What’s your big writing goal?
We’re not talking about small, easily achievable, “write-a-blog-post”-type tasks from your to-do list. We mean a big goal — the one that exhilarates, energizes and even scares you a little bit. It’s the goal that seems almost unreachable,
Working toward a big goal like this is a kind of quest. And undertaking a quest, explained Chris Guillebeau in a recent blog post, tends to challenge, change and benefit you:
By the time I came to the end, I was a very different person. As I learned, this is a common feature of quests. You set out to accomplish something, and hopefully you do — but something else usually happens along the way, too.
Whether it’s building your freelance business to the point where you can quit your job, or finally finishing and self-publishing your novel, you likely have one of these big goals on your radar, and we want to hear about it.
What’s your writing quest? What big project are you pursuing?
We asked a few writing friends about their quests. Here’s what they’re working on.
Jessica Lawlor, founder of the Get Gutsy Blog
I’m on a quest to help others get gutsy … and to step outside my own comfort zone in the process! I recently published an ebook about getting gutsy, and the next step in my quest is to launch a 30-day email course with tips, tools and inspiration for stepping outside your comfort zone to reach your goals and live a life that makes you truly happy.
I’ve got the bare bones for the course developed, but now need to buckle down, get organized and begin the scary part — actually writing the content. After the course is complete, I plan to turn it into a book.
This quest terrifies me, but I’ve always loved and lived by the saying, “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.” Here’s to the quest!
Peggy Frezon, author of dog books, including Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw
wI’m on a quest to talk to people about their amazing and heartwarming animal tales, and share them, whether it’s on my new blog for Guideposts magazine, Pawprints on my Heart, or in my forthcoming book for Paraclete Press, Greetings at the Front Door (fall 2015).
It’s easy for me to get inspired about pets, as my dogs Kelly and Ike are right here by my feet (or in my lap!) as I’m working. What’s sometimes more difficult is finding others who are willing to share how their pets have changed their lives. I’m constantly on the lookout for pet lovers who might open up to me with their stories! Each time I discover a new human-pet connection, I’m reminded of why I go to such great lengths to find them.
Alexis Grant, founder of The Write Life
I’m on a quest to rewrite my travel memoir and get it out to the world, whether that’s through traditional publishing or self-publishing.
I’ve been working on this story — about backpacking through Africa on my own — since 2008, and I’m itching to get it done. I’ve just got to push through this last round of rewriting to get there!