I will admit it. I wasn't as keen on seeing this new decade as I should have been. My bad!I should be dancing with joy to see what this new year and new decade bring. I had my pity party and now it's time to buck up and smell the roses or whatever that butterfly is into.
I wrote six pages today not counting this blog. That's a good day for me. Okay, I'll never equal Starla for productivity but I can improve on what "I"get done.
My goals this year are pretty simple. I will finish my third Amish book by the end of this month by writing 8 pages a day instead of my usual 2 to 4. Where do I get the extra time? No TV starting at eight o'clock at night instead of shutting off the boob tube at ten.
I will develop two new proposals by the end of March and get them in the mail. If they are accepted, I'll finish two books in 2010 by writing 3-4 pages a day on the days I don't go into work. In addition, I'll polish and resubmit a third book that has been languishing under the bed.
While I'm under there I'll break down and vacuum, too. (Cleaning house remains a low priority. Do you think the humane society would frown on my tying a dust rag to my dog's tail? I could use the help and she wags it everywhere anyway.)
So what if I have to get a job again. I'm lucky I found a job. I will be a full time writer again someday. I may have missed the brass ring this year, but it is still out there. If I don't get off the horse, it will come around again.
For a great look at what this country needs to recover, check out the article below. I was deeply moved by it.
11 comments:
Rats, I meant to schedule this. Sorry to jump in on your day, Jeannie.
Pat
Pst,
Thanks for speaking from the heart. Your words sparked a much needed surge of optimism as I try to work out of another health valley. The article was added reinforcement to the need to do, not wallow. You've got the brass ring in all that counts with your heart and talent. Here's raising a toast to you for much success in 2010!
Psst--Pat, rather. Guess I'd better put proofreading at the top of my goal list!
Joan,
I just thought you were whispering to me.
Optimism is a hard animal to hang on to. It's like marriage. The idea sounds great. It is great when you first start out, but sometimes it gets lost in the day to day grind unless you are determined to work at it.
Pat
Pat,
You already have the brass ring. It only needs a little polishing because you've been working so hard.
One disappointing royalty period does not a career make. :) We learn as we go, and you learned that a particular type of book doesn't get you where you want to be. Next time you'll be able to factor that in to whether you want to be involved or not.
BTW, great goals! Let everyone take note that not only have you set the goal, you also know the steps to take to reach it. Slow and easy. I like that!
Happy New Year, dear friend! And may 2010 bring only easy lessons. *grin*
Thanks, Rox.
You are so right about lessons learned. Each years adds to what I know about this strange business. By the time I'm a hundred and one I'll be nearing the head of the class.
Pat
The best learned lessons are the hardest and hurt the most. Maybe that's why we learn more from them?
You know you're not alone, right? Life is full of choices, and even when we believe we've made the right one, something can come along to teach us we missed factoring in something. I'm still living that one. *grin*
Even if a choice hurts, sometimes it's the right one. We can't predict things we have no control over. (And that wasn't grammatically correct, but you get the idea. LOL)
Thanks for the inspiring post, Pat. I remember when we both started and the brass ring was still a dream. You are such an inspiration to me and I thank you for that. If publishing was that easy then everyone would do it. You've proved you have what it takes. XOXO
You're welcome Reese. I couldn't have done it without you and your wonderful friendship.
Pat
Pat,
You're so lucky to have marketable skills, and a place to perform them as well as writing skills that sell. Though I'm sure you don't feel very lucky. I wonder how your new experiences are going to play out in your new work. hmm.
Here's a bit of information. It turns out multi-published and long published writers have the same problem. I've been going through the conference tapes (the Denver ones,) for goodness sake, this is how long it has taken me to get to them... However, a couple of them speak to dry spells. Dry spells happen in careers when: Publishing companies consolidate, Something big happens in the nation or world that galvanizes the public in a direction your writing doesn't match, Your agent drops dead, Your muse takes a vacation, A child (no matter the age) hits a serious crisis, you try writing the book you've always wanted to write in a different genre--and your loyal public suddenly doesn't know you exist.
One of the conference givers had a ten year dry spell, but when it ended it ended VERY well. During that time, she kept writing, feeling free to do as she wanted to write, while worrying whether she'd ever be published again.
As far as I can tell, worry never goes away.
You are such an inspiration, Pat, and I'm so blessed to know you. I wish you much success in 2010. And I love the idea of having pets help with housework. Hmm. If my cats and dog would clean up after themselves it'd be such a help. ;D
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