Sorry, I have let things drift over the last few days. I need a plan. This is, of course, the same thing you have heard me say over and over, hence the title, so won’t be a surprise, or a revelation of much importance. I have a few days off next week so I will make myself a plan for the rest of the year. Things seem to go better with plans. I should have that made into wall paper for the ceiling of my bedroom so I can indoctrinate myself each morning as I wake up.
I have probably covered my great planning success for junior rugby several years ago, when I sat down, planned and actually carried out more work than I have ever managed before or since. Same goes for my great poetry plan a few years ago. It seemed to work. It may work again this year. I am going to set a half day aside to do some planning. Of course, I will then have a decision to make – whether to keep it secret so that nobody knows if I fail, or to announce it to make it harder for me to fall short. Both plans have their merits.
I follow the SMART Model, which is . . . er . . . Something, Measurable, Something, Something and Timely. The “T” is hard to fit in to the general plan. If I can’t remember what it all stands for this could be more of a problem than I was thinking. Looking it up I find it is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely/Time-Bound. As I said, it’s hard fitting in the “T”.
The process starts with me saying I must start planning tomorrow and proceeds as I write out some sheets with space for times and targets. Then the fun begins when I start making up numbers to fit. They have to be higher than the ones I am already achieving, but not so high that they prove impossible. I’ve had 22 poems accepted in the last six months, but am faltering at the moment. I need to plan for another 33 in the next nine months just to keep the average going. It’s already looking like hard work . . .
When all else fails, turn to cake!
Congratulations on having so many poems accepted in the last six months! Your explanation of the SMART model made me laugh so much. Thank you!
🙂 I have to laugh at it or I’d go made. 24 hours after writing it down I’ve forgotten to of them again. Old age and acronyms are not a natural match.
I can’t do acronyms. 😀
They are tricky things. A bit like PIN numbers and passwords.
If I had had that number that number of poems accepted, I would probably be looking round for some laurels to rest on. I admire your continuing ambition.
I just blanked in two competitions – there is always room for improvement.
Very impressive number of poems accepted in the last six months. Cake is definitely in order.
I don’t know if you have a similar expression but we say that when gorse is out of flower kissing is out of fashion. Same goes for cake. If gorse ever changes its flowering habits we will be in trouble!
No, we do not have that saying here.
I’d have thought shorter poems were more difficult to write?
Haiku are nearly impossible to write, but tanka, with five lines and fewer rules, aren’t too bad. 🙂
I’m currently contemplating a villanelle but am hoping the thought wears off.
Having 22 poems accepted in the last six months sounds like an impressive number, and cause for a celebration! I will still be waiting for that book of poetry. 🙂
They are not, in general, long poems, and I’m going to have to write a lot more before I have enough good ones for a book. I’m working on it though. 🙂