What Do You Do Now?

People tend to be focused.  Even if easily distracted, they have goals they wish to accomplish.  Some people want things.  Some want power or respect.  Some want companionship.  Whatever it may be, it will eventually be reached.  Then what will you do?

Characters, especially classic (a.k.a. flat) characters, tend to have one goal: save the world.  It comes in a few flavors like stop the bad guy and recover the artifact.  But what does that hero do once the world is saved?  Do they sit at home, drink lemonade, and ramble mindlessly to anyone who would listen about that one time, when they saved the world?

People are the same way.  Suppose you wrote the best story ever.  Now what?  Do you keep it to yourself and read it when you like?  Do you share it with others?  Do you try to get it published?  Do you do a small vanity print that you give to your friends and family?

Goals are dangerous like that.  Once you accomplish the goal, you feel like it is the end.  And maybe it is the end of a specific goal, but it is not the end of your goals as a whole.  When you finish one goal, pt yourself on the back and move on to the next one.  If you don't know what the next goal is, then figure it out.  If you want to be efficient about it, figure out what your next goal is before completing the one you're on.