Are you scared?
You should be.
One of the things we talk about here is reaching for our dreams, and how to push ourselves toward our goals–how hard that is sometimes, and on occasion, we’ll even mention the really crappy first drafts, how terrified we are that we’ve turned in a book that’s going to need some serious editing, and the mistakes we’ve made.
The thing is, I think there’s this sort of underlying feeling that once someone has a publishing contract, they’ve reached a point where the fear somehow lessens. That there’s this point of arrival, of success, of finally entering the so-called “club” and I am sitting here, remembering how I thought exactly that same thing. And you know what came as the greatest comfort to me, once I was on the other side of that publishing line? That nearly everyone on that other side was just as terrified as I was. All of a sudden, I found myself subject to people with Expectations, Dear, And You’d Better Deliver. You go from the fear that you’ll never make it to the fear that you’ll screw it all up. There never really seems to be a middle ground of ahhhhhhhhh, relaxed. At least, I never saw that place, and believe me, I looked. And just about everyone I’ve met in this business, many many fabulous writers with awards and accolades and NYT bestselling status… all felt that same thing: fear.
It took me a while to realize that the fear was a good thing.
Because the fear means that you have goals, and they’re not static. It means you’re not in a rut. If you don’t have anything to lose, you’re not afraid. And if you don’t have anything to lose, then you’re coasting, and you’re not pushing yourself to be the best person–fireman–police officer–contractor–dancer–singer–writer–mother–father–chicken wrestler… whatever, that you can be. You have to want something, and you have to want more than what you have right now, in this moment, so that you keep striving for excellence. And you have to want it so much, that to not get it strikes fear into your soul. It takes that kind of fear, that kind of self-awareness, to push yourself through the chores that it takes to become great at something. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to settle for merely adequate. I want to be amazing. I may never get there, and that’s okay. I’m going to keep pushing, trying for it.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the wonderful pleasure of being up in Denver, speaking to the Heart of Denver Writers, and one of the best pleasures was that our oldest son, Luke, was able to drive over from his home to visit. He’s a police officer, and a sniper on the SOU team (their name for a SWAT team), and I think I’ve mentioned my kids here a time or twenty-thousand. I’ll tell you something that you don’t really grasp when the kids are little… is how much you’re going to learn from them as they grow. I think I learned much more from them than they did from me, and I’m still learning. I’m in awe.
I'm not sure if this is the exact type of logbook Luke uses, but it's similar. I, uh, think.
I was staying with the wonderful Margie Lawson and her sweet husband, Tom. It amazed me to watch Luke explain what he does and how he practices for his job as they peppered him with questions. The precision that is necessary for a sniper isn’t something that just happens. It’s a constant, systematic practice. A honing of skills. He pulled out his logbook and showed us a sample of the kind of notes he takes every single time he fired a shot through his official sniper weapon. He’ll make notes about things like the type of bullet, the angle of the shot, the distance, the direction and speed of the wind, and any other pertinent conditions. Can you imagine the kind of dedication it takes to record all of the details of every single shot? But it’s something he needs to record in order to know exactly what that gun will do in every possible condition, because one day, someone’s life might be on the line, and he might be the only guy who can save them. He wants to know that he can do that, if the time comes. He strives for excellence and I was in awe. I know all of the guys on that team work extremely hard to be the very best they can be.
And I know that he, like every good cop out there, has a sense of fear of not being ready. They don’t let themselves get complacent and lazy about their practices. Laziness can get you killed. He has to find a balance between extreme confidence that he can do the job–and an awareness of what’s at stake if he isn’t ready. A balance between faith and fear.
In my work, laziness won’t get me killed personally, but it can kill a career. I don’t believe in “good enough.” I believe in “as good as I can possibly make it.” That’s the only kind of effort that matters. That doesn’t mean that I’ll always reach every goal. Even the best fall down sometimes. I have to have utter belief in my voice, in my ability to tell a story, so that I bring life to that story, with a confidence that infuses the reader with pleasure, a feeling that they’ll get as they read that they’re in good hands. But I also have to keep the fear close, and use it, to push myself, to look at the small things and go back, relentlessly, and find ways to improve.
And like anyone in a field of endeavor, there’s a point where you have to let the work stand for itself. You’ll keep improving, and the next work will be even better. But eventually, you have to let go.
I also have gotten to the point where I can recognize how much luck plays into any plan. The only thing I can do is the best possible work I’m capable of doing, but I can’t guarantee that the right editor will see it on the right day when they happen to have the budget to buy it. My work might hit their desk the day after they just spent their budget at auction on another book, and that’s just the luck of the draw. But I do know that if luck should land my direction, I want what hits their desk to be excellent.
So I keep the fear as my ally.
I don’t let it stop me, or freeze me in place–though it’s easy to do. I use it as a necessary evil, as a tool to keep me on my toes, to push myself to the next level. And then the next. And the next. I love the journey of it, see… I love the pushing, the striving, the little moments of victory along the way when I write a scene that I know will make someone laugh or something else that I know will break someone’s heart.
I may fall down, and I may fail, but that’s okay. I’m going to get up, and I’m going to learn from it, and I will grow and be better the next time.
So tell me a goal–doesn’t have to be writing related–that you want to strive for, and tell me the next step you’re going to do to move toward that goal. It can be “learn to bake a cake” and the step is “find a great recipe.” Whatever it is, let me know and everyone who enters will be eligible for a $50 gift certificate from Target or Amazon to spend toward your goal.
Man, this is like a slap on my face. Like saying “Wake up, child.”
Today I spent the whole day and night questioning everything I could possibly think of — about what I want from my future, the decisions I’ve made that led, me through a certain path — and got to NO conclusion whatsoever (don’t you just love that?). I want to write, that much I know. I want to write a novel and I have five whole ideas with plots and characters begging to be developed. BUT, I’m twenty-two years old. That’s pretty much a baby in this business. Younger than a baby, like, an egg. And I’m from Brazil, which is completely different from the US. And I can’t write in Portuguese. Nor I’d know how to write a story that happens in Brazil. (Don’t try to understand, no one ever did). And, umm, I want to write romantic suspense. But how the h am I supposed to meet an American law enforcement officer to flood him with the questions I need? I want to know a bunch of “what ifs”. What if this happened, is it possible for that to happen as a consequence? I know nothing of procedural matters but what I read/watch on tv. And… I’m twenty-two. I have the life experience of a rat. And I don’t even mean an experienced rat. So, I don’t know what to do. Because I can’t think of anything I can do here, now that will help me to get there. And I feel totally lost. Completely. And absolutely terrified.
My goal? One I can keep and know what to do to work towards it? I want to finish the 120 in Super Mario Galaxy before starting Super Mario Galaxy 2. So, to attain that goal, I’m gonna play like crazy π
Barbie, there are several really fabulous procedural books available for writers, which would be a great first place to start. And I believe Lee Lofland, who is a cop, has a terrific book, titled Howdunnit Book of Police Procedure and Investigation for Writers — highly recommended. There are also a couple of great yahoogroups for writers… one is crimescenewriters and the other is Weapons_Info. Search yahoogroups for both of those–there are many experts on each whose sole purpose for being on the group is to answer writers’ questions. Also, you can search the archives in case what you want to know was already discussed. Good luck!
[Quit worrying about your age–just choose a goal and go for it. You have to start somewhere, might as well be here and now.]
I regretted not going to grad school right after I got my Bachelor’s degree and I do want to go back to school eventually. Right now I want to earn and save money so that I can use it towards tuition.
Jane, I can vouch for the benefit of going back later. I went back in my 30s and did a double masters–an MFA in Screenwriting and an MA in Philosophy, and being a little bit older gave me an enormous insight into the professors, what they wanted from me, what they thought was important. Everything seemed so much easier than when I was younger (grasping it, not necessarily the hours that still had to be spent doing the work). Good luck with going back–I hope you get to!
I don’t have regrets per se but I do have a couple of goals in my life:
1) To write and sell and hopefully earn enough to write full-time.
2) To learn how to make homemade vanilla frosting.
The first is a huge-life-changing goal that will take a ton of hard work and dedication, and the second is just a lot of practice. I believe to succeed at anything you have to battle the fear of failure, ridicule, and rejection. I think fear can keep you focused on your goals as long as you keep it in check and not let overtake you. I find that if I do work towards my goal that my fears will be reduced to a dull roar instead of a blasting concert.
Michele, yay on the writing goal! And I love the vanilla frosting goal. I’ll tell you where an amazing recipe for vanilla frosting is… http://www.thepioneerwoman.com — check out her Tasty Kitchen link… I think that’s where it is. It’s the one she makes that has flour in it. I know, flour. weird, but I tasted this and it’s *stunning* and easy.
I would like to loose some weight. I have severe RA and have no cartlidge in my knees so eventually they will have to be replaced. I’m carrying a lot of extra weight and I know it’s hard on my body. I have a very slow metabolism and have to take a steroid daily for my RA so this doesn’t help. So my wish is to loose enough weight to help out my body. I’ve started cutting out sodas and chips, two of my favorites and I’m trying to eat healthier. I hope it helps.
Linda, that’s an absolutely EXCELLENT start. I’m trying to do the same thing, and trying to cut out the same stuff. [I keep slipping back to sodas. It’s my vice.]
I’m having to do more of a pilates types of floor exercise because of my foot (fractured), and it’s not as fast as the cardio results, but it’s starting to work. Little by little, at least it’s progress. Fingers crossed that you’ll be able to do that, too. I know RA can be excruciatingly painful.
I came across a quote the other day, printed it out big and stuck right above my monitor so I look up and see it every time I ease my stiff neck. From American author, Napoleon Hill: Goals are dreams with a deadline.
My goal is to get an agent. I do that by putting aside my fear and querying, and not getting discouraged by the rejections. I also have to write the best I am capable of writing and honing my skills. With each manuscript, those skills get sharper, and the book is better. Short term goal is to get the current WIP out the door. I have requests waiting but I keep going over it because I’m afraid I’ve missed some key element that will garner a rejection instead of an offer.
No, no bad writer! No negative thoughts! Break time over. This puppy is going out tomorrow hell or high water so I’d better get cracking on the last 60 pages of polishing. Later, gator!
YAY, Silver, on the requests!! And dammit, woman, get that puppy out the door! π You’ll be amazing.
I would like to apply to grad school for a Masters/Doctorate degree in Psychology. I have a few schools in mind. My next step is to study and register for the GRE. I hate tests!
yay, Scorpio, and good luck on the GRE. I did several of the practice tests and ended up doing pretty well. (Though I sucked eggs on the math portion, it was still enough to get me in.)
My goals-finish my urban fantasy and my second middle-grade fantasy
Get an agent
Sell to a company like Harlequin or Simon and schuster-rather than the small press, ebook company I’m with now. But at least I’m available in print and on Kindle.
Fear, that I won’t reach the goal before I’m too old to get there. At 68 I have the opposite problem than Barbie. I also need to stop worrying about age. Just look at Betty White, she sure doesn’t let age stop her.
Carol, that’s absolutely right. And Betty would think you were a spring chicken, so what are you waiting for? There are tons of writers your age–don’t you dare let that stop you. What you bring to the table with your age is a gift… go for it. π
My goal this summer is to clean out the spare bedroom. I am such a pack rat. Hate to throw things out.
kmg, we started that goal two years ago, and have slowly, but systematically, purged the majority of the house. I still have the attic to do, which we’ll tackle when its cooler (attic gets so freaking hot this time of year). We want to purge it, and then put in better insulation.
I gotta tell you, it was daunting at first, because four of us had lived here, and all four of us were packrats to a degree. Nothing horrible, but times four is a bit much. But we donated a ton of stuff to the battered women’s shelter (where they have a store, and the proceeds go to help them get set up in their new lives–or sometimes, there were things in there that they needed themselves). We got a tax credit, we ended up helping someone with our “junk” and got a really clean house as a by-product. It was a terrific thing, and I’m so glad we did it. But we bit it off, one small area at a time.
Loved your post today. Most individuals have goals which they hope to achieve someday. That is what makes us so motivated. I hope to travel since this is an experience that is important and unforgettable.
Thanks, Ellie! I’d love to travel, too. What’s the first place you’d love to go?
For me, outside of the US, it would be Scotland/Ireland/UK. Then Italy, France. Then New Zealand/Australia.
Love this post, Toni!
My goal is to not over extend myself in the coming year and take time to enjoy the fruits of my labors. Might sound simplistic, but after coming off the first real nonworking vacation I’ve had in over 2 years, I’ve discovered that taking the time to recharge the creative juices isn’t something I should take for granted.
Lori, that is a great goal–you’ve been working so freaking hard, and you’re so amazing, I know it’s hard to cut back, but really, I think resting and recharging will make all the next sixty billion books you’re about to write a little more fun. π
ditto what lori said! that is my goal too!
My goal right now is to paint some of the rooms in the house and having a hard time getting motivated to do it. I need to take border down and get in gear in my family room. It just make such a mess I’m just having a hard time getting on it. Other things keep coming up. If I am not carful son will be back in school and I want have help
Quilt Lady, I know what you mean about the mess and having a problem getting started. The thing is, you have a deadline, so divide the next couple of weeks into jobs. Job 1, clear the room. Job 2, deal with the border. etc. And that way, it won’t feel so daunting because each week has one job and only one job and then before you know it, the summer will be here and it’ll be done! I want to see before/after pics. π
My goal is to lose 5 lbs. Seems like I’ve had that goal forever. I am trying to cut back on my eating and excerise more.
ack, you and me, both. I keep saying I’m going to exercise more, and I keep slacking. I’m going to apply what I said to Quilt Lady above and make myself divide my week up and exercise a few minutes each day. Even if it’s just stomach crunches and leg lifts, it has to be something!
Toni, this post is so on target! If we don’t take risks we don’t grow!
Right now my short term goal is to pull together the info for my web designer I need to expand my website.
Long term goals; it’s time for me to sit down and review those actually!
Jen, thank you! I actually desperately need to do the same for my website. It’s horrifically out of date and my designer keeps asking me for an update and I keep putting it off. I need to at least update the front page and the schedule and do a FAQ for her. yipes.
Thanks for the very interesting post.
I have two main goals. The first one is getting my driver’s licence. I’m 32 and though I’ve always said I didn’t need it… I DO. I have two sons to take care of and things would be much more easier for me with a driver’s licence. All I need is to take the money and the time for it.
My second goal is to homeschool my older son. he’s 10 and needs some “special’ teaching, somene who’ll take the time to see things over and over with him. I’ll do my very best to be the best teacher he can have… he deserves it !
Thx again for this post !
Good luck, Emmanuelle on two fabulous goals. Getting a DL can be daunting, but you’ll be fine. And I think homeschooling can be such a terrific thing for kids who don’t fit into the pre-determined “box” notion that so much of our educational system uses. I have several friends who homeschool to great success. One of the things I hadn’t realized about homeschooling until they were involved was how much of a community it is, and how often parents ‘trade’ with other parents–A teaches science workshops and B teaches home ec and C teaches math because that’s what the parents happen to excel in. Or they plan field trips together, which is way cool.
Thanks for the encouragements ! I can’t agree more with you on the “box” thing. I’ve already done some research and I was very much surprised to see that many parents used this option too. I’m both anxious and excited. But mostly excited and so is my son Nathan… we’ll be a great working team I know !
Great post. My goal is to start eating healthier and lose some weight.
Crystal, I’m right there with you. Let’s set goals for better eating for the next couple of months and see how we do!
Great post. I admit fear cripples me sometimes when it comes to writing. ItΓ’β¬β’s gotten better, but I know there are things I need to focus on. My biggest writing goal right now is to keep working a ST manuscript IΓ’β¬β’d like to use to when looking for an agent. The first step IΓ’β¬β’ve taken is to keep it in the rotation of projects I am writing on Γ’β¬β future steps will be keeping it there (finish writing), then edit/polish, and then query agents.
Rhonda, I know you can do it. I’ve got complete faith in you. Don’t let the fear paralyze you. Think of it this way, if people say no, you’re no worse off than where you are right now. Because there are always going to be more chances, more story ideas / ways to edit / learning curves. But if you don’t try, you can’t get to that YES that’s waiting out there for you. π
I have my writing goals of getting this blasted manuscript I have sitting on my desktop published, but my bigger immediate goal is to move to my personal Mecca down in South Carolina.
The easy motivation is to be closer to friends, but the harder motivation is to walk away from unfair expectations and assumptions that have been heaped on me for ages.
If I can pull this together, considering I have about a hundred dollars to my name at this time, the fireworks are gonna start flying when people realize that I’ve had the audacity to go and live my own life instead of setting what I want aside to make their lives easier. Stuff the status quo. I’ve had my fill of it! π
JM, good for you, going for what you want, and choosing to live your life. While I’m a big supporter of families and being responsible, etc., yadda yadda, I truly believe that there has to be a balance and that we only have one life, and we have to go for what we dream, what we want. Life is too short to live it making others’ wish lists come true–we have to take our moment in the sun and run with it. Good luck with your dreams!
Amazing post. My goal right now is to get a job at the military base about a 10 minute drive from my house. I’m not in the military, but do work for the federal government and in my chosen field and at my level, jobs are hard to come by. I’ve spent the last 4 yrs commuting at least 2 hrs a day to my job and spending alot of time traveling around the globe for work. Boo-hoo alot of people say, because I’ve got a good job and I’ve been to lots of interesting places. That’s true, but the downside is the exhaustion from travel, the long working hours while I’m abroad, and most important, being away from my family. While I still want to and need to work, I just want to be able to spend more time with my daughter (and still have the income to enjoy all the things we enjoy!).
Kris, you know what? To hell with what other people think. What matters is what matters to you. It’s your life. Your stress. Your family. I don’t see this as you not appreciating what you have, but as a recognition that it isn’t still working for you and a need to find a better solution. That means that someone else, for whom this job is perfect, would then get a chance at it once you find something better for you.
Good luck finding that job–it sounds like you’re truly talented and it’s just a matter of getting your resume in front of the right person!
wow! thanks for all the super kind words…..will you be my mom?? just kidding…I’m too high maintenance!
Loved your post and it was an interesting bit of synchronicity, since I just posted a blog entry about real life fears, as opposed to fictional scares.
And, while I don’t have to worry about ambulances blowing up on me any longer, I will admit that my goal of finishing my novel and actually getting it out the door scares me almost as much.
My next step…and the step I have to keep taking is simple (and terrifying). Butt in Chair. WRITING. Every Day. No matter what. Until done.
Jan, I know what you mean, about how terrifying it it to get the thing out the door. But you’ll be fine. They won’t chop you up and eat you, they won’t send fire breathing dragons. They might say no. So what? You say no to things every day–you pick what you’re going to buy out of a host of products, you wear things you choose based on availability and price. Your choices didn’t kill the other manufacturers–they just appealed to a different customer. Same thing with the book. Get it written. Get it polished. Get it read by friends and/or colleagues to make sure you’re nailing it, and then send it out. Start the next one–because you’ll keep growing and you’ll amaze yourself. And someday soon, an editor is going to pick it up and buy it, because it’s exactly what she’s looking for, right then.
See it. Believe it. Do it.
Great blog!!
My daughter has some summer reading for freshman lit in HS. My goal is to support her by reading Tale of Two Cities, the first of her summer books. OMG! Tough reading. First sentence is one paragraph.
I suppose I should put down the new Nalini Singh and get back to Dickens. =)
Catherine, LOL. I have that same book on my TBR pile and I am SO tempted to abandon my pages today and go read, but I am making myself finish my goal for today, or else I’m going to be kicking myself next week. Good luck with ATofTC…. I never really got into that one, either.
My goal is to learn Japanese on my own and I plan to start this by purchasing Japanese Beginners books.
Jeanette, what a fascinating goal. May I ask why Japanese? It seems like such a challenging language, to me, but such a smart choice of languages to learn, considering the world market.
Hi Toni,
Wow, do I love this post! I felt like you were talking directly to me (and it’s not because I’m writing a character who sounds like he has your son’s job, although that was a cool coincidence!) Anyway, for years I have been wondering when the relief would come. I keep moving the finish line in my head because of some new goal… I like the idea of not thinking in terms of that “moment” of arrival, but rather using fear as your ally to keep striving. Great post!
Laura, thank you! And wow, what a cool serendipity with the characters. (If you ever need a source of information, I have him *completely* used to getting the oddball, “So, this X type of gun has to do this weird thing over here under Y conditions. Will that work?” type of questions.
And everyone, don’t forget Laura’s newest, UNSPEAKABLE, is out RIGHT NOW.
I’d love to be an actual writer some day. And sense I already have the book written, I guess the next step would be editing π
I hope everyone accomplishes their goals! π
Good luck, Chelsea! It sounds like you’re on the right track. π
Hi Toni, thanks for this post. I want to shift gears and change careers and my immediate goal is to try to stop myself from fearing failure. In my current career, I am pretty successful (not trying to toot my own horn, lol) but I just don’t feel passion for it. I need something else or I will become one of those dreaded, remorseful drones. Visualizing success helps.
Jen, that’s such a great thing to recognize, though–that you don’t feel passion for something, and that you’re willing to change fields in order to find that passion. I think so many people let fear stop them there–they’re clinging to what’s in their hands so hard because they’re afraid that what they’ll find might not be as good. And sure, that’s a chance, but what if it’s so much better? And you can live your life so much happier? To me, those questions make it worth the gamble. (I figure if one thing doesn’t work, I can always try something else.)
Good luck!
My goal is to move out west from the Midwest. Its not an immediate goal but it is a lifelong one that I plan to one day accomplish. Starting with narrowing down the city and state.
Donna, what an interesting goal. Do you have any part of the country that you’re leaning toward? Anything specific that you want in the next place to make you happy? A “must-have?”
I hope you get to have your dream!
My goal is to get our house ready to sell in a few years which sounds pretty simple but we have a lot to do. I started clearing stuff out doing little projects that needed to be done and then I got sidetracked but your post reminds me that I need to make a list and get back to work.
My goal is to lose 10 lbs. that have accumulated over the last year. My first step will be starting to walk the dog in the early morning (I’m not a morning person), to beat the heat of the afternoon.
What a great, inspiring post today!
Great post, Toni.
My goal is to earn a Ph.D. I’ve applied, been accepted, and registered for this upcoming semester. The next step is to order my textbooks… all $500 worth.
I’ve been trying to meet my goal, to lose about 15 kgs, since two years ago..or maybe three π
but when i found out that i’m pregnant early this year..i guess i need to ‘postpone’ again to reach the goal *grins*
Wow, Toni! Thanks for sharing about Luke’s work! That’s awesome! My goals are to get this house painted (one floor left to go), to tile the kitchen backsplash and to write the biggest, creepiest book ever!
My goal this year is to lose some weight I would like to lose at least another 50lbs. I’ve already lost 30lbs. I’m trying to watch what I eat. I’m trying to eat more veggies,drink more water,limit my soda intake and I’ve quit eating regular bread now I’m eating 35 calorie bread.
Hey, Toni, my goal is a clean house (clutter). We emptied a storage unit a while back, and boxes are still stacked waiting to be gone through and eliminated. We kind of got stalled when we discovered that not only had a mouse gotten in the unit, but the box contained adorable (?) wriggly little babies. This discovery dampened our enthusiasm for the task at hand, especially after the screams and throwing box out of house and making my husband take it to the dumpster. Well, procrastinate no more. Today, I vow to tackle the first box. Every journey begins with a single step, right?
By the way, thanks to a cool invigorating rainstorm yesterday, my 18 year old in her last year of 4h got motivated and completed her bike test/rodeo, and turned in her completed manuals. Projects are due next Tuesday and Wednesday, so she’s off to a great start.
We are on the goal-oriented path now.
I need my nerves-they keep me on my toes. I don’t want to reach the point to where I’m NOT nervous about my career. I think if I do that, I’ll get complacent and I don’t want that.
And my next goal-it’s the same as it’s been since December. Hitting my weight loss goal. And my plan to do it? Staying on track. Sigh. 27 pounds away. 27 pounds…
im trying to lose some weight and get in better shape to keep up with my 5yr old granchild and my children, im way out of shape and i really want to get abck to living and not stuck with just surviving the day , want to get house cleaned up with all the extra dust collector ,out of here, and then just try to get back to who i used to be /not who i dont like that i become
im want to be able to GO with out some1 going with me, though i have move on that and have been goingon my own some
i dont read others posts before i post my won, but i notice theere is alto fo us wanting to lose weight, anyone thought about starting a group on here of reader/author weight lost group
I’m kind of a hobby photographer. I have really always enjoyed taking pictures and trying to be creative. I took a local class on the basics last yr and enjoyed it alot. Problem is i have ADHD and so i don’t always absorb all the info i’m supposed to. I am a more hands on learner then a book learner. Does that make sense? lol I have a Canon Rebel XT which is the one of the cheaper DSLR cameras you can buy and therefor there is alot of stuff that you need to learn to use it to it’s maximum potential. I want to work on learning more on that because at this point i am almost exclusively using the cheat settings. I also want to buy a lensbaby for it and see how much more i can do with one of those. I did take my sons senior pics but would like to learn to do better with it by the next one graduates in 5 years. I’ve had people tell me i should take pics for wedding etc but i think I’ve got some more learning before i would even want to try that. Anyway that’s my goal. Learn how to use my camera to it’s potential.
Lisa
What do you do when there are sooo many goals to achieve!! How can I pick one, I think my biggest goal needs to be first. I need to empty out my mom’s condo and get it up for sale. I want some of her furniture but I have to sell mine first to make room. Weight loss is always a goal running in the backround!!! Thanks, Sue
looking for anthor job, lookingat sites and the newspaper
im trying to lose weight so iv been cutting out soda and any kind of junk food and eating healthier foods instead.