Last time I wrote about setting reasonable goals for yourself. That advice still holds. But this time, let’s talk about your wishes. It’s important for a writer to dream about what could be. After all, that imagination is why you became a writer in the first place.

Perhaps you dream about one day being a NY Times bestseller. Good dream. Bad goal. You have no control over that, so you don’t want to make it a New Year’s resolution. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sit there and plan out your speech for the award you’ll win or daydream about other exciting topics.

The trick is to not let that hoping and wishing overtake your hard work. Don’t think that just by dreaming it, you’ll achieve it. That’s not how it works. That’s not how anything works.

It’s good to have dreams, hopes, and wishes, but make your goals achievable and work your ass off until you make them happen. Don’t expect the world on a silver platter.

Now go get back to work!