SECOND CHANCES

Posted by Reese Mobley on Monday, January 4, 2010
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Don’t you just love the new year? I do.To me, January feels like a second chance at making it right. Doing it better. The perfect time to make resolutions and set goals. Like so many others who’ve gone before me, I plan to lose the baby weight (baby is 18 so I think it’s about time, don’t you?) I vow to become a better person. Talk less and listen more. Tell my friends and family more often that I love them. Volunteer. Donate blood. Go, do and see as much as I can. De-clutter my office and my life. Write. Write. And then write some more.

Will this be the year I get that publishing contract? Will I secure another agent? I can hope all I want but nothing will ever happen unless I write. Plain and simple I have to put my fingers on the keyboard to breathe life into the words filling my brain and overflowing from my heart. Words that are meaningless unless I do something constructive with them. Recently, my critique partners extraordinaire and I set goals for the year. We have lofty plans and dreams, for ourselves and for each other.

What are your writing related dreams and plans? Do you want to enter more contests? Complete that first or subsequent manuscript? Join a critique group or additional writing group? Attend a conference or workshop? Take an online writing class? Create a webpage? Submit to an agent or editor? All positive steps toward reaching your writing goals. I find it helps to write down your goals and post them where you can see them every day. Use them to fuel your desires. Write down where you want to see yourself next year when January rolls around because we all know that the older we get the faster time flies. It’s January now. Think of this as your second chance to make it right. Do it better. Do something positive for your writing career. Do something positive for yourself.

My goals: See above list and I also plan to finish two more 100,000 word manuscripts bringing my completed total to six. Okay, I’ve posted my goals and resolutions so now it’s time to post yours. Make it public. Make it real. Make it happen. Take advantage of your second chance.

Hugs,
Reese

16 comments:

Jessica Mobley said...

Well if anyone could do all those things, it is you mother. Keep being the strongest person in the world and good luck with all your new year rez. Love you!

January 4, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Sharon N said...

Theresa:
Yes I like the new year as well. Forget the past. 2009 is over and done with. Prepare a writing path for the future. Typing is the first important step.
Great advice.
Sharon.

January 4, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Joan Vincent said...

Writing is nothing without, well, writing down words. One at a time with sheer determination, in a flurry of anticipation, or a blizzard of enthusiasm. It doesn't matter how they come, just that we write them down. One sure to write is to set a goal to work toward. You've given us an excellent list of goals to choose from, Reese. Happy writing!

January 4, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Reese Mobley said...

Jess, thanks for your unweilding love and support. It's funny that you see me as so strong because whenever I look for my Superwoman Cape it's still in the dryer. (grin)

January 4, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Reese Mobley said...

Thanks for posting, Sharon. One thing for sure--we can't change the past. What are your goals for the New Year?

January 4, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Reese Mobley said...

Joan, how do you respond when sheer determination isn't enough? When the words ripping at the seams still won't come through to the pages? I think posting goals will help me. It sure can't hurt. Thanks for the comments. Happy New Year!

January 4, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Joan Vincent said...

Reese when sheer determination isn't enough it's time to sit back and re-examine. Sometimes the story is not right for the characters. Sometimes there is just too much going on in life for one more thing to get done. Taking a step back lets me see the tree instead of the forest or vice versa. It also gives the brain time to process a bit more. I've been surprised more often than not by a solution that came from thin air or so it seemed at the time. Joan

January 4, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Nina Sipes said...

Reese and other ladies:
My superwoman cape had a hole in it so I gave it to the cats to sleep on.

'One at a time with sheer determination, in a flurry of anticipation, or a blizzard of enthusiasm.' Oh my, that's powerful.

'how do you respond when sheer determination isn't enough? When the words ripping at the seams still won't come through to the pages?' Wow! I just hit that wall, big time, and almost embarrassed myself asking a witchdoctor for guidance. I pulled back from the precipice and decided to give myself permission to work on SOMETHING ELSE. ANOTHER IDEA. In the past I've not done that because I can see myself homogenizing the characters. But, a mere day ago, I decided to chance it. I've given five years to this story and am on page 89. When I look at that, I wanna cry. I did some (a lot) of editing on another book that is finished and it is now as I want it to read. But still, 89 Pages? That's awful. This year something better break loose--or else.
Great post and very timely to me. Thank you,
(Psst. Quit using your cape for a dryer sheet.)

January 4, 2010 at 1:34 PM
Pat Davids said...

"Recently, my critique partners extraordinaire and I set goals for the year."

Hey, I thought Deb and I were your only critique partners. Who are these other chicks?
Pat

January 4, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Reese Mobley said...

Joan, I know it's hard to abandon a story that you love--even when it isn't working. I've recently done it. I know I'll go back and work on it so I just tucked it away for now. Thanks for your advice. XOXO

January 4, 2010 at 2:20 PM
Reese Mobley said...

Could you forward the witchdoctor's number? (grin) Isn't it funny how those capes are never around when we need them? Maybe we should treat ourselves to new ones this year. Hear us roar.

January 4, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Reese Mobley said...

Pat, you ARE extraordinare. Would have thrown in the towel a long time ago if it wasn't for the both of you.

January 4, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Rox Delaney said...

Capes???!!! There are CAPES?? Why didn't someone tell me?

Reese, congratulations on six finished manuscripts! That's awesome! That's the kind of stick-to-it-iveness that leads to a contract.

As for putting things away when they aren't working, I had two complete manuscripts among the many that I rewrote and revised several times, looking for the right conflict. Years went by before I even looked at them again, then one day it dawned on me what was needed. (I have to thank my editor and senior editor for help with the second one.)

While putting a story on hold for years isn't something I'd recommend, it worked for those two stories. I'm hoping it might, in the future, do the same with some of the others that are collecting dust bunnies in my closet, under my bed, and in various nooks and crannies throughout my house. *grin*

January 4, 2010 at 2:34 PM
Rox Delaney said...

Sharon said: Typing is the first important step.

Nah, the first step is BIC-HOK (Butt In Chair-Hands On Keyboard). THEN you get to type. I don't type well standing up. ;)

January 4, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Reese Mobley said...

Could someone please locate Rox's cape? Anyone who knows her knows that she is a superwoman! Rox, check the dryer and then under the cat or in your case under a grandkid. (grin)

January 4, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Penny Rader said...

Wow, Reese, just ditto what Rox said. There's a cape? Huh. And congrats on all your completed manuscripts. I have great faith that you will sell. Sounds like you have a great plan for 2010. I've been dragging my feet on setting firm goals...cause I feel like such a loser when I don't meet them. Working on baby steps instead of worrying about big, whopping, super scary GIANT steps.

January 21, 2010 at 9:07 PM

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