I’ve just figured out what the universe is trying to teach me.
I often say that all planning is science fiction. At work, I’m writing a business case for a new project, and it has a beautiful matrix of risks and strategies to mitigate them. But no matter how creative I am, I know I’ll never imagine all the possible risks that could befall my project. I can only plan around the risks I can conceive. I wish managers wouldn’t pretend this wasn’t the case.
But I didn’t want to write about work, I wanted to write about the rest of my life, the part outside of business hours. It seems that everytime I dream up a new plan, the universe looks at me and laughs. We planned to stay in Canberra for Christmas, but ended up going back to Perth (which was wonderful). We were going to move into our new house but fate intervened, making such a move completely inadvisable. So we are still in our cosy garden flat. I keep trying to organise dreamboarding sessions, but the universe won’t let my buddies and I schedule it. I dropped down to four days a week to study and write, and now it seems the universe wants me to go into management instead. My boss is retiring and I am being strongly encouraged to apply for his job. None of these things are bad at all. It’s just that every plan I had for this year got shredded. Except one.
Yesterday I got some big news. Not unwelcome. Not devastating. Maybe even wonderful. But the last piece of my planned 2009 has just been scrubbed out.
I can hear the universe giggling.
I want to retaliate. I want to build a grand, shiny new plan to fit this new landscape. But I think the universe is telling me I’m too attached to plans. I want goals, and steps and things to plan and save and look forward to. But honestly, I don’t have the imagination. I can’t even begin to speculate what this future might look like.
I need a first step. Jamie’s wish prompt is just the right one. As I look over the wreckage of my plan, I’m picturing it as ripped up paper, charred and scrunched. There’s only one part I’d like to hold onto tightly, one piece to be picked up, flattend out and dusted off. I do not want my writing course to go to waste. In it, there is a piece of my heart’s calling. I want to get something published – just an article in a magazine, I don’t care who reads it. But I want someone to pay me for something I write.
That is too big for a first step.
I think I am wishing to form an accountability group. A group I can sit and drink tea with, while we discus our projects and our progress. A gentle group, who won’t mind as the universe re-writes my plans.
What step are you wishing to take?
On the end of my rope 
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
here’s wishing you success in publishing your words.
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also!
May your words be published and the check be grant. May your writer’s group form effortlessly and may the Universe smile at your success. 🙂
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish also.
You know, as I was reading your post I kept thinking, “This is so beautifully written. Kazari really is a wonderful writer” and then ta-dah, your wish appeared.
An accountability group would be marvelous. *And* I also bet you have something right now that you could send. Make us your interim accountability group and take a first step. You can do it. <>
Agree with Jamie on this one. I, believe it’s possible and the group sounds wonderful.
John Lennon reminded us when he said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Seem to fit, you perfectly.
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I lovingly and with intention wish for her also!
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish also.
So Mote It Be.
Love & Light
LadySilverOak
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also!
I wish you loads of writing success!
As Kazari wishes for herself so do I wish. I too am a planner and find it hard to let go of my plans, even though some of the best things that have happened to me have been unexpected. But here’s something that I hope can help make your wish happen—I am a writer by trade, so let me know if I can help you in any way (e.g. tips on how to write query letters etc). Also, i’d urge you to get yourself a goal buddy. It’s akin to an accountability group but on a one to one basis and I think it works better.
c
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Cheers to your future in being published! Make sure you let us know when it happens and I know it will happen!
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
I understnd where your coming from. It seems like I have put things off so often in my life. I am doing the same now – keeping pieces for myself – stubbornly!!! May your wish be granted hon!
Namaste, Sarah
You definitely have the “writing thing” going on. Being published with a paycheck can’t be too far behind:)
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
As you wish for yourself, I wish for you also (and/or even something greater!)
Just a quick aside about getting paid/published, from my own tiny little perspective in the world doing this kind of thing, it seems to be very much as game of statistics. Really. It seemed weird to me to first discover it, but… So the more volume of stuff I send out, the more percent of stuff gets accepted. The less I send, the less percent accepted. It ended up seeming like it had very little to do with how I evaluated my work (though that is important to me still), and much more to do with how many eyes it got in front of (and maybe the mood of that particular editor on that particular day :)).
Sending lots of miracles your way and inspirations to keep going!
k-
The universe is giggling because she has something so marvelous up her sleeve for you, you can’t even imagine!
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
While you are amassing your accountability group, go ahead and wish as big as you can – you can definitely get published if you choose. A friend set out to “collect” 100 rejection slips, and now makes all her money via the pen. You just have to brave those inevitable rejections (not because you’re not good, but because they are inevitable.)
As Kazari wishes for herself I so wish for her as well.
Oh, my, I was listening to this podcast today and I totally thought maybe it was for you:
http://www.getknownnow.com/podcast/sfb-gkn-podcast.rss
Check out the last one on the page, “… insider tips on how to crack the major magazines by writing a personal essay … ”
hugs,
Jamie
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
As kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also
Wow, I woke up this morning to find all this amazing support splattered over my blog!
Thankyou so much!
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
An accountability group is a great idea, as is submitting often. If you are interested in a crit partner or beta reader, I am available. I’ve done this with others and have found it mutually beneficial.
You’re clearly a talented writer and I just know publication is in your future!
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
I came here via Jamie’s site. May I say that I understand your frustration.
I’ve been setting up myself to become more involved in my persuit to be a writer for years. But Life keeps steering me away. However, I learn not to get too upset and looked at it as opportunities which would enrich my writings.
This year I’m getting more organized in a sense that I’m making my blog and fellow bloggers to be my accontability group. I wrote in my blog: Now that I’ve announced my plan in my blog, I’m to live up to it.”
Depends on your plan , I’ll be very happy to help in whatever ways you see fit.
Last but not least, trust yourself that you can do it! 😉
I think that visualization works. You want to be published. You ask of it. You write. It will happen.
Me too.
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
An accountability group … neat idea.
Getting published ~ you go, girl!
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
I think both the goal to get something–anything–published and to form an accountability group are wonderful. 🙂 I wish you much success.
As Kazari wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Agree with the others (belatedly). Planning is odd. But so is not planning. But I think you and the universe are good friends, so it will all work out, because of your attention and willingness.
Accountability and flexibility can play nice together.