Friday, 13 July 2012

Permission to fail

In 2011, I set myself some rather hefty goals. I achieved every single one of them. It was a hard push towards the end of the year to get everything done, but I did it! And it felt good. This year, I decided that if I could do all that stuff in 2011, I could sure do a similar amount in 2012. But this year I've found that, all too often, life has got in the way.

I'm still achieving some things, I suppose, but I'm behind in most of my goals, and it's going to take quite some effort to catch up. I know I can do it, but I've also realised this year that if I fail at some things, it's not the end of the world. I suppose I've given myself permission to fail, here and there. I have failed, here and there - like with NaNoEdMo, dismail failure there. I don't really want to take that too far, though...'cause who wants to feel okay with becoming a slacker?

Perhaps instead of working on my goals,
I'll just stare at this photo for a while...
Ahhh, Australian winter!
So far in 2012, I've accomplished the following:


  • Preliminary read through/edit of FIRE
  • Write 50k for BuNoWriMo 2012
  • Finish off NaNo 2011 novel #1 (DANNA)

But I still have to do the following:

  • Finish off NaNo 2011 novel #2 (VICTORIOUS)
  • Win NaNo 2012
  • Rewrite DAPHNE from scratch (I am thinking I'll probably use November to do this one)
  • Revise all Chrysalis stories (I'm only up to #11...yikes!)

Amongst other miscellaneous things (photo sorting, blog posting, song writing, etc.).

But what am I doing instead? Working on my rewrite of SUNDOWN. It's fun, it's exhilarating, I love it. I guess I should give myself permission to do what I love, instead of what I said at the end of 2011 I would do. Right? But I'm one of those weirdos who really wants to do what she said she'd do, even if it's a little bit akin to watching grass grow.

How's this year shaping up for you so far?
Posted by at 09:41
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23 comments:

  1. Karen Jones Gowen13 July 2012 at 11:23

    It's been a very hectic but productive year, my favorite kind! Even though I think I want things to slow down when they do, I set new goals and make new plans.

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  2. Danette13 July 2012 at 11:37

    You are so ambitious-- too ambitious possibly? I am going with do what is giving you joy-- and a satisfying life. Working on a project should be a release (as well as the occasional brow sweating) and pleasure. Cheers!

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  3. Anonymous13 July 2012 at 12:34

    Sounds like all of your goals are measurable and within your control (with the exception of 'Win Nano' which may be judged by others?). My year started out with a series of unfortunate events (which threatened to derail my carefully laid plans) but by letting go of some plans, I'm on track with the two goals I care most about. Having a holiday has hopefully renewed you and helped you focus on what's most important.

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  4. Kyra Lennon13 July 2012 at 14:13

    I think you can cut yourself a bit of slack, I mean, you may not be doing what you said you'd do, but you are working. It's not like you're sitting around watching TV all day! :D

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  5. Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy13 July 2012 at 15:21

    I'm a big supporter of doing what you love!!

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  6. Goku shrestha13 July 2012 at 15:34

    well 2012 has been the most traumatic ever !

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  7. Nick Wilford13 July 2012 at 15:40

    Ditto Kyra. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're still writing, and loving it, which sounds like a win to me! Forcing stuff will just make you feel bogged down. :)

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  8. Denise Covey 13 July 2012 at 15:56

    Hi Trish. I've got my head too full of Bali to remember what this post was about. LOL. Just had a read of your previous posts and of course travel wins for me every time. Don't know if you checked out my previous post when you visited, but it was all about being in Fiji. I'm here in fellow blogger Nas Dean's house for 8 weeks. Awesome.

    Anyway, my submission goals have been an absolute failure, but I'm pretty happy with my writing this year. This time in Fiji is to write up a storm. I'm spending more time writing than ever. Hoping to finish/submit a ghost love story to Entangled Publishing by end of month.

    'Give yourself permission to fail.' I don't think you could say that with all those goals achieved. It's terrible how NaNo is looming! Don't remind me.

    Denise

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    Replies
    1. Trisha16 July 2012 at 13:23

      It does seem to come around so very quickly, each year! The overachiever in me wants to write a whole new story for November, but I know that would be ridiculous. I'll focus on a rewrite instead ;)

      Delete
  9. Deborah Walker13 July 2012 at 17:04

    My year is shaping up pretty good. I've started a new accountability thing for myself which tracks how many hours I spend actually writing. Not blogging, or reading, or thinking, but actually writing.

    This has shown that I'm not writing as much as I thought. who'd have guessed it?

    I'm trying to think what I want to achieve for the rest of the year, too. I want to balance what I think I need to do, and what I enjoy doing-- Hey, just like you.

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  10. L. Diane Wolfe13 July 2012 at 20:18

    Sometimes we get bogged down in what we have to do. It's okay to do something for fun or just because we want to, though.

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  11. Cherie Reich13 July 2012 at 23:16

    That life just keeps getting in the way at the most inopportune times, doesn't it? I'm re-evaluating goals and trying to figure out how much I really can fit into my schedule for the rest of the year. It's good to re-evaluate and not beat yourself up when you can't complete a goal as soon as you hoped. :)

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    Replies
    1. Trisha16 July 2012 at 13:23

      Yes, damn life! hehe. Just kidding, life is great! Just inconvenient at times.

      Delete
  12. Hope Roberson13 July 2012 at 23:59

    Wow! How many WiPs do you have? Impressive :) Sounds like you know what you want to do, so keep doing that! And it's only July, so... lots of writing time left :)

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  13. Anonymous14 July 2012 at 11:09

    Yeah, I was going to write a novel in July AND November, and start writing every single day, and some other things...that didn't happen. Ah, c'est la vie. :P

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  14. Anonymous14 July 2012 at 20:57

    I think the most impt thing about goals is to plan some but tell yourself you'll do as many as you can rather than expecting to do them all. That way you don't feel a failure if you don't achieve as many on the list. If you've succeeded with some then that must be progress.

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  15. ali cross15 July 2012 at 08:51

    YES! Do what you love and celebrate your accomplishments and not your failures.

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    Replies
    1. ali cross15 July 2012 at 08:51

      Oh and congrats on all you HAVE accomplished, which is no small feat!

      Delete
    2. Trisha16 July 2012 at 13:22

      Thanks Ali :) When I think about it I'm not too disappointed, but I guess coming off the back of 2011 it's easy to be a *bit* disappointed :) However, I am now deciding not to be!

      Delete
  16. Jolene Perry16 July 2012 at 08:31

    Unless you HAVE to, always jump in and work on the one you love. Have fun with it!

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  17. Trisha16 July 2012 at 13:24

    Thanks for your comments everyone! I'm glad that you are all enjoying success with your goals, even if not always in all the ways you planned!

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  18. Ruth Schiffmann17 July 2012 at 01:34

    Don't be too hard on yourself, Trisha. Sounds like you are still accomplishing lots of good stuff. And it is okay to go with the flow once in a while ;)

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  19. Unknown3 June 2013 at 10:02

    I failed at NaNoEdMo also. I don't normally fail,so it was a good lesson in over-commitment and how to fail quietly.

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!

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