Many
writers I know talk about resolutions, about the New Year being a New Start.
They seem to be re-energized by the turning of the calendar page and the fresh year
unrolling before them.
Me?
Not so much. At least, not this year.
Not
that I’ve ever been good at resolutions. I’d make one, and some perverse little
part of me would start rubbing its hands in glee, looking for a way to sabotage
it. I’ve learned not to make hard-and-fast resolutions, and to never, ever,
write them down.
Still,
I do have a rough idea of what I’d like to accomplish during the year, at least
writing wise.
For
one thing, I’d like to finish the two novels I’ve started in two separate
series. I like both series, and the characters who live in them, and I really
want to find out what happens to them.
I’m
also part of several bundles coming up this year, for which I promised to write
short stories. (Have you heard of BundleRabbit? Great bundler—check
them out.) And I keep coming up with good ideas for more short stories. There’s
lots of work to do.
So…
why can’t I buckle down and do it?
Life rolls.
An
instructor used to call major life changes, life rolls. Something you couldn’t
avoid that would have an impact on your writing. The life roll could be good or
bad, but it resulted in you not producing the number of words you were used to.
A
life roll can be anything from a death in the family, to a wedding, a new baby,
or building a house.
My
friend recently relocated to a wonderful community by the sea. For over six
months, pre- and post-move, she did very little writing. Life roll.
So,
here I am, flitting from partly-finished novel to partly-finished novel,
stopping along the way to jot down ideas for other novels I’d like to write. I start writing one short story
only to abandon it and start work on another.
It’s
discombobulating, but there’s no point in panicking. I’m going through a
transition time (see my last post). Eventually my mind
will settle and I’ll get back to normal.
And
when I do, watch for more book launches. J
