My almost-post about writing goals for 2011.

I’m going to let you in on a secret about me – I’m a rule breaker.

If I ever feel like I’m following a crowd or a trend, I cringe. I hate the wanna-be feeling. Not that crowds or trends are a bad thing, because they’re not all the time.

And I’m not one to do something just because people tell me I should, unless I understand why and think it will be beneficial. Like I dislike character sheets but I’ve heard enough good things about them that I’m starting to give them a try. And that comes from my opinion that just adding quirks to a character doesn’t make them three dimensional. So I stick to character sheets that focus on emotional issues. But I’m getting off track.

I started blogging not to jump on the bandwagon but understanding social media and connecting with other writers seemed like a smart decision. And it was. Ask my crit partners, when I first met them I said matter of factly that I was never going to blog. Hah! Sorry, off track again.

I don’t like Uggs. I absolutely won’t wear skinny jeans. And don’t Uggs and skinny jeans go hand in hand or foot in boot? I like Uggs on other people. But I’m supposed to go barefoot? No thanks. I like socks. And I still like boot cut jeans, which when tried to jam into Uggs look bulky. I’m not saying never, but…

As a writer, I don’t snack on chocolate. (gasp)

And, at times, to my detriment, I have a hard time taking myself too seriously. Like writing goals – even though my goals are branded in my brain and written on my heart and I live them out every day, I don’t feel the need to make a manifesto and declare my goals. Sorry. (I can feel my crit group closing in) (totally joking) (almost) (not really) (Sorry, Ansha, I know you hate paranthesis)

And as aspiring writers who would like to be published – aren’t our goals pretty much the same? I would get into them, but unfortunately, this post has reached the maximum number of

24 Responses to My almost-post about writing goals for 2011.

  1. Misha January 5, 2011 at 10:43 am #

    Lol brilliant. 😀

    I don’t like following crowds either. But… for some reason, I do stuff other people do to.

    Usually though… I do it for my own reasons. I posted my resolutions today because I know I’ll feel like an idiot if I inform (in writing) about 150 people of everything I want done and then failing miserably.

    Some people call that pressure. I call it incentive.

    I wear skinnies because they make my legs look awesome. I still wear bootlegs because they make my butt look stunning.

    I HATE uggs.

    Why?

    Because who the hell wants to look like they’re packing fish in Alaska? Unless they’re in fact in Alaska, packing fish, or both.

    But that’s just me.

    😉

  2. Andrea January 5, 2011 at 11:58 am #

    I love what you said about not taking yourself too seriously. Goals are like character sheets – another tool you can use if they work for you. Same with your style of jeans. It’s what works for you. And on the subject of Uggs – just because we’re writing for teens or middle graders, it doesn’t mean we have to dress like them, does it?

  3. Jessica Bell January 5, 2011 at 12:30 pm #

    hahaha! I DESPISE Uggs. And I don’t snack on chocolate either. Skinny jeans … well, does it count that my once not so skinny jeans are now skinny because I put on weight? LOL

  4. Jen Daiker January 5, 2011 at 1:02 pm #

    Haha I loved this post!! Loved it!!!

    I’m with you, I am not a fan of skinny jeans and chocolate is not on my list of fun snacks while working.

    Oh and Uggs… I kind of like them but living in Houston there is no purpose. Therefore when I see them around town I giggle. Cuz they look ridiculous.

    • Laura January 5, 2011 at 1:09 pm #

      Jen – Skinny jeans remind me too much of the 80s. Not. Going. Back. Though I love the music.

      Jessica – I have some of those kinds of jeans too.

      Andrea – I have goals. I just don’t need to write them.

      Misha – where I live, Uggs are actually useful, b/c there is snow. I still don’t wear them though.

  5. Stina Lindenblatt January 5, 2011 at 1:40 pm #

    I love chocolate. I’m not into Uggs either. I think only teens wear them here (though I could be wrong).

  6. anne gallagher January 5, 2011 at 1:59 pm #

    If I write my goals down, I tend to disregard them so I don’t.

    I like Uggs. I want a pair but I don’t want skinny jeans. And I don’t care what I look like in the boots.

    I don’t do character sheets.

    I always break the rules – hence Uggs.

  7. Angela Felsted January 5, 2011 at 2:21 pm #

    I love it! Besides, skinny jeans are for super skinny model-thin people. I’ve never been tiny enough to wear them without looking like a cow.

    If you can get away with them, that says a lot for your gorgeous figure. I don’t like posting all my goals for the world to see either, if I do then someone might know when I fall badly short. Not that I don’t try . . . good thoughts Laura.

    • Laura January 5, 2011 at 2:24 pm #

      Angela – Def. tiny people look better in skinny jeans, which is maybe why teens can get away with it!

      Anne – Love it, Anne!

      Stina – I don’t love straight chocolate, but I do like Snickers or Nestle crunch. I just don’t buy them or keep them in the house. Too tempting.

  8. Lydia Kang January 5, 2011 at 2:42 pm #

    I am pretty anti-Uggly and also can’t do chocolate when I write. Hear hear!

  9. Susan R. Mills January 5, 2011 at 3:03 pm #

    Ha! So true… yes I imagine our goals are much the same. Although, you are so wrong about Uggs. 🙂 I love my Uggs… my Ugg slippers and my Ugg boots. Oh, and I totally wear sock with them.

  10. Paul January 5, 2011 at 3:22 pm #

    Love this post, Laura! I think my main goal with writing is to try to remember what I do and don’t have control over and to not obsess over the things I don’t control. In other words: focus on the writing. Often it’s easier said than done but that’s what I come back to when I’m feeling distracted.

    • Laura January 5, 2011 at 4:50 pm #

      Paul – I whole heartedly agree with that. Focus on the writing. That’s my plan.

      Susan – My biggest problem with Uggs is that the pants I like don’t fit with them. I heard your boots start to smell if you wear socks with them?

      Lydia – so, not all writers snack on chocolate. Hmm. Just another stereotype. 🙂

  11. MG Higgins January 5, 2011 at 5:01 pm #

    My new goal for 2011 is to use more parenthesis!

  12. Laura Marcella January 5, 2011 at 5:02 pm #

    Quadruple GASP! on the chocolate thing. But I can overlook that since I totally agree with you about skinny jeans. I’ll never wear them either, ick! Knock-off Uggs boots are way cuter & more stylish than real Uggs anyway, but you’re right about the boots only looking good with skinny jeans. Bummer!

  13. Sherrie Petersen January 5, 2011 at 5:28 pm #

    Thank you for my daily smile. You always crack me up!!

    Okay, don’t hate me just because I’m wearing my Uggs right now. To be honest, they’re the Target brand that look like Uggs. I just love them because it’s like wearing warm slippers and my feet are always cold 🙂

    But I’m with you on the chocolate. Not a fan. I actually forget to eat when I’m writing. If my husband didn’t come home for lunch I’d probably skip it altogether, which probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.

    • Laura January 5, 2011 at 6:13 pm #

      Sherrie – I think people look good in Uggs when worn with right clothes. But I’m a working writer with no need for high fashion. 🙂

      laura – I let my daughter be the stylish one in the family. 🙂

      MG – Ha Ha!

  14. Abby Annis January 5, 2011 at 9:06 pm #

    Great post! I’m not a trend follower either. If something in my writing starts becoming too popular, I usually take it out.

    And skinny jeans? Never. 🙂

  15. Julie Musil January 6, 2011 at 4:05 am #

    You crack me up! I shudder at the thought of skinny jeans. I also wear boot cut, which by the way, can go OVER the Uggs! But I only wear my Uggs when I’m camping. Not that you wanted to know any of that!

    I love blogging so I can read the hilarious posts of awesome writers like Laura Pauling.

  16. Quinn January 6, 2011 at 2:17 pm #

    You’re right about all of our goals being the same.

    By the way, I gave you an award on my blog.

  17. Marcia January 6, 2011 at 3:09 pm #

    I’m not a huge goals person when it comes right down to it, but I do believe goals have to be things you can control.

    LOVED the ending of this post.

  18. Megan Miranda January 6, 2011 at 3:46 pm #

    Great post! I’m totally with you on a lot: no chocolate snacking over here, and skinny jeans are just a big mystery to me. Actually, I spend an unnatural amount of time contemplating the mystery of the skinny jeans…

  19. Lola Sharp January 6, 2011 at 4:54 pm #

    Haha! You slay me. Love the dry wit and cut off ending.

    Hmmm, I am definitely a rule breaker, so I relate. But, I do love my Uggs. I wear boot cut jeans OVER them. As in, no tuckage. I wear because they are comfy, warm and I…this will be controversial…HATE WEARING SOCKS. They freak me out.
    If I even see someone wearing socks to bed my teeth grind and…well, I can’t write about this anymore because it’s giving me twitches thinking about it. Scratch chalkboards all day, I’m good with it. But please NO socks rubbing against fabric or carpet. *shudder* *twitch* I know. I’m a freak. I have to live with myself. It ain’t easy.

    Happy 2011!
    Love,
    Lola

    • Laura January 6, 2011 at 7:38 pm #

      Okay, so I don’t really have an excuse for not wearing Uggs since you can wear jeans over them. I guess I just don’t have a need. And they are expensive. And I don’t wear socks to bed. 🙂

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