When is it a goal, and when is it a dream

So here are two items from Lynn's list...

I want Jill and the gang from The Tourist Trap mysteries to be part of a movie deal this year.

I want to write all three books in the new Angie Turner mystery series about a farm-to-fork chef and set in Southwestern Idaho (my old stomping grounds.)

Which one is a dream and which one is a goal? And why?

The first one is a dream. Mostly because I have NO CONTROL over the outcome. I can send queries to film agents and do a lot of wishing, but that's about it.

The second one is a goal. I CAN control what I write and what I turn into my publisher.

Why am I talking about this? Because I think newbie writers set themselves up for disappointment by goaling for things they have no control over. You can't goal to make a list or to win a contest. You can goal to enter the contest and write the best darn book possible.

I'm seeing a lot of goal setting that more dream based. Now don't get me wrong, I believe in the power of dreams. I love the story of Jim Carey and how he wrote himself a multi-million dollar check postdated years in the future for acting services. That's putting your wishes into the universe.

The goal is working your butt off in creating today's wins to build up to tomorrow's success.

So what's your goal for 2017? I'm focusing on consistency. In my writing life and in my personal life.