New Year's Resolutions and Other Deceptions

New Year's resolutions are not for the faint of heart. Every year we make them and break them, and tell lies about them, knowing full well that that we're lying to ourselves about them. Once broken, we think, what's the use?

Suppose a runner resolves to win a marathon in the next year, but of the hundreds of runners who enter a marathon, there can be only one winner. Their resolution is kaput and they may feel they have failed.

Suppose, instead, their goal is to run a personal best, even by one-tenth of a second? Chances are they will be able to do that.

My goal is to finish my novel, but I may only finish the first draft. I'll still have done something I've never done before. I'll have exceeded my personal best. If I don't finish, then my goal is still out there waiting for me to catch up.

My resolution is to write when I can, and not to obsess about what I haven't done. My goal is set, but I've been kinder to myself. Take a page from business and try to set SMART goals.

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

When I sit down to write, I'll keep those in mind. 

• Specific: I will write when I have an hour to myself (30 minutes if that's all I have)
• Measurable: I will write at least 200 words
• Attainable: Even if those 200 words are dreck, they will still be there. 
• Relevant: If I only write 200 words a week, I will have at least 10,000 words that are new.
• Time-bound: One year to finish my first draft. 

Think I can do it? 

It's that time of year ...

I don't know how much writing I'll be doing between now and January 4th, but I hope I can try to get a few words in. I'm thinking of small goals.

December 20th to 25th: 500 words
December 26th to 28th: 500 words
December 29th to January 4th: Are you kidding me? With houseguests coming in for New Years, I'll be lucky to sit down and write at all.

And that's OK.

Seasons Greetings!

5 Things

Seasons Greetings!

Writing in December is HARD! Between home, family, jobs, and other obligations we all find ourselves stressed and probably not feeling that creative. Here are two ideas that will keep your writing brain engaged without taking up even more time.

First of all, did you know December is Novel Research Month? Now is the time to think about some details that a few minutes on Google or at the library might help set up your story. Or is there some part of your story, such as police procedures, antiquities, sewing, or poison that you think you might need some extra information on? This is the time to take a few minutes to do just that, so when you are ready to resume writing, your research is at your fingertips.

Second, read this post from Career Authors Hank Phillippi Ryan.
 Describe Your Book in 5 Things

Can you do it?

My Five Things are:
1. Greed
2. Purple Heart medals
3. Homeless
4. Murder
5. Healing

If you're too stressed to do either of those, then remember to take care of yourself, pamper yourself, and find time for yourself, even if it's just 5 minutes with the bathroom door closed!

Best Books 2018

Every time I think I should be reading more, I go over to Goodreads and look at what I've read. It's always more than I expected - which is good, but also bad, because maybe I should be writing more?

But if you're interested, these are my Top Ten in no particular ranking order.

I'll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara Night Shift by Michael Connelly ​Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann Trust Me by Hank Phillipi Ryan ​The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas ​The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan Light it Up by Nick Petrie Solemn Graves by James R. Benn ​The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia McNeal What's on my TBR Stack now? Six Cats a Slaying (cozy Christmas mystery with a cat who is a lot like Kipling.) by Miranda James November Road by Lou Berney The Witch Elm by Tana French Past Tense by Lee Child

Move along. Nothing to see here ...

Just a writer playing with her blog for a presentation.

Shake it

Updates ... I've even surprised myself.

It seemed like I had been laboring in the 70,000 word doldrums since June. Without doing much writing due to work, health issues (oh, my aching back) and other real life interruptions, it seemed I hadn't done anything put peck away at a few words here and there. Imagine my surprise when I checked my word count just now - 85,054!

Apparently I'm verbose, even when I'm not.

Writers, take heart. Even if you only type a few words and it seems like a struggle, those words have value and they add up.

Also Typing Cat gif, because it makes me laugh.

via GIPHY

It's National Novel Writing Month!

It's that time of year when all you budding novelists have a chance to actually have a perfectly good excuse to sit and write. Unlike yours truly, who has failed twice to reach the goal of 50.000 words, even though my current project is well over that. It's still not finished and not likely to be finished at the end of the month. You still have a chance to catch up and get to speed, however.

I can be your cheering section. I don't know how much advice I can give to newbies, but I can say that NaNoWriMo is a great chance to connect with other writers in your community, which can be so important. Most of the time we work in solitude, but this month, you can find locations in your area where you can talk, write, angst over plots and characters, and not do it by yourself.

Hop on over to https://nanowrimo.org/ and join. It doesn't matter if you finish, but this will be a great way to start putting your ideas on paper.

•