Resolutions

Many people make resolutions for the new year. It’s a time honored tradition dating back to Babylonian times when people would make an effort to pay their debts and return borrowed objects at the turn of the new year (according to Wikapedia). The Romans would start the year by making promises to the god Janus (as in January), and Jews are supposed to make amends for any hurt caused (intentional or unintentional) during the previous year at the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah).

Personally, I always thought it was a little silly. So many people promise to exercise more (lasts two weeks, if that) and eat better (see exercise) and frequently, to lose weight (again, see exercise). But I’ve been thinking about New Year’s resolutions this year and thinking that if I actually want to make a good-hearted resolution to improve myself… well, I’ve done a pretty good job this past year of losing weight (yes!) without a new year having to roll around to do so, and my husband keeps me going to the gym just about every day. No, what I resolve to do in the next year is to work as hard as ever, if not harder, to improve my writing craft and writing speed.

I am always trying to improve my craft, it is true. I am a professional writer, after all. But I can do more to study and work harder at it. It’s one of the reasons why I love to teach writing – it forces me to look at my own writing and how I do it, and there is always room for improvement.

Even more importantly (if that’s possible) is the speed at which I finish my writing. Actually, it’s not how fast I write once I get started, it’s the getting started part that I have problems with. I spend way too much time on email, social media, marketing and general fooling around to get to the actual writing part of my work. I’ve got to stop doing that. I need a timer. I need something to scream at me “Get writing!!” every day at a certain time, so that I’ll stop my fooling around (which I get away with because I call it “work”) and actually get to my writing. If I do that, I’ve got a pretty good shot at getting accomplished the goals I’ve set for myself for the next year – to finish writing the third book of my Children of Avalon series and publish the series. I’d also like to get another book written next year, but right now, I’m just focusing on the trilogy. It’s been way too long that I’ve been working on it and I’ve got to get it done.

So, what about you? Do you have any New Year’s resolutions that you’ve made? What about writing goals? Please share, and then maybe we can try reminding each other of these goals through the year and maybe, just maybe, be able to look back at this time next year with a sense of satisfaction knowing that we’ve achieved what we set out to do.