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Goal setting advice from the late John Updike

Guest post by: Ross Fattori

Article Overview: The importance of setting specific goals

Goal setting advice from the late John Updike

In 1996, American author, John Updike, was interviewed by Elenor Wachtel at the CBC, shortly after the publication of his novel, "In The Beauty of the Lilies."

The CBC re-broadcast that interview last weekend to commemorate the author’s recent passing. It was a wide-ranging interview that touched upon Updike’s personal life, his writing career and the recurring themes that appear in his novels and short stories.

When asked about his success as a writer, Updike had some pointed advice to share with listeners. As a young, aspiring writer, he thought it was important to choose a specific goal, as opposed to a vague and fuzzy one. His aim was to make his living and to support his family from his writing.

As a prolific novelist, short story writer, poet, book reviewer, a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and a regular contributor to the New Yorker, Updike obviously met and surpassed his writing goals many times over.

Updike’s advice on writing could apply to any profession in life or business. You are more likely to attain a specific goal than a fuzzy one. Over the years, I’ve heard many people claim that they want to be a writer or that they’d like to start a business.

These are fine and noble aspirations, but without a clear goal in mind, there’s a good chance that you’ll never rise above amateur or mediocre status. Rarely do you hear people who achieve goals in life say, “Oh, it just happened by accident.”

Have you got clear, specific goals for your career or business? Do you know where you want to be in, say, five or ten years? Take the time to reflect, assess and plan; it will be time well spent.

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Article Tags: american author, aspirations, aspiring writer, author john, book reviewer, cbc, elenor, goal in mind, goals in life, good chance, john updike, lilies, new yorker, personal life, prolific novelist, pulitzer prize, short story, story writer, wachtel, writing goals



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