DREAM ON, WRITERS
By Janet K. Brown of Red River Romance Writers Chapter

"Never quit dreaming." That's what my eighty-four year old
mother-in-law told my husband. Even at her age, she dreams and works toward
them. Good advice, and one we writers should take to heart as we begin a new
year. Dreams change, but should never depart.
When I started learning the craft of writing, I listed my six- month
goal which I made; my three-year goal, which I didn't make, but that's okay;
and, my lifetime goal which I plan on achieving.
My first January I took an online course from Suzanne McMinn which was
wonderful. One assignment she gave us was to determine our goals month by
month for a year. I've continued that practice. 
During the time I took the course, a sermon at church jarred me from my
lukewarm ideas about dreaming. "Are you talking to me, Lord?" I took out pen
and paper and began an acronym. Daily, I read it and meditate on the words.
After all, we're word freaks. Right?
Here's what I have listed:
Decide if and what you should write. What do you read? What do you enjoy?
How many different things can you balance with your other obligations?
Record goals (like I suggested, or however you want); Look back at them from
time to time with a realistic approach.
Educate yourself in the craft. What do you need to study? How can you best
train - writing groups, loops, online course, books, critique groups,
conferences or a combination of all? How can you best spend your time and
money?
Associate with people who help you, build you up. Become accountable to a
mentor or critique partner. Network with authors online and in person
whenever possible. Listen to them. I've heard it said, more writers become
published through the recommendation of another author than by a pitch to an
editor. With certainty, we can learn from their experience.
Measure your success and your commitment each year. What have you done to
further your writing career? Do you maintain a strong desire and/or need to
keep writing? Where have you failed or procrastinated?
Now at the beginning of this new year, survey your desires and
accomplishments in the past year. After you've done that, write your goals
for the year, for the month, for the week. Make it something you can
control. Being published or contracting for more sales is technically out of
our hands, but following these guidelines with persistence makes those
things doable. So, survey, keep goals, and dream on, writers.

--- Janet K. Brown loves writing short stories which she's published and
longer fiction which she's still dreaming of publishing. She lives in
Wichita Falls, TX and loves travel with her husband, visiting her grandkids
and line dancing when she's not writing. She belongs to Red River Romance
Writers.