sure some of you may have been wondering if I'd ever return. Well, if there are any of you still following the blog, anyway. Seriously, I hope to begin anew in conjunction with the school year which begins tomorrow for my three oldest children. It's difficult to fathom my once tiny ones will now be entering kindergarten, second & fourth grade. Where has the time gone?

As with my employment, there is a time to each season, and I'm compelled to look upon this next season with anticipation, for my children, for a new career and for my writing. Since I last wrote, my focus has almost entirely been on my job search, to the great neglect of my writing.

A couple of weeks ago I was encouraged, on several fronts by a few friends, to re-engage my writing. Two specifically suggested I use it as an means to vent any frustration I might be feeling in seeking a new job. I've not yet been able to embrace the advice but with the incredible summer weather certain to fade away soon, the opportunity seems ripe.

I'm pulled in several directions right now. There are several non-fiction ideas --- essays and even a book --- percolating in my brain. There are the two complete 1st drafted novels plus a pile of ideas staring me in the face. The options before me seem endless but they all demand I pick up a pencil (or a keyboard) and begin to write. And write I will. I must.