My Three R's

When I was a kid, there was a saying about going to school to learn the three R's: reading, writing and arithmetic. Ok, I know, I never really got it either. Even though they all have the "r" sound only one of them begins with an "r", so what does this really mean? And how did anyone ever expect kids to learn how to spell? I  don't know. I think all it really means is that I am giving away my age.

In the middle of the night one night last week, I had an epiphany. My own three R's for the writer.  Reading, writing and reaching.

So, I am trying to devise a new way to keep track of my goals and whether or not I am achieving them. I've been using this construed point system, but I keep muddying it up. I thought I would try something different.

Reading. To be a writer, you need to read. If you don't like to read, I hate to tell you this, but you may not write anything which anyone else wants to read. So, I should have a reading goal. I haven't figured it out yet, but it's coming along in my head.

Writing. To be a writer, duh, write, write, write. How much though? How often? And should there be variety? To which I would answer: write lots, write often, write all kinds of stuff. I can do that.

Reaching. To be a writer, you need to reach people with your stuff, you have to share your message and someone out there has to read it. If you don't want others to read your writing that's ok. But then I would say that you are a journaler and maybe not a writer.

So there you have it. The opening lines of Chris Loehmer Kincaid's crash course on setting goals for the writer. Check back in a week and see if I have finalized my syllabus. Also, I’m incredibly sorry if I have stolen these R’s from someone else. I don’t think that I am utilizing rocket science here; this is pretty basic. And if anyone wants to borrow it from me, I would feel honored.