The dread "New Years Resolutions"

The dread "New Years Resolutions"

Okay, it's time for this annual topic to rear its ugly head.

In keeping with Gala's "writerly" theme, what writerly resolutions will you make to start off the new year?

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

When I get depressed this year I will not decide that it's a good thing because now I can write a novel like War and Peace. I will buy chocolate instead.
I will remember that publishers and agents don't want to see 400K novels.
I will write mysteries (80K), I will pick a victim, some victim and let the detective figure out who did it.

Stlight

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

*sigh* I've been giving this a lot of thought this week. Here's what I've come up with:

1) Contact five new markets or send out five new queries each week.
2) Write 5K in TBWN each week until it is finished.
3) Write and submit one short story each month.
4) And something with non-fiction, too.

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

I've thought about New Year's Resolutions, but I haven't thought thought about them.

I'm saving that for a time when my head won't explode. lol.

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

I want to finish getting my first book ready for submission.

I want to finish writing my second book.

I want to get my finished children's book published.

or

I want to eat chocolate all day and pretend like rejections don't hurt.

:rollin

~~Tammy

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

Oh no. I have to admit, however, that I met most of my resolutions last year.

So this year (writing related):

1) Finish CTN (and I don't mean just first draft. I mean the rewrites as well, to submission quality)
2) Make TPB a success
3) Start on a new book
4) Finish a non-fiction book I'm co-writing

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

1) Get all my fiction works-in-progress whipped into submission-shape.

2) Use the best of said works to snag me an agent.

3) Continue to work on improving my writing.

4) Try to keep my weekly column fresh and interesting for my readers.

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

My resolution is to finally keep a resolution. I guess I should make a lot of resolutions, and make my job easier.

1) I will lose weight this year.
2) I will gain weight this year.
3) I will work harder this year.
4) I'll get more rest this year, and stop working so hard.

I think I'm bound to at least keep some of them, so when someone asks if I kept my New Years resolution, I can say, "Well, I kept half of them!"

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

Haven't thought too much about this but here goes:

1) Find an agent for novel #2 (or is it 3??)
2) Find a publisher for 2 children's books.
3) Work on submitting short stories instead of letting them languish on the hard drive.
4) Keep up the 2K words a day on any one of my books-in-progress.
5) Get published in at least 5 international pubs (only made it into a Canadian newsletter this year -- *sigh*).
6) GET A FREAKING LAPTOP!!!! Or my own computer. that would be nice....
7) FOR ONCE, find a nonfiction book publisher that will give me an advance (not that I have any complaints about current nonfiction publishers; I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!)

Re: The dread "New Years Resolutions"

1. Put together a poetry book, hopefully will finish and submit by the end of the year

2. Get at least 4 pieces published in magazines (that would make it more than this year)

3. Continue work on greeting card verse and submit to some new markets

4. Attempt to get my 2 childrens stories published whether it be in magazines or as picture books.

5. To write, write, write !!

Are we talking wishes here?

I wish publishers would resolve to publish more newbies!

I know, I know, the real issue is the quality of us newbies' submissions. So, resolution for the new year - Revision! and yet more revision.

And for the year gone past, thanks everyone for the great advice and sanity you've offered at this site.

Cheers all,

Jenny

resolve

Liam,
I'm not tellin' you mine until you tell me yours.

<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tired.gif" />

Re: resolve

Fair enough, Gala.

1. Be nicer to cats. I don't mistreat cats now, but I'm not inclined to start up friendly conversations with felines the way I do with coyotes, dogs, guinea pigs or opposums.

2. Dislike my in-laws a little less.

3. 200 hours (minimum) of community service, (the sort thats not court-mandated ) ) Perhaps at a local shelter for battered women/children, or rejoin the local Suicide Prevention chapter.

4. Finish at least TWO of the writing projects that I dropped at the "20,000 word" mark.

5. For a few minutes every day, I'm going to try and view the world like it's the last time I'll ever see it. The colors, the shapes, smells, ....I'm pretty sure there'll be days that I'll backslide on this one, but if I even come close, I'll be better for it.

I suppose #5 sounds abundantly sappy. I guess it is. But in many ways, it's the most important of my few resolutions.

Re: resolve

That's quite a list! I have a few resolutions; even those not directly about writing will finese my writing career:

1. Be nicer to my cat. I will brush her at least once a day (she begs for it constantly) and actually play with her.

2. No inlaws--I'd be happy to get laid. This idea has a tone of resolve around it because there are unhealthy reasons I don't get laid more often.

3. Community service. I have committments here, but I want to notch it up. I've been saying for years I'll go sing to shut-ins, not having done so in decades. (I've played violin, but we're talking singing here.)

4. Finish writing projects: A) Whip the book I wrote on grieving last year into publishing form (though I may chose not to publish it, or cafe-press it.) B) Complete the revise of my current novel. This is a challenge cuz it needs work, and I must decide on a few plot points I've been procrastinating.

5. Liam said, "For a few minutes every day, I'm going to try and view the world like it's the last time I'll ever see it. The colors, the shapes, smells, ....I'm pretty sure there'll be days that I'll backslide on this one, but if I even come close, I'll be better for it." Last night on my hike, and again today, I'm telling myself I must let go of the loss in my life. It dogs me constantly. I don't know exactly how to do this, but I know writing is involved.

"I suppose #5 sounds abundantly sappy. I guess it is. But in many ways, it's the most important of my few resolutions."

Me too. Thanks for a brilliant idea.
<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif" />

Re: resolve

I don't believe in making New Year's resolutions for two reasons: First, they are, by cultural tradition, not kept.

Second, I don't want to set a date in the future, even if it's only tomorrow, when I'm going to start doing the things I should be doing. Anytime I think "I could make that a New Year's resolution," I decided to start right away instead.

Re: resolve

Do I have this right? Liam's going to sing to his in-laws' cats while they get laid. Gala's going to brush shut-ins every day at Suicide Prevention. HConn's going to start doing those things right now.

See what comes of reading too fast?

Re: resolve

Just so long as the cats only get sung to or brushed.

Re: resolve

My New Year's resolution is quite a broad statement. I want to improve myself in my various endeavors. That's probably going to be a difficult task compared to a specific resolution.:eek

Re: resolve

I thought about quitting smoking today...made it almost three hours.

Would like to write at least 1K words a day.

Got to get my cat spayed.

Goals for 2005

Gak, is it really a new year already? 2004 was not the best one I've had, but I remain hopeful that 2005 will be better.

Goals for me (since I am writing them down this time, in public, I have a chance of at least remembering them and making them happen):

- Get a real job that is full-time, has benefits, and isn't for a maternity/sick/vacation leave for someone else

- Get my synopsis finished, coherent, and submitted to agents

- Pay off my credit line bill so at least I won't feel so stressed when I look at my bank balances

Those are the big ones. Now, to make them happen. The first two each involve a lot of perseverence and the willingness to put my resume/writing out there for approval/disapproval. The third is about making a plan I can live with in order to pay off my debt, which also involves sticking to a plan.

2004 was a year in which I had three different jobs, surgery, and a family implosion (in-law issues). 2005 will be a year for me to regroup and get back on my feet.

But nothing will happen unless I start somewhere. Might as well be now. I have to make the first step into the river and see where it leads.

(And Mac, please get your cat fixed. The cat will thank you.)

Re: Goals for 2005

Reph- I ain't singing to no cats! (And cats the world over say hallelujah!)

H- I think your last post hit upon a key element with this whole resolution thing. You're right. Most resolutions are things that we probably should be doing every day, or at least, as often as possible. In my own case, I think the New Year Resolution is more a matter of stepping outside of the daily rat-race, reflecting a bit, and reorganizing priorities.

Of course, I don't need a New Years event to do this, but since the date is already a mainstay on my calendar, its convenient, if not always timely.

Re: Goals for 2005

MacAl, so you failed to stop smoking. You can still cut down.

Re: Goals for 2005

She hasn't failed yet. She lasted three hours. Tomorrow, maybe she'll make it four.

Re: Goals for 2005

Was it Mark Twain who said something like, "Quitting smoking isn't difficult, I've done it several times."

Good luck, Mac, I'm with you. I'm sure one of these times will be for good. All we can do is keep trying.

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