The fear of getting what you want...

That title seems like a misnomer, doesn't it? But it's so true. Not that I've gotten all I want yet - not by a long shot - but it's still a damn scary thing to set small, incremental goals and then to start seeing them come to fruition. I know there will be bumps and ruts in the road, and that's okay. I knew when I signed on for this business that it wouldn't be smooth sailing all the time, and I'm ready to face that. Or at least I hope I'm ready. But the further I go, the more I wonder if I'm in over my head. Will I be able to handle the course I've set? What if I've bitten off more than I can chew? (And yes, my goal in this blog is to use as many cliches as possible - take that, Tara! ;)) My excitement always seems to be buried beneath panic. Before I get excited about good news, I start trying to think my way through any possible complications. I don't know if that's my way of managing my expectations in case something goes wrong, but for today, I'm going to try to be happy about the good and let the rest take care of itself. It always does anyway.

How do you handle the possibility of getting what you want, whether it's in your personal or professional life? Do you always look for the potential problems before you let yourself be happy, or is that just me?

Also...please stop back on Monday, April 5th, when I'm interviewing the AWESOME JA Saare's heroine Rhiannon Murphy, necromancer and all-around kickass chick from Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between! Rhiannon puts me in my place a few times, I have to say. ;)

Come goal with me...

Inspired by the lovely Dee Tenorio (who will be here answering a few questions August 3rd!) I decided to write down a few goals, hoping others would join me. They can be about anything. Writing, health, financial, personal...anything you'd like to say sooner rather than later that you've accomplished. In a few months, we can check in and see how we've done. Since I don't make New Year's resolutions, I thought this would be less stress and more fun. And goals don't have to imply drudgery, either. If what you want most right now is a tattoo, that counts!

I'm going for one goal right now, though I have others. Others I can't control, mostly, though I can take steps assuming an eventual outcome. But still, I'm not in control of those things. This one, I am.

I want to always tell engaging stories that MATTER. To me, first, and to readers second. I never want to lose sight of the people whose tales I've chosen to tell, and I want to always tell those stories honestly. No pulling punches, even if the content hits too close to home.

What about you? What are your goals?

*One more thing to report: I submitted my second story! I am now a multi-submitted author. Doesn't have the same ring as multi-published, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere! ;)