That was one of the prompts at my writing group today. We were celebrating the one-year birthday of the group, so we did a lot of reflecting about the past and projecting about the future. Birthdays are good for that kind of thing.
Here’s what I wrote:
In the next year, I want to keep at this writing thing. I want to work toward developing a regular writing practice. I say work “toward” a disciplined writing practice, because I don’t know that I will ever write every single day for an hour or between the hours of 8 and 10 Monday through Friday. For me, part of the magic of writing is allowing myself to be enchanted by my muse, who is unpredictable and spontaneous with a touch of crazy and fantastic cleavage that always wins my attention.
I will finish my memoir and sell it to a small LGBT publisher. I don’t plan on getting rich. I will help sell my book by organizing book signings and participating in conferences. I will travel to cool, gay-friendly places like Rehoboth, Del., and Provincetown, Mass., and attend Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival where I will dance in the moonlight with the Indigo Girls.
W says that I will be too busy for her when all of this happens. I tell her that she can come with me. This will be a grand adventure for both of us.
I tell a friend that my book will be so wildly popular and successful that I will be asked to attend the Butch Voices conference in California in two years and speak on a panel.
I inform W that she can go to this, too. She smiles real big at the thought of being in a room packed with butch women.
My public speaking experience is limited. As a college freshman, I gave an instructional speech on flossing. And there was the dramatic reading class that I took, reciting lines from Neil Simon plays.
“Have you ever spoken on a panel?” my friend asks.
“No,” I reply. “But I will.”
The Flannel Files 
Love it. No doubt you will be on that panel. As for writing practice, check out William Kenower’s blogs on writing, the Editor’s Blog at Author Magazine. He’s out here in the Pacific Northwest and his work helps me make peace with my muse. http://www.authormagazine.org/editors_blog/?p=4139
Thanks for your kind words and the writing resource.
Best of luck to you!
Thanks! I need as many cheerleaders as I can get.
Will you also be hobnobbing with Ellen and Portia? (I hope so!) LOL!
Seriously, I love how much more confident you have become just in the time I’ve been reading your blog… I can’t possibly be the only one who notices.
You go, girl! Get that book written and published, dance with The Indigo Girls, and speak on a panel! This heterosexual will be rooting for you!
Yes, we will be joining the ranks of the power lesbians.
I suppose that I am more confident. I think it’s the doing … the fact that I’m pushing through and actually writing. Before, I spent a lot of time and energy writing about all of my stumbling blocks to writing such as that small voice inside that kept telling me that I can’t.
Thanks for cheering me on, java. All of the support helps, too.
I truly hope that I get to attend this panel when you make it there!
I will save you a seat, friend.
These are awesome goals. You are a great writer. I know you will do it! When you are done with your memoir, if you want any help with your query letter, write to me. I pride myself my query letters. I may be the only person on the planet who actually enjoys writing cover and query letters.
Thanks for your vote of confidence. I figure I’ll be more likely to follow through with my goals if I think positively and blog about them.
And I just might take you up on your query letter offer. I know that the dreaded query letter is an art form of sorts … just haven’t gotten around to worrying about it yet. Your offer is very generous!