Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Goodbye 2013 and Hello 2014!

Even though I believe in reviewing the previous 12 months on the eve of the New Year, I am not big on making resolutions. If there is anything I have learned is that putting off until tomorrow what I can do today leads to nothing but premeditated resentment. Why? Because all I do is put off, put off, and then put off until the end of the year comes and that project remains undone. What do I then do? I beat myself up.  

Lately I have experienced that premeditated resentment when it comes to my writing. I have spent too much time saying I would write that story tomorrow when the plot is clear in my head, or finish the umpteenth draft of my query letter for my novel when I know I can get it prefect. That's plain silliness because these type of resolutions are not based on planning, which is healthy, but on fear that the product of my creative outlet is not, or will not be, good enough. The only way to combat that type of fear is to write the story and get it submitted now and to revise that query and get it out to agents now.   

NOW is the operative word.  

When I was a kid and would come up with excuses not to do homework or chores, my sweet little mother used to say, "there's no time like the present" and her infamous "don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." Of course, back then I thought those words wee adult nerd-speak, but today they are golden nuggets in my memory. Believe me, there will be no more New Years resolutions for me.  

So, in 2014 I plan to.....

Just kidding.  

Happy New Year everyone! 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

An excellent reminder, just do it. I finished listening to a Margaret Atwood interview on a podcast. She said, "Anyone who puts words on paper is a writer. Write everyday and you will become a better writers. Write 200 words a day and, soon, you will have material to work with."

Susan Littlefield said...

Deborah, I love Margaret Atwood. She is also one of Don's favorite authors. 200 words a day is a good daily goal. See you soon.

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