And It’s 2012

It’s been 2012 for about 10 days now and, so far, the new year is going along pretty good. In all honesty, I was happy to see 2011 leave. It wasn’t exactly my best year. I had a lot of personal drama going on that would make great stories but wasn’t fun to experience in real life. But whatever doesn’t kill you and all that.

Although you can’t tell, I chopped off the 400+ words that came after this opening paragraph. When I stopped to reread my writing, I realized it was one long bitchfest about everything that is wrong in my life. I don’t think that is a good way to start 2012.

What am I going to talk about instead? I don’t know. How about New Year’s goals since that seems to be popular at the moment. Did you know that 99% of all resolutions are broken within the first week? Okay maybe I kinda made that up, but I heard somewhere that the statistic for broken resolutions in the January is high. I’ve decided not to make any resolutions, but I do have some things that I want to accomplish this year.

I want to read more books. I’ve noticed a decidedly lack of book reading in my life over the past few years. I read short stories online, but I can’t remember the last actual fiction book I’ve read. Mostly it’s been non-fiction stuff about writing and, of course, my own stories. I really think I need to start reading more books and definitely stuff outside of the erotica genre.

My goal this year, then, is to get one of those new-fangled eReaders. I’m not sure which one, though. What are my options? There’s the Kindle, Nook, iPad…I’m sure there are others but these are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head. Hooray for mass marketing. If you have any of these, please help me figure out what to get by sharing your experience. Also share some recommendations of great books I should read this year.

Another goal, of course, is to quit procrastinating and write more. My problem is I lack focus. I jump from project to project, so nothing really gets “finished”. I have so many ideas but not enough attention or discipline to see them through to completion.

For instance, I started a blog fiction series a few months ago and have yet to write the second episode. Well, that’s not right. I wrote the second episode and the third, but I realized it’s mostly fluff that can be told in a paragraph or two, so I need to rewrite them. Instead of focusing on that project, I get an idea for a new story and spend time chewing on that. Brain, why must you be so ADD?!

Anyway, what have you got planned for 2012? Hopefully something exciting and fun. Talk to me in the comments.

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2 Responses to “And It’s 2012”

1. Alice Bluegown says:

   January 11, 2012 at 3:22 am

   Well, in terms of what I’d like to do, finding an agent/publisher would be nice, though that dream seems as distant as it did when I first started writing fiction almost 30 years ago. What I have to do at some point is find a job (hopefully one that doesn’t make me feel suicidal). In terms of actual accomplishment, my second non-fiction book should go to press this year, and that will be a very good feeling.

   I was interested by your thoughts on reading – I am far more drawn to non-fiction than fiction, and it’s difficult for me to actually enjoy novels because I tend to read them from a technical standpoint. Anyway, I tend to buy all my fiction from charity shops – it’s a cheap source, and the benefit to good causes offsets my guilt at not supporting the industry I would like to be part of!

   Reply
   • Daria Black says:

     January 11, 2012 at 4:38 pm

     Hey Alice,

     Oh yes. The agent/publisher search. Commercial publishing is awesome if you can get your foot in the door. But it’s having your foot constantly slammed by the door that can be intolerable. However, it is awesome that you have a second book coming out this year

     Good luck with finding a job. The economy is still struggling to recover, so hopefully you can find something. If not, maybe look at offering some kind of service online like writing articles or virtual assisting.

     I used to read a lot of fiction when I was younger. Then life happened and I started mostly reading non-fiction. I love storytelling in all of its forms, even poetry.

     Unless it is something that really catches my attention, I don’t pay attention to the technical details the first time I read something. If I liked the story, then I’ll read it a second time and look at how the writer pulled it off.

     I think reading fiction is valuable mostly from an inspiration standpoint. I’ve read short stories by other writers and something about their character, or setting, or plot will spark an idea for my stories.

     I never thought of getting books from charity shops, but that’s a good idea. I think there is a Salvation Army in my city somewhere. I’ll have to look

     Reply

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