Guest Post

Guest Chick: Rhonda Blackhurst

We Chicks are absolutely delighted to welcome Rhonda Blackhurst for a visit today. She writes the Melanie Hogan mysteries, with her beauty salon protagonist, and a little chickie tells me there’s a new cozy series in the works!

Goal Setting: Then and Now

Lessons in goal setting began way back in high school, with the suggestion of setting short-term and long-term goals: 30 days, one year, five years, ten years. But I couldn’t get past the short-term goal of what to wear the next day, hair up or down, who to hang out with that weekend, or even getting through that hour of class. College fit in those goals somewhere—kind of—but not in the top ten.

Then I saw the movie Absence of Malice, a news/courtroom drama starring Paul Newman and Sally Field, addressing the issues of what’s legal and what’s moral. After seeing that—multiple times—I was determined to become a hot-shot reporter in New York City. Moment of truth: getting Paul Newman’s attention may have encouraged that “goal” just a little. Ironically, writing and the legal field are the paths my life took, but not until after some enormous detours. Like driving off a cliff-type detours.

I began writing when I was four. Unfortunately, it was with crayons on knotty pine walls in a corner behind my dad’s recliner. I mean, come on! Where else would a four-year old write when she has something to say? When my parents caught on, I was taught my first “rule” of writing—don’t write on the walls. Now I teach my granddaughters the same rule.

In my teens, I spent hours with a notebook and pen sitting on our dock by the lake or in our fishing boat, dreaming, sketching, and writing poetry. I tried my hand at journalism by writing for a couple of newspapers, but my heart was in fiction. Especially after I began reading steamy, bodice-ripping romance novels at far too early an age. Rosemary Rogers’ Sweet Savage Love, Dark Fires, or Wicked Loving Lies anyone? Wow! **Fanning self** After all these years—we won’t say how many years since I’m a mystery writer who loves making people guess—I still remember the names of the characters, Steve and Ginny. That’s when I realized the importance of writing memorable characters. Fast forward…

I was a law enforcement professional for 23 years, retiring from the Adams County (CO) DA’s Office two years ago. Oh, the ideas I got there for my mysteries! Stranger than fiction, by far. After my boys flew the nest, I picked up my passion for writing and became a nighttime novelist. While working a full-time job, I had little time to write, so nabbing those minutes and making the most of them was crucial.

Enter retirement. Goal setting, a huge part of working in the legal field, stayed in my rearview mirror along with my job. I thought I’d have all the time in the world to write, so goals weren’t necessary, right? Oh, so wrong! Since I had more time, I kept putting off writing until after I finished (fill in the blank with any “important” task). Life moved in and squeezed out any left-over time. I learned scheduling writing time was mandatory if I was going to live my dream as an author. I still fail miserably, but I know the train I need to board to get back on track. I’ve even taken to purchasing Plottr and use it to outline my novels, my newsletters, and gulp! My goals. Incentives for meeting said goals don’t hurt either. I’ll do anything for a latte and dark chocolate. Now I’ve had to add a lifetime goal—don’t get so caught up in the planning that I forget to write.

If I could write a letter to younger me, it would go something like this:

Dear Younger Me,

You’re not a unique specimen who doesn’t need goals. The best Christmas gifts you’ve ever received, a typewriter and a Notebook for Writers—that one that gave you such joy because it made you feel like a writer? They were meant to encourage you to become what was so important to you. Not to put aside for later, because later might never come. Stop reading trashy romance novels and watching endless soap operas. You’re not going to be a romance writer. You couldn’t even read or watch romance with anyone else in the room without turning red, for crying out loud. And that old famous saying, Write drunk, edit sober? Yeah, do yourself a favor and don’t do that. You’ll thank the older you for that wise bit of advice because you’ll save yourself heaps of humiliation. And for the love of all things holy, stop wasting time and brain cells planning things that don’t matter.

PS: When you reach a certain age, it’s okay to stop setting ten-year goals. You might not make it there anyway, and you want to keep your goals attainable.

Are you a goal setter? If so, what are some of the short- and long-term goals you’ve set for yourself?

When a fitness center is a locale for both health and murder, exercise enthusiasts must weigh their odds of the outcome.

Shear Misfortune is the 7th and final book in the Melanie Hogan mystery series. 

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39 thoughts on “Guest Chick: Rhonda Blackhurst”

  1. I set goals but keep them in perspective. That’s why I remind myself, “Goals are my servants, not my master.” Fabulous letter to self!

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  7. Welcome, Rhonda! Thanks for being here and for this thoughtful–and thought-inspiring post!

    I confess, I don’t typically set goals for myself unless not doing so will disappoint someone. (Evidently, I have no problem disappointing myself lol!) BUT I think goals are great and my goal is to start setting goals!

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  9. I’ve always been a goal-oriented person, so much so that I sometimes have a hard time simply sitting and enjoying the moment. But I do think it’s that attribute–along with stubbornness and perseverance–that allowed me to become a published author.

    Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today, Rhonda, and congrats on the new series!

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  10. Every Sunday I list what I want to get done in the coming week. When there’s a lot on it, I get it all done. But when it’s a light week, it tends not to get done. It’s a mystery for the ages.

    Glad you visited us today, Rhonda! Congrats on all your success!

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  11. Great post, Rhonda! I set goals too, and I used to flesh them out with action steps. Way too obsessive compulsive. Now I set goals and try to keep them realistic. I miss seeing you now and then! Best wishes with your books! Can’t wait to read Shear Misfortune!

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  13. Hi Rhonda, nice to meet you–and thanks for visiting us Chicks today. Congrats on Shear Misfortune! I have to say, I love the idea of goals–but I tend to think of them in glowy, sweeping terms. They’re more dreams, I guess. (Except for actual hard deadlines.) The short-term steps are a little trickier. I have to keep them very short (like, daily orweekly), because I am easily discouraged. And I change them on a dime. Big goals are fun to think about, though.

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  14. Thanks, Rhonda, for the fun insights! I need goals or a project in progress, but I have a need/hate relationship with deadlines. My husband just retired so current goal is keeping him out of my hair.

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  16. Great post, Rhonda! I love your letter to your younger self. I once wrote a letter to my future self about my goals and where I saw myself in five years. Then I misplaced it…LOL! Maybe someday I’ll find it. I use a Panda Planner now. It has been really helpful as they break down goals into month, week and priorities for the day. I’ve found I’ve become more productive since using it. Love your books and hope to see you at an event or SINC meeting soon! 🙂

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  18. Hi Rhonda! I have set tons of goals over my lifetime. Fortunately, I accomplished some of them, but there are still a whole heck of a lot that I’ve still got to do. LOL. Great blog post! 🙂

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