Resolutions

 

 

What New Year’s resolution did you make this year?  Popular ones are to lose weight and exercise more.  Years ago, I decide mine would be to learn one new thing during the year.   That first year it was to eat sushi.  Then, learn a new craft.    But now, I have goal is to finishing a book.  Not just any book, but one that I have knocked around in my head for years.  I believe I can do this.  There are writing challenges that have you finish a book in a month.  But I think I will take a few months. 

I read blogs about writing, blogging, and getting published.  I read books about writing styles and techniques.  Some author say writing has to be a calling on your life. Anything else is self-oriented and can never really satisfy. You have to write or feel out of the will of God. 

There are blogs posting about insights to getting your book written in 2016.  Here are some ideas from Jerry Jenkins’ new writing class “Finish Your Book in 2016” for getting started.

• Set a goal/deadline of pages or word to write per day.
• Schedule your daily writing plan.
• Expect delays.
• Manage your procrastination.
• Relax and sleep well anyway, knowing your subconscious is working on your book.                                                                                                                                  
• Manage time wisely, adjusting your pages-per-day, but don’t let the days or number of pages get out of hand.
• Keep your deadline, if at all possible.
  Other blogs and magazines suggest reading about writing.  William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style was a book my high school English teacher recommended.  William Zinsser, On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction was mentioned in Writer’s Yearbook 2016 magazine as a book that sold more than a million copies.    Jerry Jenkins’ blog also suggested Dean Koontz’s How to Write Bestselling Fiction.  I didn’t have this book so I did a search on Amazon. It is only in hard back and is out a publication.  Imagine my shock when the price was $170.00.  WOW.  I made out an interlibrary loan in hopes that I can get it just to read.  I told the librarian that this book was gold, treat it with care.  I will, too. 
  What do you really want from your writing? Do you know what truly matters to you?  Is it fame or glory or just getting words on paper in hopes that it will inspire someone else?  Do you know what you stand for?  Are you fixed in your belief and have your eyes set on God?  Are your priorities God oriented?  Without having inspiration or a calling from God your writing may not stand for anything important. 
  I want to be a writer in the worst way. The passion of writing keeps me up at night.  I want to tell my story and really reach to inspire readers. So, if that is what you want from your writing you'd better believe in what you write. 
   
  Works Cited
  Jenkins, Jerry. "FINISH YOUR BOOK IN 2016Lesson 1: How to Overcome Fear and Procrastination (So You Can Finish What You Start)." Finish Your Book in 2016: Lesson 1-3. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
  Friedman, Jane. "2015 The Year in Review." Writer's Yearbook 2016 Winter.2016 (2016): 5-9. Web. 2016.

            copyright 2016 DonnaGermany