Malcolm van Delst

Creating 2019

It’s terrifying to share dreams, not daydreams or sleep dreams but things you want. In the spirit of conquering fear, here are my 2019 dreams.

I suppose there’s also a fair amount of fear in revealing that you’re a dork who does these sorts of worksheets. <exaggerated shrug> I am what I am.

This comes from a worksheet my brother gave me several years ago. The first part of the worksheet leads you through a reflection on the year that passed and the second, the part I’m sharing with you, leads you through “creating” the coming year.

If you want a copy of the sheet, let me know in the comments. It has mostly worked for me, by the way. Timelines have been longer and goals have changed, but that’s probably a function of beginning these exercises and having never planned my life in any meaningful way.

Creating 2019

  1. One outcome I would like to have in 2019: 
    1. A review in a major publication or an invite to read at a major festival
  1. That is important to me because: 
    1. It would be acknowledgement for my work
  1. Ask yourself at least 3 more times why it is important to you. That is important to me because:
    1. exposure and therefore book sales
    2. one review or appearance leads to another or more, which leads to acknowledgement of my skill. Talent is another thing entirely so I’m going to focus on skill
    3. eventually, TV series development
  1. Speculation: take the last answer you arrived at and look from there. If it were fulfilled, what would your work and/or life look like at the end of the year? If you got what you wrote, and got it fully, what would be there at the end of the year that is not there now?
    1. I’d be writing my ass off, hopefully with a coach or editor, finishing the book for the series
    2. I’d be interviewing actors and/or directors with the producer or producers
    3. I’d be talking to people to make money to produce the series with the producer or producers
    4. An editor or coach would be there
  1. Allow yourself to speculate and make note of several outcomes (try to list at least 10). The more specific they are, the better. And, don’t try to settle on one at this point.
    1. Working on a team to make the series
    2. Leading a team to make the series
    3. Getting jobs for Ella and/or friends who want them
    4. write ups in tv industry magazines and web sites
    5. more social work; eg. Work in a team
    6. someone or someones to bounce ideas off of and to offer edit suggestions
    7. a writing team to work with
    8. a writing team to lead
    9. interviews in tv industry shows and in or on other shows, like breakfast TV type ones
    10. work with a storyboarder
  2. One, two or three outcomes from the above list that most represent the fulfillment of what is important to me:
    1. working with a team
    2. leading a team
    3. working with friends and people excited by my story
  3. This step adds the greatest amount of empowerment to this process. Get out your calendar and schedule times to do those things that will result in your achieving the outcome you selected. At this time you may not know all that needs to be done. However, if you have time scheduled, you can reflect and determine what actions are appropriate at that time.
    1. finish the books
    2. get an editor to work with
    3. design the next cover
    4. hire a layout artist again