Well.
It is 2009.
Or, as my good friend Barbara likes to say, two-thousand fine.
Fine as in "very, very sweet."
Which I, for one, am ready for.
I’ll admit I’ve been home from vacation for a few days but I have, thus far, avoided blogland for fear of being swallowed up by virtual intrigue when the concrete intrigue of my fridge-moldy tofu has been more than enough to keep me hopping.
Tomorrow, though, the kids go back to school, the fridge will meet health department standards, and it’ll be me and my blank page, duking it out again for another year.
Never is the page blanker than at the new year, I think.
When we’re asked not just about this or that manuscript, but about the year ahead.
What do we hope to write, revise, submit, sell, publish?
How do we plan to write, revise, submit, sell and publish?
When do we plan to start?
This year, though, I’m stepping into January thinking about my writing life rather than my writing.
I’m choosing to believe that if I attend to the life, the writing will come.
The truth is, I’m constantly making specific goals and then subverting them when a new idea grabs me by the tail and drags me off. So this year I’m not setting myself up for that sort of trickery. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to be working on in mid-January or early September, but I do know that I’d like it to look and feel like this:
In 2009, I plan to love writing more than I hate it.
I know this isn’t exactly a glowingly optimistic goal, but a tough day at the desk can suck the lifeblood out of a gal.
I’m going for more moments of groove and exhilaration this year.
In 2009, I plan to enjoy a balance between discipline and openness.
And, as counter-intuitive as this may seem, I’m going to schedule some time for the openness.
Taking the dog to the greenbelt in the middle of the dang day sometimes.
That sorta thing.
In 2009, I plan to be more confident and less needy.
I, um, haven’t worked out the details of this one yet.
In 2009, I plan to read as much as I write and learn as much as I teach.
In 2009, I plan to spend more time with my audience of children.
In 2009, I plan to celebrate little things, like losing myself in a day’s work or sending work to my agent.
And I plan to celebrate big things, like the release of my next book.
In 2009, I plan to stay connected with my community, for support and edification and fun.
In 2009, I plan to go with my gut.
In 2009, I plan to breathe regularly and smile often.
You?
That does sound fine.
Yep. I’m hopeful.
Two thousand fine–I love that!
I chose a theme this year, like so many others (I’m more of a trend-spotter than trend-setter, you see). My one-word mantra is GRACE. I explained it on my blog. Still, I love the way you’ve articulated some of the same of the things I’m also working on this year. So please…count me in. 🙂
I loved your entry. Grace. Yes. Lovely.
I knew if I waited long enough, someone would articulate my 2009 needs/wants/goals for me. Thank you, dear Liz.
That balance between discipline and openness—put me down for that. And the “read as much as I write.” Heck, I’ll steal the whole list.
You just help yourself, sweet friend. Help yourself…
I have a list in a Word.doc that I wrote, and keep referring to. Some of it is about balance: doing at least one thing a week that counts as a well-filling activity, more dates with hubby, more meals cooked for the family. And some of it is professionally oriented – time spent writing, goals set for number of poems written for Jane, etc. The trick is to keep that document open and active, and I’m working on it. Because otherwise, those notions will slipslide away as if on greased skids.
Open and active.
Open and active.
Open and active.
Yes.
I think you’re on to something and that your plans are just jim dandy!
happy new year…can’t wait to see what you bring us.
jules
7-Imp
I can’t wait to see what you bring us, too, Ms. Jules…
xxx