A wish list of sorts...

I wish I could pull my head out of my ... and figure out how to make this all work.

I wish I could stop floating somewhere between confident and fearful and finally decide that I am really an artist and a writer, and that I can do this. No matter how many people try to boost my confidence it doesn't work. I know I need to be the one to believe in myself.

I wish I could convince others of this as well. (See #2--I know I must believe in myself first).

I wish the right answers would miraculously float my way (I've tried the other way--you know research, and that hasn't worked).

I started this entry, and then I became disgusted and decided to blog surf--another way of procrastinating, but when I came across my friend Hope's site I got a kick in the pants. After reading it I decided a wish list of complaints is not going to solve any of my problems.

10. Wishing Instead of Planning: START! Do something! If you just sit around *wishing* that things would be better, it’s not likely that they ever will be. As my mother used to say, “wish in one hand, pour peas in the other…see which fills up faster.” Create a plan, and get into action.

I know this works, because it has worked for me before. I often forget the lessons I learn. I guess we all do that. It is nice to get little reminders. So now, I have to stop sitting around wishing and start doing more. I need a plan. I'm not so good at plans. I'll have to practice.

Here's a start:
I plan to write and submit more articles and stories.

I plan to get busy editing my book.

I also plan to find resources to help me with this.

I plan on researching publishers and editors that accept the kind of book I wrote.

I plan to continue practicing my artwork and cartoons, and to continue experimenting with other medias.

I plan on publishing more cartoons to my site. I think I need to set a goal for the week.

I plan on breaking all of the above in to smaller steps. (Going at it head on with only the end result in site tends to stop me in my tracks.)

I plan on ending the self abuse. I say things to myself that I would never in a million years say to anyone else. It's time to stop being so mean to me!

So what are the ultimate goals:

To have my young adult novel published.

To have several articles or short stories published in 2005. Young Adult and children's magazines are my intended market.

To continue growing as an artist, and to find more paying markets for my work.

To grow my business. To be more productive and prolific as an artist and writer.

How will I do this:

OK, that is a list for another day!