Here's a place to put all your goals, in one easy to find and update thread!
Everyone will be able to think of big, fun and scary things to do in the coming year - but actually posting about them already takes you one step closer to doing them, because you've now told other people. Didn't you find that telling people you were doing NaNo meant you actually sat down and did it? It's the feeling of accountability - no-one's going to come after you if you fail, but just stating a goal out loud for people to hear, makes you feel you have to then do it!
Instead of having to post your goal list once in each thread, here's a thread for you to post your list, and then you can post additions, completions and updates here too. For general progress towards a goal, questions, answers and advice, find or make a thread - plenty of room then, to chat and talk about your goal - whether weight loss, learning to drive (I really should get onto that one myself...), learning a new language...
To try and help people find threads, we'll try to get an index thread set up too, so that you can find any existing threads that match your goals :-)
To give an example of goals:
- To learn German from scratch to at least conversational level
- To learn to drive
- To do and win NaNo for a 5th time
- To visit America (probably either NYC or LA, but I'm flexible)
- To run Race For Life (5K charity race) again, and this time Run The Whole Way No Stopping!
- To lose 1 stone and keep just under 11st (I'm 5'8")
- To watch all the films on the IMDb Top 250 list (I'll use the list on 01/01/2008 as a basis)
ALL of those are doable for me, if I work a little. Which is the whole point - and we can do our goals, we just need a push and some encouragement!
----------
BFS goals - http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1075131
54,720 / 50,000
Dec 4, 2007 - 19 41
Oh boy, this is a little scary! I've been working on this goal for 35 years now and haven't achieved it yet, but maybe if I put it out here the nano spirit will rub off on this goal too:
- to have a clean and organized home
These are doable desires given time and effort:
- improve my sewing skills
- improve my language skills (english)
- improve my language skills (spanish, latin, french)
- to walk the dogs more
- make curtains for my son (he's 14 now, still hasn't ever had curtains....)
- play piano and violin more
- Volunteer at Beaver Brook more
- Do more for other people
- Dig a pond for the turtle in the Spring
- Learn lots of new things!
These aren't in order of importance, but there are just sooooo many things to work on!
There's my list, now in the words of Jean-Luc Picard I will try to: "Make it So!"
54,643 / 50,000
Dec 5, 2007 - 04 32
Hai,
- to have a clean and organized home
Perhaps I shculd socialize with this goal ;-)
There is an interesting American site that tries to give a hand. do you know it yet?
http://www.flylady.net/
it is interesting that they point at the same thing we consider important for NaNo: not try to be perfect *gg*
Annemarie
"Das Feuerpferd" - Fantasy-Roman von Sabine Abel, Monique Lhoir, Annemarie Nikolaus
ISBN 3-935982-50-X. Web-Site-Verlag 2005
http://web-site-verlag.de/index.php?func=books&sub==show&id=33
51,550 / 50,000
Dec 5, 2007 - 11 59
Wow, my goals for this year. That's a tough one... Lemme think...
- Finish writing my '07 NaNo-novel and do at least the first round of editing.
- Finish writing either my '03 or '05 NaNo-novel and do at least the first round of editing.
- Clean my room and keep it clean.
- Organize my living space.
- Get rid of everything that doesn't fit/will never fit again - either yard sale or eBay.
- Not become a hermit just because there's snow on the ground - go out for something social at least twice a week.
- Buy a tent - That involves saving money I don't really have.
- Design and sew all SCA garb for myself and my family. Have it all ready at least three months before GNEW (our local big event).
- Design and sew at least five everyday garments just for me. Things that make me happy.
- Find and make at least one, maybe two, new recipes a month. Cook yummy and healthy foods for me and my man while expanding our tastes.
- Participate and finish both Script Frenzy and NaNoWriMo. (This might be the easiest on my list!)
I think this is a good start. It will keep me out of trouble and give me some serious goals to work on, which is something I need. These are all things I NEED to do. Some of them have been things I've needed to do for a few years. Mybe having them listed where others can se them will give me the push I need to work on them, and hopefully finish some (all) of them.
Ken
50,104 / 50,000
Dec 5, 2007 - 12 46
I want everyone who's posted so far to look at your list and now, find a way to QUANTIFIABLY measure your progress. There is a reason why NaNoWriMo is all about the 50,000 words-- measurable results will help you stay on track, feel motivated, and not deceive yourself that you're doing better than you really are!
Examples:
"To lose weight" would be "to lose 1 stone of weight."
"To organize my room" would be "to have all my shelves and bins labeled and not have any piles of random stuff around."
"To exercise more" would be "To train for and run a 10K race by October 1."
50,105 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 11 55
I, Chris Baty, hereby declare that I will undertake the following Big, Fun, Scary adventure in 2008:
Learn how to repair bicycles.
I love bikes. I ride one to work most days. And when I retire to France in a couple years, I'm going to open a little bike repair shop by the ocean where tourists and locals will bring their ailing bikes to me. They'll lean them against my shop's tree and say "J'ai des problemes avec mon velo."
I will smile and make them an espresso, then carefully place their bike up on the rack, and set to work healing their ride.
The only problem: I don't know the first thing about bike repair. I don't even know how to patch a flat.
So I'm going to take a series of classes this spring at a local bicycle cooperative. Specifically, the following classes:
Flats
Gears
Brakes
Bearings
After I win, I will hang my Big, Fun, Scary Adventure Challenge Winner certificate in a hallowed place next to my repair shop's espresso machine.
Sincerely,
Chris
BFS Winner, 2006
51,949 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 12 51
That's good advice about making the list measurable. I've got a few things I'd like to get done this year...
1. Participate in and win ScriptFrenzy again (Hopefully, with the Christmas play I've been wanting to write for years. (I know April will be an odd time to write it. I don't care.))
2. Get my sewing room organized enough that I can sew in there. >_<
3. Find patterns for and make some nice masculine outfits for my 18 inch doll (at least one!).
4. Lose at least ten pounds...
5. Make up an exercise plan and stick to it.
50,104 / 50,000
Dec 28, 2007 - 06 13
I have the standard complement of New Years Resolutions-- lose weight, get in shape, eat healthier, keep the house clean, practice my music more, etc. And I'm glad I have those, because they are good life goals.
But they are not a Big Fun Scary Adventure. They are just bits and pieces of life.
And writing goals are good, but that's also bits and pieces of life for me, because I'm a tech writer by trade. I don't get the luxury of not writing, in one way or another, every day.
Thus, my Big Fun Scary Adventure is to make an artistic work of absolutely no practical value, but much amusement. I will be crocheting, in amigurumi style, a series of stuffed animals to correspond to the Guardians of the Beam from the Stephen King Dark Tower series.
I have other goals and ambitions this year, but the Dark Tower Amigurumi is the one I can most definitively identify as something I want to do, can quantify, and will add something fun and silly to the world which sorely needs it.
Who knows. I might even knit up a rose to go with it.
Edit:
OK, I'll add a few more of my goals for this year:
* To lose 8 inches off my waist. Excess belly fat is the most dangerous part of my weight problem. Losing 8 inches will likely also mean losing about 25 lbs., which is a very aggressive long-term weight loss goal.
* To learn how to play simple melodies on the harmonica.
* To get back to the proficiency where I can play Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring on the dulcimer (this will likely only take me about a month of real work).
* To write a romance novel and submit it to a publisher.
* To finish a 10K race. Walk or run, doesn't matter.
* To learn how to program well enough to write a program that creates and saves a file.
I'll add more as they come to me, but these are the big ones.
50,104 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 13 00
Those are good adventures, but #5 is too vague! Do you mean "learn to pole dance like a Key West stripper"? "Run a 5K without walking any part of it"? "Hike the Appallachean Trail"? "Walk 2,400 miles" [That's one of mine-- it's the distance from California to Hawaii.]
What's the measurable or observable way to say "I did this" when you achieve that adventure?
15,711 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 13 17
Yeah, I think I'm ready to do this.
-Get my level 2 Drivers License (since this mean not crashing and burning I'm killing two birds with one stone!)
-Get a car
-Either place 1st with Duke in on-leash obedience or get at least a 5th if I decide to do off-leash instead
-Enter in at least one AKC show with Duke
-Write one story in Japanese
-Learn at least one Gilbert and Sullivan patter song well enought to sing it quickly and perfectly
-Finish writting my current series
-Learn Python or Pearl and HTML
Now I must be off to trop through the icky slush to practice with Duke.
50,005 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 13 46
My Big goals are:
Win NaNoWriYear, with atleast 200,000 words by the end of the year. (and win NaNoWriMo as well)
Do Script Frenzy.
Go for a month without drinking soda.
Fun:
Go to a big concert festival, and camp out.
Make up new recipes.
Scary:
Learn how to drive, and get a learners permit.
Meet more people.
I guess thats most of them. hehe
I cant wait. =] '08 should be a very interesting year.
55,956 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 13 48
Ooo...!
My Big Scary Fun Goals...
1. Write 10K words a month, each month (excepting November, that's all devoted to NaNo), on pretty much anything that strikes my fancy.
2. FINISH my 2006 Nano and start editing/revising by the end of October.
3. Work on and FINISH Que Sera Sera by the end of October.
4. Have an actual story plotted and outlined for next NaNo... flying by the seat of my pants 2 years in a row is a bit painful. Hard landings y'know...
5. Excercise 3 times a week, I want flat abs. That's my only "problem" area... poochy abs...
6. Get back into Yoga. I miss doing that...
7. Bring up my GPA in college. I want a 3.0 by the end of December next year. (bad health + bad grades = very bad GPA)
8. Put away a percentage of my checks into my IRA to save... probably 20% more if I can swing it, starting in April.
9. Figure out WTH I'm gonna do for Script Frenzy and plan it out so I won't be pulling my hair out...
50,104 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 13 52
Sounds like 5 and 6 are very compatible, and might help with #7, at least in the health improvement=grade improvement strategy!
50,204 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 14 39
Ooh, finally, the BFSG sub-forum is up! :D
1. Finish the rough draft of Child Of Moon And Night
2. Learn how to write short stories and flash fiction; then write at least one per month. (Excepting January - JaNoWriMo - and November - NaNoWriMo - and any other months I do long fiction in.)
3. Learn biblical and prayerbook Hebrew fluently enough to read and interpret a Hebrew text with ease.
4. Read The Count of Monte Cristo and Conversations With God.
5. (This one is vague, but its still a goal.) Get a six-pack and develop an overall muscular physique, including biceps.
6. Get a decent job; save up for next tattoo.
7. Get another tattoo.
8. Do at least one large painting.
That's all for now (27/12/2007). I'll edit if I get some more.
50,091 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 43
ahh ok, this is my first year, so.
BIG goals:
Learn to be happy with my body, by either accepting it, or losing enough weight to appreciate myself.
Write a novel I like, edit it until I like it some more, tweak it until I love it, then send it in to publishers. [[this is my main goal]]
Scary goals:
Go to the movies with John. Atleast once, though more would be nice.
Go to Homecoming with a date.
Fun! Goals:
Learn to play guitar, atleast one song.
Get a guinea pig, and not kill it.
Meet new people. Not sure if this one should be under scary...
62,474 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 15 23
Will do! These are my goals:
1. Write the three novels I have planned for 2008.
2. Edit two novels, at least.
3. Query at least 25 agents by end of year, less if one takes me.
4. Continue to regularly update my blog and make it popular.
5. Learn small-group sleight of hand magic.
6. Write and stage and record an audio drama.
7. Begin assembling comics for the launch of an eventual webcomic.
8. Eliminate half of my standing debt.
9. Learn to roll cigarettes by hand.
10. Create a few demo tapes for a podcast to see if its a viable media to work in.
11. Learn about performance poetry in my area and perhaps give a single performance (if this exists locally).
12. Get myself a new computer.
Matthew
literaryrockstar.blogspot.com
"A Man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery." Stephen Dedalus, James Joyce, Ulysses
0 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 16 32
Hmm...goals for 2008.
-Get organized and clean my room.
-Learn at least 10 songs on the keyboard
-Learn to Open up more. (Not be shy)
-Enter/Complete/Win Nano for the first ever time/try. Joined too late this year and couldn't.
-Learn CSS/HTML
-Improve my Grades
That's all I can think of for now. I think I can accomplish that.
60,054 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 17 06
I have two:
1) To finish my FIRST degree (associates degree, web site design, I only lack TWO classes), and begin work on my second (associates in Programming, or perhaps a Bachelor's, if the school I'm at offers one I'm interested in)
2) To have ONE novel ready for submission for publication. Just one. Any more than that is icing on the cake
55,956 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 17 23
Not really - #7 was when I didn't know I was allergic to lactose, and it was giving me all those nice, lovely migraine attacks. Yeah, I know, way weird but oh well! The excercising bit will be way tough for me, I hate excercise LOL! I like telling people it's against my religion :-P
50,192 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 18 32
Big, Fun and Scary ...
Okay,
- to submit to more than twenty agents query letters (last year did 60 and that pretty much scared the tar out of me when I got odd bites - bad ones) using the recent Jeff Hermann book
- meet up with more writers to fuel my muse
- look actively for another job or get major increase in pay by October (review time)
- find a good place for storage and label and store my cooking things away until I get a bigger home
Probably more but that's just things now in my brain.
16,414 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 18 46
I will write 3-5 hours a day.
I will rise early in the morning to get at least two hours of writing time in before I go to work. (Now THAT'S scary!)
I will polish one of my novels for submission
66,642 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 18 55
This year I will:
- learn to speak Polish (my granddad was Polish and I still have family there. Besides, it would look great on my CV, especially with so many Poles living in the UK.)
- edit my Nanowrimo and who knows, maybe even send it off somewhere....
- learn to knit
- start consignment work for my hand painted gift items
- lose weight. It will be much healthier for my blood pressure, and my bank account. I will be able to wear cute clothes again!
- find a job. Hopefully one I will love.
- write more for Helium and make some extra money in my PayPal.
- and of course: do another Nanowrimo!
50,001 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 18 58
Okay, this is silly, but I just want to wake up on time. That's it. I can do the rest, if I can only get past this one hurdle.
The hurdle? I have to wake up at 6am. And I have trouble getting to sleep before midnight. I can do this several days until I suddenly crash and fall asleep right before dinner. Once, a year ago, I did it for two weeks and managed to start going to sleep at 10, but then I reverted back to my old habits.
So, this year: 6am or bust! Wheeee!
66,273 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 12
Ok *deep breathe* here goes:
1. Finish my 2007 NaNo novel and edit it.
2. Ask at least two people to read it for me and comment constructively!
3. Exercise on a regular basis (it's been way too long).
4. Settle on a plot and develop an outline for a big whammo 2008 NaNo......BEFORE November 1st!
5. Consider myself a writer, first, meaning everything, everything, everything else comes second to finding time to write daily.
Good luck, everyone! [me, included!]
29,600 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 17
My Big Fun Scary Goal for 2008.:
It took me a year to write Prophecy of Vithan and a year to write Stone of Cruento. My goal is to get my writing in gear and write enough words fast enough and well enough to write a 100,000 word novel in two months. That would be 2 consecutive NaNoWriMos . So it would be doable.
I have a publishig house and an editor. The hard part will be carving out time to write from life that keeps intruding.
2nd goal is to work out every night. I need to lose a total of 100 pounds. Two years ago I lost 50 pounds in 6 months. Of course as soon as I stopped working out I gained it all back. But if I put my mind to it, Perhaps I can lose 100 pounds in 1 year. If not, then at least lose 50 pounds in one year.
Okay, I think that is BIG enough, FUN enough and SCARY enough.
Charlene Leatherman
0 / 50,000
Dec 28, 2007 - 08 31
The biggest, scariest goal for me:
**Clean out/ clean up my house!
My husband passed away a year ago, and I still have stuff in odd corners of the house. Some of it's been there the whole 13 years I've lived here, and never been touched! It's time to clear away the old cobwebs.
Fun/ not so scary goals:
** Go on another cruise, to Bermuda this time, before the end of the year.
** Spend November writing my 50,000 words!!!
** Work up to walking 5 miles a day by June; continue walking 5 miles a day, every day.
** Pay off my credit card!
63,774 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 22
My goals are
- To learn to speak and write passable Japanese (one alphabet almost-down, two more to go!)
- To revise at least one of the novels I wrote this year, and finish my novel from last year's NaNo
- To write at least 100k in January (and finish the novel, too)
- To start working out again
- To beat Kingdom Hearts
- To improve on my sewing skills
- To spend less money D:
- To enter (and win, haha) a local writing contest... the deadline for submissions is January 7th, so wish me luck! *crosses fingers*
50,083 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 27
hey call me Mindy
Oy I have too many goals for 2008.
1) I want to complete my nano novel, edit it and publish it as I love this novel so much. It'll hopefully will be the first novel I'll ever complete!
2) I miss playing instruments from high school so much that I want to start taking guitar and piano lessons.
3) I want to graduate from college this year and hopefully begin planning my day care i want to open very soon. I only have one more semester to go and it's going to be quite a stressful one at that on top of looking for another college with a small business course to take next school year while working at a day care and planning to open my own day care lol.
4) I want to actually finish reading the 13-15 books I have on a shelf that I never got around to reading this year. That should be a hard goal to accomplish as I'm always busy but I love a challenge. Fifth, I want to drive to Vancouver (cross country trip for me) which will take me 3 days (each day 13 hours of driving non stop) to get there....but I really believe it'll take me about a week or so to get there as I want to stop in all these cities and do touristic things while passing through. I really want to do that during the summer, then I can camp my way there instead of spending a lot of money on hotels/motels. I think that's it....
5) I want to get my last license aka my G license....I already had my G1 and G2 now it's time for my G then I will never have to do another driving test again!!! Well unless I want to drive a boat, motorcycle or a transport truck.
6) once my novel is finished I want to record myself reading it and I would still love to do some sort of podcast show about writing
7) Actually organize myself for my last semester for I won't be late with assignments (this will be a bit easier as I'm taking all online classes while doing three placements!)
I think that's it now.....Lot's of work for me to do during 2008 hehe.
6,707 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 29
I don't do resolutions anymore, but I do goals and guidelines. This is a good idea, so I shall endeavor to participate.
My goals for 2008:
1) Learn to manage on my $250 allowance, and not whine at Financial Advisor about not having enough money.
2) Perhaps try a second job (I still haven't decided on this)
3) Finish a novel - pick one, and keep on it until I finish it, and go for:
4) Survive rewriting
5) Finish at least two afghans for presents for next Christmas (crocheting)
6) Try Journal Quilts, and put something in the quilt show for 2009
7) Participate in NaNoWriMo 2008 and not freak out, and drop out
8) Paint
9) Walk more
10) Lose weight! Lose at least 25 pounds.
Okay, we'll see what happens now!
Margaret
50,014 / 50,000
Dec 28, 2007 - 08 45
GOAL: To Finish Nano 2007, completely edit it, and send it to at least one agent.
Bonus Sub-Goal: To publish the novel by end of 2008.
Additional Bonus Sub-Goal: To win an award for the novel.
The Cherry On Top: To begin a career as a professional novelist.
GOAL: To buy a car.
Bonus Sub-Goal: To buy a car that works.
Additional Bonus Sub Goal: To buy an unused car.
The Cherry On Top: To buy a car that gets at least 40 miles to the gallon and hooks up to my iPod.
GOAL: To visit Chicago using only IRTA- and CTA-sponsored public transportation.
Bonus Sub-Goal: To do so without getting stranded in Waukegan, Ill. for upwards of two hours.
Additional Bonus Sub Goal: To do so with a roommate.
The Cherry On Top: To visit the lions from "The Ghost And The Darkness" in the Chicago Field Museum, look them in the eyes and get scared.
GOAL:: To complete third consecutive year of NaNoWriMo 2008.
Bonus Sub-Goal: To write at least 60,000 words in November.
Additional Bonus Sub-Goal: To write either my small-town Wisconsin magical realism idea or my bitter interpretation of actual real-life events idea.
The Cherry On Top: To write at least 100,000 words in November.
GOAL: To take a two-week road trip.
Bonus Sub Goal: To visit some part of the U.S. I've never been to before.
Additional Bonus Sub-Goal: To wander around in a Great American City I've never been to before.
The Cherry On Top: To wander around in New York City for four days (using the New York subway) and knock Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont off the list of 51 American states and districts I must see before I'm 30.
Whipped Cream and Crushed Whoppers: To do so during the month of October.
GOAL: To play a live venue of some kind without forgetting the words to the songs I've written (it might help not to have to write the song I'm playing less than 24 hours before I'm scheduled to play it).
Bonus Sub Goal: To put out a third album, building on folk-punk-country-blues theme of the last one but (gulp) completely electric.
Additional Bonus Sub Goal: To set up a Web site for my alternate identity/stage name that includes pay as you feel music downloads.
The Cherry On Top: To cut a demo in a professional studio, ship it to studios and enjoy the general indifference I receive (my songs are the common property of all mankind, which is to say, they suck).
52,602 / 50,000
Dec 27, 2007 - 19 31
In no particular order:
1. Write this list.
2. Get licensed.
3. Get pregnant.
4. Sell house.
5. Buy property.
6. Take a mindblowingly fabulous vacation.
7. Spoil someone madly.
8. Be well.