New Goals

Here on the west coast of British Columbia, it's still officially summer but you can feel that first breath of fall in the air in the early mornings. My house is filled with new school clothes and untouched school supplies. This is a big year for two of my three still-at-home children; one is entering Grade 12 and my youngest is starting high school. It's my favourite time of year and the time, every year, that I get a fresh burst of energy.

Energy is good. Energy should be used. Although I could use this time pursuing my dream of an impossibly high Bejewelled Blitz score (a highly-addictive game on Facebook for those of you who don't know), I've decided to set myself some writing goals.

First, although I have people in my life encouraging me to take my writing seriously, I have no dedicated space for writing. As my earning are allowing me to shoulder more and more of my share of family expenses, I've decided my writing deserves I treat it with more respect. Up until now, I've been writing in my bedroom with my laptop balanced on my lap. This is about to change.

One room in my house (more one half of a room to be honest) is going to hold a big wooden desk I've had for years. This desk needs to be cleaned and repainted, but I have a plan. I'm going to get a huge bulletin board to hang on the wall and a set of shelves to hold all my writing extras. These are books I use for research, pictures I use for inspiration and everything else writing -related. The room itself is going to get repainted and I'm looking at a new floor and new lighting. When I'm done, I'll have a space I'm happy with and more importantly, a space dedicated to writing.

I've booked myself a few days away at the end of September for a small writing retreat (my first!) As a result, I 'm determined to write 2,000 words a day five days a week for the next few weeks until I leave. I want to go off to my cabin with a finished manuscript so that I can take that time for a final review and move on to the next stage. It will also allow me to start work on a new book which is pounding insistently at the back of my head.

I'm not expecting either of these goals to be easy ones to accomplish. I'm sure I'll have good days and bad days. But I am determined! If I succeed, I may treat myself to a lovely stuffed dragon to sit atop my new shelves. I think it might be appropriate.

Does this time of year fill you with new goals and aspirations? Is it your New Year as well?