Tuesday, July 3, 2018

IWSG: Goals and How The Clock Doesn't Stop



Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day
 and 
Happy Independence Day!

Instead of the first Wednesday of the month, we're doing this month's IWSG event on Tuesday because of the holiday. If you'd like to join this group, go HERE:


The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne! And of course, thanks so much to our founder and host, Alex Cavanaugh!

Optional July 3 question - What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

My ultimate goal is, and always has been, to support myself with my writing. I still have the same goal, but it's changed a bit with time. The first eight years or so of my writing career (I was a late bloomer) was spent learning the craft and publishing. Then the realization hit that I could do better. So I unpublished my books, studied for a year, and now I'm close to publishing again. Oh, the things I didn't know! 

While I was learning and practicing, something else happened. The clock didn't stop and wait for me!

 *gasp*

And now I'm thinking about retirement (in the next five years), in the sense that I'm considering my "second career" options. Sort of a "Senior" project. LOL. I'm looking at writing shorter works, with quicker publishing (in order to build a back list), and a means to supplement my income. Because writer's don't retire, they just keep on writing. Am I right?


What are your writing goals?

How have your goals changed?

33 comments:

  1. That's awesome that you are looking to retiring in five years. I'm hoping to cut back in working by then too. It's also affecting my writing goals too in terms of how much time I want to spending writing/working in general.

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    1. The clock seems to tick faster the older we get, Natalie. Funny how we become hyper aware of it as we age ;)

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  2. That's wonderful to hear those books are almost ready to be published again.

    The secret is a solid backlist, so that's a good plan.

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    1. I don't think I'll be publishing the old books, Diane, just new ones going forward. Maybe in my retirement I'll revisit them ;)

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  3. Darn that time.
    Retirement is looming in my future as well.

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    1. I'm looking forward to it, but I wish the clock would both speed up and slow down at the same time! LOL.

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  4. Clocks never stop and wait for me, either. LOL. Learning and practicing sounds like time well spent, though. Congrats on being able to publish your work again soon!

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    1. I'm too impatient right now to look back at the old work. I'm only moving forward with the new work. But who knows...

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  5. Too true. Writing is addictive, and anyone that tells you otherwise is crazy, or not a writer. =)

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    1. Yeah, you don't just quit. It's part of you.

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  6. Writers definitely keep writing, at least that's what I plan on doing.
    Happy Writing in July and Beyond!

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  7. How exciting to think you can have a second career up and running after retirement. I'm sure you will meet your goals. I think it's great you realized you had more to learn and took time to do that, even if the clock did keep moving without you. Well done!

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    1. I sometimes get stressed about being behind. But really, it's only me that puts pressure on me. LOL.

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  8. Exactly. When I retired from the day job, I just put in more hours working on writing. There's no retirement in sight and I don't want it anyway.

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    1. I'm not going to retire, either. Not from writing :)

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  9. It's a good idea to build up a backlist of sorts. I'm glad to hear you're near publishing stages again!

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    1. Hopefully by the end of the year, Cherie. A short story and a novella.

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  10. I semi-retired early in 2011 and move to Florida. I planned to work another full time job, but has not worked out that. So, supporting myself with my writing I am hoping to start sooner than later, but like you late bloomer and slow writer. Wishing best of luck and successful retirement with a fully launched writing career. Happy IWSG!

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    1. I’m a slow writer, too. I tell myself that if I had more time to focus that I’d get more done. We’ll see.

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  11. I used to write when I was much younger, but then life took me on another path of motherhood and raising 5 children. I didn't get serious until I reached my late 40's. And I also had tons and tons to learn about writing and publishing too. It took a while. Then, I started to think that I was getting too old for this stuff, but then I realized a writer can write until the day they die.
    Happy 4th!

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    1. Same with same with me, Cathrina. I began in my late 40s. It’s difficult with a full time day job. But I’m looking forward to a long writing career. You’re never too old to write.

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  12. I'm another who really got going in my late 40s! And now my husband has retired, and me with him (much too young, really :D). And it's going to change the writing, because even though I have no intention of giving it up, all the fun stuff we have planned is really going to interfere. But I understand why so few writers stop until they die. It's a part of you, and anyway, you have to keep writing to keep the voices in your head under control!

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  13. We have fun retirement stuff planned too. Mostly sitting at a beach or in the mountains while the hubs watches me write. Lol. We actually joke about it.

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  14. This is my story exactly! I dinked around with my writing while working at a demanding career. I finally put together a self-funded "trust fund" and left the day job. Although I refuse to say I "retired" - I merely changed careers. And now I can do what I love for the rest of my life - no retirement needed or wanted!

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    1. Good for you, Lee! I'm currently working on the self-funded part. LOL.

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  15. Like you, I'm a late bloomer (started writing in my late 40's) AND a slow writer PLUS my brain is all over the show! LOL
    You know what's wonderful about the writing path? Unlike loads of other careers, (think sports-related jobs) the older you get, the more life experiences you have to (hopefully) produce more and better stories.
    Writer In Transit

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    1. I’m seeing a lot of late bloomers, Michelle. As one of them, I agree that we have a lot of life experience to bring to our writing.

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  16. Writers definitely never stop writing. Jealous that your retirement is only 5 years away!

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  17. I didn't start writing until recently and it's been a good activity during my "semi-retirement"

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    1. They say it's good to keep your mind busy. For me, I just love doing it and can't stop, so that's a good thing!

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