Who am I to not make New Year's Resolutions?
1. Stay the course. Yeah, my first resolution is an affirmation of the path I have already blazed in my life. (Let's start with the positive, shall we?) If ever there was a year that I stuck to my plan and stuck to my guns, 2010 was it.
2. Remember the lessons learned. Really. Those plans I stuck with? It wasn't easy and it took more than one false start. Don't be afraid to refer back to the writing journal to see where those pitfalls lay. This life is an open-book test.
3. Go another step out. If I pushed myself in 2010 to write better, more often and with more courage, let me take it a step farther in 2011. Maybe I won't up my word count but I can up my daring. I can take bigger chances with my plots and characters.
4. Work on new story ideas. I love to lose myself in a story. Blessedly I'm not afflicted (yet) with the urge to start a new story when my current story gets tough. The other side of that coin, however, is that when one story is done, I don't immediately start my next one. Maybe it's just how I write. But this year, I'm keeping a story file, with clippings and notes and fragments of story ideas so that when my current WIP is completed, I at least have something to poke through.
5. Try at least one new writing outlet. Currently I write novels and a short column for a quarterly magazine. This year I'm going to write something new – short stories, poetry, longer non-fiction. And submit it. Repeatedly, if necessary.
6. Connect with more writers. I love my writing community on Twitter, Yahoo and Facebook, as well as the WV Writers. This year, I'm heading to Matera, Italy for some new brainstorming ground. More writers mean more ideas, more encouragement, more inspiration. Find ways to be helpful.
7. Dare to suck. I'm polishing my Italian, working on my pathetic chess skills, dusting off my paintbrushes. This is just the beginning. It's a big world out there and I don't have to be the best to have the best time. If we only do what we're good at, we'll never know what we're capable of.
There, seven is a good number. I can live with it. How about you? Anything on here ring a bell with you? What would you add?
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8 comments:
I like the part about "If we only do what we're good at, we'll never know what we're capable of". We forget that everything was new to us at one time, but we were brave enough to give it a try. :)
I applaud you for taking more chances and I'm envious of your trip to Matera. :) Here's to 2011!
Thanks Donna. I'm a big fan of doing things I'm not good at. Luckily, the list is long! I wish we could all meet up in Matera. It sounds like it's going to be amazing. Check back because I'll be interviewing one of the coordinators of the event!
Oh, man. . .resolutions again? Didn't I just do this? LOL. The year goes so fast!
Love your 7 resolutions. It makes me want to be brave this year too. So, I'm off to write down my resolutions for 2011, and I'm going to be daring.....thanks to a reminder from you!
Wonderful resolutions, Sheila! Daring and quotable!
I usually shudder at the thought of resolutions but sometimes you just have to take stock. This year I tried to get more specific, as opposed to my usual "Pull yourself together" drill.
ALL of these are amazing... and ring true for me as well. I'm adding be fearless to the list (for me) although that ties in with submissions AND pushing boundaries... but more specifically, fearless when the Universe hands me a brilliant plan/idea/thought. I'm running with it every time.
And the last one I'll add is one I do every year--say thank you when someone compliments me AND when I get a rejection. Thanks for the input, it's all valuable.
Best in the new year, can't wait to see where your travels (Italy! WOW!) take you!
Thanks for the addition, Patti -- gratitude can't be overvalued. Consider it added to the list! Happy new year!
Dare to suck! Love it!!!
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