At the Commonwealth Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), they sometimes call for BHAGs – Big Hairy Audacious Goals that researchers are keen to aim for.
Put simply, if the Powers That Be think a big, multi-discipline research proposal has merit and it aligns with the organisations research goals, it gets funding. There’s a hint of criteria (well, a whole lot actually, not to mention reams of red tape), but the point is, the organisation is encouraging Big Ideas – and supporting them.
Which got me thinking about my own BHAG. In fact, I didn’t even realise I had one until I gave it some thought.
So here it is: It’s intertwining most of my novel ideas into a huge overarching story – about 12 novels all up; some standalone, others part of a 4-part saga – all linked in some way.
I figure that if I can get one published and it does well, I’ve got a dozen more books with a ready market.
If it doesn’t do well, then I’ve got a dozen other books that don’t need the first one to work. Win-win.
I guess it’s hardly World Domination, but it’ll do as a first step.
What’s your Big Hairy Audacious Goal? I’m keen to hear!
Oh I’ve got plenty of them. My problem is keeping my goals and ambitions in check to the point that they are achievable. As far as I’m concerned, anything that is at least novel length, is a BHAG. Sure, longer than novel length is definitely ambitious but a single book, from start to finish, is a seriously big project.
I have three YA fantasy novels that I’ve got in various stages of completion; and am starting a new non-fiction book. those are all my BHAGs. I don’t have a massive, multi-book scheme like you. 12 novels? That’s not big. Thats… HUGE.