Holidays got you tuckered? Brace yourself, because they aren’t over yet! I don’t know about you, but for me the lead-up to the holidays – that stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas – is full of pot-holes that threaten to sink my best writing intentions. If it isn’t a holiday social activity (parties, lunches, etc.) or decorating or shopping, it’s the decadent meals, goodies, holiday drinks, and missed workouts that does me in. It fogs my brain and makes me zone out in front of one holiday classic movie after another.

But the good news is, the holidays end eventually. I always breathe a sigh of relief on the day after Christmas – only to remember that we still have social events during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, culminating in a family gathering on the final holiday. Still, seeing the end in sight gives me energy to draft resolutions (note that I said “draft”) and work on that outline for my new novel.

I’m not prepared to share anything about the new novel yet – perhaps as it moves from outline to first chapter (or not). But my resolutions are another matter. As New Year’s Day approaches, I’ve drafted the following writing-related resolutions, starting with:

1.   Ignore the voice in my head that says my new novel concept is too complex for my writing skill. Although I’ve enjoyed writing my first three novels and they’ve been well received, I always felt they fell short of what they could have been. They were easy, mostly pleasant stories (except for those pesky tear-jerking parts in each one) with happy endings. I’ve described them as typical Hallmark movie type stories – not a lot of depth, but good for a quick, enjoyable read. At the end of each one, though, part of me felt betrayed. I want to write a complex, thought-provoking, multi-faceted story. Maybe even without the requisite happy ending, or maybe bittersweet. That’s the potential for my new novel idea.

2. I will fully embrace this life of mine. In the past year, I’ve learned of and dealt with a number of contemporaries who were important to me at one time, past or present, who were no longer a part of this world. In addition to living my life to the fullest, appreciating those who are in my life and the many blessings I’ve received, I want that appreciation, that recognition of the temporary nature of our lives and our impact on others, reflected in my writing themes.

3. I will be more consistent about weekly, meaningful posts to this blog. I’ve missed a few weeks over the past 52, and for the life of me I don’t know why, because I love doing it! Sure, there are other demands in my life that compete, but really? Once a week? I can’t carve out an hour or so once a week to share some pearls of wisdom – mine or someone else’s that impressed me? I’d like to say I’m removing the word “can’t” from my vocabulary entirely, but realistically, I’ll say it’s as good as gone from my blog-writing motivation.

WHAT ARE YOUR WRITING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2017?