Brick by Brick: If your goal is to build the Great Wall of China, or write your History report (sorry), or become a writer, you may have trouble getting started if the task seems too big!

Try these goal-setting methods and see what happens.

1. Break your main goal up into smaller tasks:

Building a small section of the Great Wall doesn't seem half as hard as covering all of China, right? Neither will your History report, or your goal of being a writer, if you give yourself smaller tasks!

For example: What if all you had to do this week was:

· Write one paragraph. Or,
· Find out about the Scholastic Writing contest

2. Set reasonable deadlines for each task:

If the deadline for the Scholastic Writing Contest is January, count backwards to see how many weeks you have until then. Use this as your guideline to break up your task so you know how much you need to accomplish each week.

HINT: Give yourself a few extra weeks/days before the actual deadline.

For example:

GOAL: Enter the Writing Contest: Deadline January

· December: (Remember this is already a busy month!) Put it in the mail!
· November: Have two people (mom? a teacher? a friend ?) read my story
      and check for errors.
      Type the final copy!
· October: Write the ending.
· September: Write the middle
· August: Write the beginning
· July: Brainstorm ideas. Pick the one I'll enjoy working on the most!
· June: Check for Writing Contest rules and deadlines.
      (Be sure it's o.k. with your parents to go on-line.)

Now write these goals and dates on your calendar, and check your progress each month!

You'll be amazed at what you've accomplished.

3. Don't give up! If you need to move a deadline, do it.

Life has a way of creating other challenges and obstacles. Go easy on yourself. No one is grading you. (Well, maybe your History teacher!) Writing is fun, remember?