Prepare for the 20s!

Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together. – Leonardo DaVinci

A new decade. The Twenties.  What do you envision for it? Could this be THE decade where your work went to new heights of creativity and production? Where you started to fully accept that you are an artist capable of making brilliant things happen? Where many others started seeing this as well? Where you felt many moments of incredible joy in the creation, collaboration, and experience of making new work work happen.
 
You’ve got 3650 days ahead to make this a reality. And it begins January 1, 2020. Here is some advice to consider worth trying: 

– Set a simple, short goal for January 1, 2020– For example: write a monologue, write a one page diary entry for a character, write a ten minute scene, read a play… Set a goal of something you are virtually SURE you can accomplish.

– Set a one week goal for the first week of January: share a scene in New Works Lab, write 5 pages of a potential television/film script, write for seven consecutive days for at least ten minutes, read the four “classic” Chekhov plays (arguably Seagull, Three Sisters, Cherry Orchard, and Uncle Vanya), organize a reading of some play with some friends. Set a goal of something you believe you can accomplish, but maybe haven’t been able to do so yet (or at least consistently).

– Set a one month goal for January: write a ten minute play that you feel confident submitting to places, write the first act of a new play/ a one act, write for thirty one consecutive days for at least ten minutes, read the entire works of Annie Baker. Set a goal for something you may not know you can do with certainty, but believe is possible if you really dig down into some inner strength, and so forth.

– Set a three month goal (January- March).

– Set a one year goal. This one should be something you vow to do. So much so that if it’s December 1st, 2020- then you’ll do TONS of work- NO MATTER WHAT- to get it done. For example “Write my tv pilot/ film script/ full length play” “Have a work of mine produced (if one else does it- then I will)” “Have written a thousand pages of material by end of year.” Make sure it’s something that’s within your control, and something you could theoretically do (if/hopefully not needed) in the last couple weeks of the year.

A few things to consider:

1. Reward yourself for each time you achieve a goal- IRRESPECTIVE of how you felt it turned out. Many people would say that behavior is much more likely to continue when rewarded. 

2. Send these goals to someone else (or multiple people). I would obviously be more than happy to receive your goals- but the key is share it with someone who will genuinely want/celebrate you achieving them! 

3. When you realize you missed a goal. Be proud that you’re still aware you have these goals, and that you even tried in the first place. THEN, start with a simple goal again (e.g. a one day goal), and begin the journey again!!! 

4. Find a community(ies) which will celebrate, support, and encourage you to keep reaching these goals. A community that will help pick you up when you fall short, celebrate when you succeed, and hold you accountable. You ALL have at least one community like this with the studio. We’re always here for you.