How I did it: This goal has been all about writing for me. It has not been about always making sure I sit down and write every day--although that has been part of it, there are other goals for that. This has been more about what I write.

I went to a talk given by author Garth Nix a while back. He discussed how he often gets asked what writers should write and how to predict the market. His response was that a writer should write what they love and not worry about the market. It has been the single best piece of writing advice I've heard.

There are stories that I write that I look back on and think they might have a chance of being published. There are stories I've written for university assessment. Then there are the stories that I know will never be published but they delight me so much I simply must write them anyway. The key to this goal is write them all--to have fun.

Lessons & tips: Think less about other people and just write.

Whenever you get stuck in what you feel you "have to" write, switch to something a little more fun and frivolous for a change.

Feb 24, 2009, 02:24AM PST | 1 comment | 7 cheers