The Writer's New Year's Resolution by Kristin Wallace

While most people make New Year’s Resolutions, authors tend to make Writer’s Resolutions. At least I do. Every year I have grand plans to write X number of books. Unfortunately, I have to confess that 2019 was not a good year for me as an author. I had plans, but most of them didn’t happen. A lot was due to having to meet deadlines for my “day job” freelance writing gig, often working 7 days a week to get things turned in on time. 

The other reason had to do with some weird health issues that messed with my ability to focus, which as you can imagine, makes creative writing extremely difficult. In many ways, the voices that I've always had in my head basically went “silent”. In the end, I only managed to publish one book, SECOND CHANCE HERO, which is part of the Palm Cove Tales series. 

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BUT…I am truly hoping to get back on track for 2020. I do have plans and plenty of ongoing projects to keep me busy.

One is the reissue my inspirational series, COVINGTON FALLS CHRONICLE. I got the right back from the original publisher some time ago and created new covers. I’m just doing light editing. I also hope to continue with that series. There are so many characters begging for stories in my quirky Southern town. 

I am also working on a fun new series called THE LOST ROYALS about separated siblings who find out they are royalty. 

Finally, there is a joint project/series that I plan to publish with one of my author friends. It’s a modern-day take on Cinderella featuring a pair of magic shoes and a cursed Stepmother who might not be as bad as everyone thought. 

So those are my plans…now to get writing! 

I did put together a Christmas box set with three of my Shellwater Key holiday tales (Finding You At Christmas, Falling For You At Christmas, and Loving You At Christmas). Christmas in Shellwater Key is available on Kindle Unlimited so even though it's January, go ahead and scoop it up now. 

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Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. The Christmas in Shellwater Key boxes et will release this winter. 

DREAMS OF FUTURE PAST by Sarah Raplee

Hi! I'm Sarah Raplee, and I write scary, funny paranormal and steampunk romances. I write because I can't help it, and it's more fun than most of the alternatives. My short story, The Telltale Heart, was published this month in GIFTS FROM THE HEART  from Windtree Press.

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you’d kept all your past years' New Years’ resolutions?

Your first reaction may be to think your life would be perfect, full of butterflies and daisies and unending sunshine. After all, we make resolutions to try to improve ourselves and our lives. Making them makes us feel powerful, in control, as if we’ve caught a magic bullet. If only we can hold on to the magic long enough, our problem(s) will be solved and we’ll float off into the future as thinner, healthier, calmer, more accomplished, more spiritual versions of ourselves who are married to our equally perfect soul mates and have a fat retirement account and great health insurance.

What’s wrong with this picture?

It’s a fantasy, an unrealistic figment of our imaginations. Change is hard work. It takes commitment and perseverance, and many, many small steps to achieve a major goal. Success depends, among other things, on being able to forgive ourselves for moments of weakness as well as a willingness to accept the tests and difficulties life throws at us with grace—because railing against them is like whining about the weather, a useless waste of energy.

But like unanswered prayers, unkempt resolutions may produce a better outcome than we can imagine. If I had been able to easily give up chocolate and caffeine, I not only would have missed out on their (at that time undiscovered) health benefits, I guarantee I would be a grumpier old woman!

If dieting and exercising had come easily to me, I would have had much less compassion for other people’s struggles. Failure helps us to be less judgmental. It is a humbling experience.

If I’d spent as much time cleaning house and exercising as I thought I should, I never would have finished writing two novels and a slew of short stories—not without neglecting my marriage and other important relationships.

Writing has taught me that baby steps, perseverance and an acceptance of the things we can’t control or change are more likely to produce positive results than a lifetime of New Year’s resolutions.

Have you failed to keep a New Year’s resolution? Did something positive come from that failure?

~Sarah Raplee

Do You Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions?

Are you one of the millions of people who made a list on New Year’s Eve or Day of resolutions for 2014?  Have you stuck to your resolutions?   

The statistics are against fulfilling New Year’s Resolutions.

January every year local gyms fill up with the newly inspired who are following their resolutions to get in shape, and lose weight.  Check those crowded gyms out at the end of February.  Most gyms will no longer be crowded.

A resolution is a promise to (fill in the blank) to one’s self.  Promises are made to be broken and once into the New Year the resolutions start to fall by the wayside.

I propose instead to set goals.  Small attainable goals and maybe one or two more difficult goals.  For instance:

                Resolution:  I want to lose weight and get in shape.

                Small goals and something concrete to shoot for:  I want to lose five lbs by June and take a walk around the block five days a week.

                Resolution:  I want to complete a 100,000 word manuscript, send it out and acquire an agent or editor.

                Small goals, attainable goals:  I will write five days a week.  Aiming for 1,000 words a day.  When the manuscript is complete, I will query two agents and two editors each week.  Small goals, attainable goals.

I think you can see the difference.  Goals are more flexible and what you aim for is a specific attainable goal.  Resolutions are set in stone and are the big picture, not necessarily attainable.

I never make my New Year’s Goals until well into January.  I have a few this year, in a few different areas of my life, and I will share with you.

1)      I will write for at least one hour every day.  My hope is I will write for four hours every day, but at least for one hour.

2)      For family:  I will bring my mother to visit her sister who is ninety years old at least every two weeks. Even though It drives me nuts to hear my Aunt repeat the same story four or five times.  :))

3)      I want to lose four lbs by the end of March.  I’ll join the diet plan at my gym for the next two months.  Should be a piece of cake, pardon the pun.

4)      On my off days from the gym, I will walk around the block for a little added exercise.

5)      I will find four things for which I am grateful in each day, no matter how bad the day was.  I will write it down in my Gratitude diary.

Do you make any New Year’s Resolutions or Goals?  Have you stuck to your resolutions or goals so far this year?