Goals Day 1: Self-Assessment

Odds are, you do not see yourself as others see you. You probably don’t see yourself as you are, either, but to set goals, you need to know the man or woman in the mirror. Goal setting starts with assessing yourself as a writer, something many writers have not yet considered, but it’s vital to goal setting. 
 
You can’t plan where you’re going if you don’t know who you are.
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For this course, you will define your goals as a writer and make important decisions that affect your writing journey. You will also create a foundation for the rest of this series and your mentoring journey. That starts with knowing the hero. You.

Who Am I?

This question is the heart of the movie The Breakfast Club, which explores high school identity, stereotypes, and the danger those stereotypes present. If you recall, the teens were defined by their roles: the smart kid, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal.

​Does that mean you are defined by your non-writerly roles? God, I hope not. My biggest role is that of Mom, and I really don’t want to write about moms all the time. In fact, the movie shines a light on how these “roles” fail to consider the whole person. It focuses on the people behind the mask of their assumed identity.

Brainstorm

As a writer, think beyond the roles in your life. Consider what’s at the heart of you. Take some time to consider these questions. Write them down as we will continue to use them throughout the series.

• What is it that you really want as a writer? Fame, fortune, and everything that goes with it? A steady income? Familial approval? What do you want out of your writing life? What do you yearn for?
• What are you passionate about? What makes your writing world rock? 
• What motivates you to write? What makes you excited to sit down at your writing desk?
• What are the recurrent themes in your writing? What recurrent themes do you see in the books, movies, and music you enjoy?
• What genre (niche) do you enjoy reading and writing? Do you want to limit yourself to one? Do you want the freedom to move between genres?

I want to pause here and discuss a disturbing trend I see online, with random people suggesting that you have to focus on one genre or you’re not a serious writer. Oh really? Let’s see, does that include writers like Neil Gaiman who writes everything from kids books to graphic novels? Or what about Joyce Carol Oats who has written 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction?
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The thing is, you do not have to be a one-trick pony. Will you grow your brand faster if you focus on one genre? Probably, but if that leaves you creatively bereft, then that’s not the route for you. Publishers definitely benefit from writers who stay in one lane. Think Dan Brown, Nora Roberts, or James Patterson, but staying in one lane would drain me emotionally. Which brings me to the next question.

• What is important to you creatively? For me, I need the freedom to move between genres, and God help the agent who suggests I stay in one lane. So consider what’s important to you creatively.
• What is your overarching purpose? To entertain, to scare, to teach, to inform?
• What do you want readers to remember about your books? What do you want to be remembered for as a writer?
• Who is your audience? You cannot be all things to all people. When I teach undergraduates, my audience are 18-25 year olds just starting out in life. When I teach in the graduate program (MFA), I teach mature students with a longer backstory, more experience, and specific goals. The way I approach and appeal to each group is quite different, so knowing your audience is imperative.

Day 1 Homework

Make sure to consider your answers, write them down as we’ll look at them in another lesson, and be ready for goal setting on Day 2. I'll open the comments on day 5 for you to share your goals if you're interested in that.

Watch and Learn
The attached video is not required, but it walks you through the beginning part of your brainstorming.