Resolutions 2009: Requirements and Rules

Yesterday I shared the first of three parts of my plan for developing a creative life in 2009, basically the initial set-up for why I am approaching the new year in this way… the cozy part where I get honest with myself and think broadly about what this plan means.

But again, I can’t fight my analytical side, so my plan had to have some hard details — a set of requirements that I could quantify and measure, as well as a set of rules to guide me from the start.

Requirements

I would love my goals to simply be to read and write more, but I know I’ll need a lot of structure if I want to do this right and hold myself accountable. Ambiguity creates room for excuses, so I’m calling these “requirements” intentionally… “goals” is surprisingly lofty terminology, when I think about it. So, the requirements for my creative life in 2009 are as follows:

• I will read one book each month. Not 12 books total at any time during the year – at least one each month so I am consistently immersed in someone else’s writing.
• I will write at least 10,000 words each month, of any combination of journaling, blogging, poetry, fiction, etc.
• I will post to my blog on average* at least three times per week.
• I will attend four writing-related events, of any size and style, at any location.
• I will buy a new Moleskine and fill it with doodles and ideas during the year.
• I will pay at least four visits to cultural attractions, such as the art museum.
• I will sing and/or surround myself with music everywhere it is “appropriate” – in the car, at home, at work. (And in the grocery store if Carl can handle that.)
• I will add at least 200 songs to my iPhone. This is arbitrary and probably exceeded by 99% of iPod users on their first sync, but I need a number, so there.
• I will attend four musical events. Concerts are acceptable, but festivals with multiple bands/shows may only count as one event.

So, by the end of 2009, I will have achieved the following:

• 12 books read.
• 120,000 words written.
• 156 blog posts shared.
• 1 Moleskine decked out in doodles.
• 12 creative events attended.
• Many hours of music enjoyed.

Of course, the hope is that by seeking structure in a few creative areas, I will become more open to other creative endeavors. Perhaps by the end of 2009 I’ll be attempting painting, sewing, or a musical instrument. No promises or requirements for that, but it would be a great side effect and indicator of success.

Rules

These are somewhat overarching, and I could call some of them rights as much as I can rules. I believe one of the greatest creative barriers is that of personal permission… I have failed to prioritize creativity in my life, because I haven’t given myself permission to let it matter to me like it once did. With the right rules in place, I will have no choice but to refuse distractions that may have derailed my creativity before:

• This is not about publishing, it’s about creating. There was a time when I had bylines in newspapers. This is not that time, and that is not the goal.
• I may not accept ANY new volunteer work. NONE. I currently serve in four volunteer roles, and it is already more than I can handle. I love volunteering, but it’s the top competitor for my free time, and consequently, my creative time.
• Every week, I must schedule my creative time to the best of my ability and honor that time as if it is a job with a very intolerant boss.
• I may not buy any new books until I have met my quota for the year. I own many books that I have never read, so it’s time I give them some attention. Books received unexpectedly as a gift are allowed, but I may not request books as a gift.
• I must revisit my planning document at the beginning of every month and create a report on my progress.

Tomorrow, I will share the final two segments of my plan: resources and rewards. In the meantime, feedback is welcome on the requirements and rules — are they aggressive enough? Too much to tackle? It’s too late to change them (I have released them to the blogging gods after all), but I always appreciate honest feedback when it comes to this kind of thing. Thanks to everyone who read the first post and shared comments on the blog or Twitter!

* Update on blogging requirement: With some thoughts from some smarties on Twitter (thanks especially to @susiewee), I am shooting for an average of three blog posts weekly, so I can accommodate spurts in blogging and times when I just don’t have a moment to blog or am away.