Posts Tagged ‘goals’

Last night, as my girlfriend and I munched on veggie burgers at our tiny kitchen table, I told her about an idea for a story I wanted to pitch to one of the local alt-weeklies. It was a sound enough idea, well-thought out and though not time-sensitive, relevant in light of the current global and local economic situation.

She listened to and processed my pitch. We finished eating. A little bit later, while just chilling on the couch after dinner, she turned to me and asked, “Is there some reason you want to do that story now?” I re-delivered my reasoning from earlier. She listened, again, surprisingly patiently, and then clarified: “If the story isn’t time sensitive, why can’t you just pitch it later and focus on getting your comic book script done?”

Huh.

If anyone hasn’t figured it out yet, I have the attention span of a hummingbird. It’s nothing new, though the internet age has certainly not helped. For about the last 15 years or so, I have always juggled multiple projects in the air at once. At one point a few years ago, I was working full-time as a web content editor, going to school full-time for not one but two bachelor’s degrees, doing regular freelance writing for multiple publications and editing a twice-weekly newspaper. All at once.

I have a terrible habit of starting new projects in the middle of current ones, and sometimes leaving old ones unfinished in their wake. I have in my files at least three unfinished books and/or proposals, an in-progress screenplay or two and who knows how many broken pieces of potential articles, reviews or columns. While in the midst of a freelance deadline last week, I was also creating promotional materials and editing videos and music for my band while scheduling meetings to discuss taking on more projects … and formulating plans for that story pitch that started this whole conversation.

The girlfriend was right. I need to focus. There’s no immediate timeliness or financial burden requiring me to pitch this story right now. On the other hand, as she so kindly reminded me, San Francisco WonderCon is little more than a month away, and if there is any imaginary deadline for me to have my comic proposal together, that would absolutely be it.

In the 2005 film Les poupées russes (an adequate sequel to one of my favorite films, L’Auberge espagnole), the protagonist, Xavier, is a writer who does ghostwriting and pens pulpy romance books because these gigs pay well, but he is unsatisfied with the work, instead wishing to write earnest novels. Xavier’s grandfather tells him that if he keeps letting them, these good-paying but temporary distractions will consume his life, leaving what he truly wants out of reach. In the context of the film, it’s an allegory for the way Xavier’s led his romantic life. But the advice stands up on its own.

So while the occasional 200-word story for Six Degrees or contribution to little things such as Quips and Tips for Freelance Writers aren’t terrible time-suckers, I really need to hold steady and focus on finishing existing projects before starting new ones. Especially small ones. Before it’s too late.

… I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face!

Thanks, Bruce. But not really.

So I started typing up a long-ish post about goals I set out for 2008 and how many were or were not acheived, and why, and what needs to get done in 2009. And then I realized, after writing about 650 words, that the committal of words to screen isn’t what’s important — it’s the mere exercise of assessing one’s present in order to map out one’s future.

Or, you know, a reality check.

2008 went well. Hell of a lot better than ’07. Got a sweet iMac. Paid off some credit cards. Got the band out of the bedroom and into the clubs. Drank less, ate better. Convinced a beautiful woman and her two silly-but-sweet dogs to live with me. Moved into a great old neighborhood and learned to love Las Vegas again. Didn’t pass out in a nightclub men’s room stall even once.

Obviously, 2009 is looming. In some parts of the world, it’s already here. What needs to happen? Well, things could maintain and I couldn’t complain (though, I would), but let’s see …  Sell this comic book series that I’ve actually finally found time to write. Polish up and send to my agent the TV series treatment. Revisit and rework Bleeding Neon book proposal for non-commercial publisher. Take the band out of town. Record a full album. Go to Wonder-Con. Pay off the rest of my credit cards. Buy a bicycle. Eat more fruit. Take more naps. No, more.

Tonight, I ring in 2009 from the Paris Las Vegas hotel & casino. I’ve lived in Sin City for half my life and have never spent New Year’s Eve on the Strip. First time for everything, I guess, huh?

We’ll leave 2008 behind with a totally random clip from when Saturday Night Live was still funny: