Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

A few years ago I got it into my head to create one grand Life List for myself, listing everything I wanted to learn, do, see, and experience in my lifetime, if possible. I figured the first step to any of it was to actually think about it and write it down.

There is magic in writing things down. You are telling yourself this is what matters. This is what you think. This is what you love.

I separated my List into three categories, on three separate pieces of paper:

1. Skills I want to learn
2. Places I want to go
3. Experiences I want to have

Because of my List, I’ve learned to horseback ride. Cook a fancy dinner for company. Make fire from scratch by rubbing two sticks together.

Because of the List, I’ve backpacked in Iceland, stood beside Charlemagne’s throne in a little city in Germany, gone to my first real Broadway show (and as you can see in my bio, actually got to appear on Broadway last year–and that wasn’t even on the List).

Because of my List, I’ve written a novel (or seven), gotten an agent (yay, Laura Rennert), found a publisher (thank you, Knopf). I’m working on a screenplay now and today I just started another novel and the List goes on and on.

Because one of the secrets of creating a Life List is that as each item gets checked off, you add a new one. You’re never done. And isn’t that true, List or no List? We see new things we’d like to do, hear about new places to go, realize because of something that’s happened that we’d be better off knowing how to change a tire or invest in the stock market or sword-fight like someone from the middle ages.

So here’s my challenge to you: Sit down for an hour tonight, or first thing tomorrow morning, and ask yourself:

1. What do I still want to learn?
2. If money and time were no object (you need this to dream big), what places on earth would I love to see?
3. What are all the things I can think of right now that I’d love to do during my lifetime, no matter what other people think?

It helps not to organize your thoughts. Just start with a clean page and write, write, write. You can be neat later. You can be practical much, much later. For now, just think and dream. See what it is you actually want out of this life. See who it is you really are, underneath that rational, grown-up exterior.

And when you think you’ve listed everything that’s on your mind right now, pick one item off of each list. Want to learn to speak French? Take the first step. Look on-line at your community college catalog. Scan your library’s website for tapes you can check out. Or even rent a French movie to put yourself in the mood. It doesn’t matter how small or large the step is–what matters is taking it at all.

The point is, the dreaming is great, writing it down is even better, but it’s still up to you to walk forward. Do just one thing every day or at least every week on your own behalf. More things are possible than we know–so let’s practice finding out.

And I’d love to hear about some of your Life List items. Send in whichever one you’re going to work on first, then let us know over time how you’re progressing.

I’ll start: since I can now check off, “Have a novel published,” I’m going to add, “Have a screenplay made into a movie.” It may take a while. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Meanwhile, let’s celebrate each other’s Lists. It’s more fun when we’re all in this together.

Technorati Tags: Life List, Goals, Goal-Setting, Resolutions, Motivation, Life, Living, Success, Planning

Posted on Wednesday, April 26th, 2006 at 7:29 pm under Writing, Life, Articles . Subscribe to responses: RSS 2.0 Comment Feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.