It is the first Group Session of the year. I am so happy Alex didn’t let all that praise in December go to his head and he is still around for us little people.
2012 is behind us. 2013 is here. All full of hope and promise and all the warm and fuzzy optimistic feelings of a new year. It’s an opportunity to start all over or if your lucky, continue on the positive journey your currently on. How optimistic am I? But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Insecurities: It is time to take my writing to the next level. But, do I even have a clue about how to do that? If 2012 was about getting something on paper, 2013 will be about making it better and making it publishable.
There is a lot of work to be done. And, a lot of unknowns, but one thing I’ve realized since being back in the states is, I believe I have been using only half of my brain’s creative capacity for the last 7 years.
Not knocking the last 7 years. I traveled the world, lived in a foreign country and experienced so much and learned so much about myself. It has given me content for years. But, I also spent way to much mental energy on stuff I couldn’t control. And, frankly, stuff that wasn’t my responsibility. But, it was a learning experience. And, one I wouldn’t changed for the world. Well, at least not the travel and living in a foreign country part, anyway.
But, now it’s all about me and my goals to be a published author. My mind is clear. My thoughts are focused and the goals are set. Looking forward to a positive and productive 2013 for us all.
What are your insecurities going into a new year? Please visit other IWSG members and offer ideas and encouragement. It is the only way we are all going to get better.
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
My insecurities will be managing my new job and keeping the blog going. I find my writing slips if I don’t keep my blog. The other one would be getting my MS to a first draft stage – it’s a mess but I am having fun cleaning it up at the moment. Cheers to a positive and productive 2013!
Hi Clayton. I am in job search mode. Trying to take advantage of the time I have because once I start another job, I understand it is going to be another adjustment. Good luck to you in 2013.
Once school starts back up, it is always the worry over time management that seems to zap me.
Time management is a good one. All you can do is one thing at a time. But, school is important, too. So, give it the right amount of focus. School isn’t forever, I hope. Although I spent 6 years in school and it felt like forever. Good luck Rebecca.
There might a time and a place for everything, and I’m certain that the adventures of the past seven years will benefit your writing in ways you don’t even know yet!
My own insecurities center around whether or not my novel is polished enough to share. I think I’ve taken it as far as I can, but there are still holes I don’t know how to fix! Do I push onward? Do I set it aside? Only more soul searching will tell …
Happy writing in 2013! 🙂
I think your right Kirsten. I have also joined a writing group back home and the first meeting they want to see a sample of my work. I am scared to death, but this is part of the process, right. Good luck with your goals as well. And, showing your work to others at any stage, the idea is more terrifying then the reality, I assure you.
You sound so focused and determined that I am sure you will achieve every single goal that you set out for yourself. Best of luck with the rest of 2013.
I tried to sound focused. But, I the list is long and I don’t multi task well. So, I am just going to take one at a time. Good luck to you, too.
I’m sure you’ll accomplish all you set out to do this year. Don’t worry about wasted time, there’s nothing you can do about it now. Just focus on one day at a time.
Thanks Miranda. I am just happy I am in a place where I can put more focus into what I love to do.
I wasted a lot of time last year, looking at houses we didn’t buy, looking at colleges my daughter doesn’t want to attend. The road trips were fun, but I regret not spending more time at my desk. Good luck on your revisions.
Hey Tonja, I know what you mean. I don’t want to say all the energy I put into other things was a waste, but I wish I had spent more time doing what I love. But, now I get the chance and I am not going to waste anymore time.
I traveled a lot when I was younger and it does enrich your life experience.
Time to make it happen – YOUR year, Sydney.
And don’t worry, my wife doesn’t let anything go to my head.
HAHA. Thanks Alex. You said it, I believe it.
Sounds like 2013 is going to be your year! Go, go, go!!! 😀 And don’t be afraid of sharing your work. That’s the best way to learn what you still need to learn. 😉
IWSG #137 until Alex culls the list again.
Thanks Melissa. I am getting more and more comfortable with the idea. Now I just need to do it. Have a great year.
I am trying to maintain a minimum 500 word daily goal. I started off with a 40 minute daily goal, but couldn’t get a sense of accomplishment. I am hoping over the course of the year to up the word count. Page Counts can sometimes be daunting, but I would like to get to that stage of writing discipline soon.
I am look at a 500 word account as well of daily writing on top of my WIP. I am following the exercises in this book called The Daily Writer. It has been great so far, but I am only two days into it.
I am looking to make myself a little hidey hole to get creative in away from my caring responsibilities and the distractions of the kids. I want to spend more time learning how to write good material and I am going to plan on reading/writing more and linking up with more like minded writers. I am itching to get going in the morning with my writing now which hasn’t been the case for a long time!
Wow, good for you honey, you sound really focused! Hold onto that 🙂
So does that mean you’ll be doing quite a bit of editing?
Good luck honey! Be cheering you on from the sidelines 🙂
Xx
I shared this on G+, too, and approved it on Triberr. I want all writers to have the opportunity to get involved with something so supportive. We all need every bit of support we can get. You are noticed and appreciated.
I couldn’t agree more, Amberr and thanks so much. I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have with out the support of this great community.
I can’t even get started to write. I had a few bad experiences in college, getting harassed for my articles (weird people out there; and college happened to be quite a few years ago…), and I haven’t been able to really write. I miss it – I’ve been writing since I could write sentences. I love it; I feel like it’s my calling. But I’m having trouble getting back into the habit of just doing it and not worrying about grammar, punctuation, or what I’m writing, even. I can’t even commit the words to paper.
I second the worry about time management that someone already said 🙂
Interesting to learn more about how others approach their work. I love travel and enjoy dragging experiences into my plots. Time management is a big problem for me as well.
Monti
Mary Montague Sikes
Hi Monti. Yeah, time management is always an issue.
I don’t know why we insist on worrying about the things we can’t control, but we do. Best wishes for you in 2013
I know. It is a sickness. I am trying to cure myself of it.
How enriching it must be to have traveled the world. I’m sure the things you’ve done and saw could inspire stories to write. Good luck with the revising. Having good critique partners can help a lot with that.
Thanks for commenting on my NO KISS blogfest post yesterday!
Hey Cynthia. It has provided much content and great locations for several stories. So, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I just need to take advantage of the time I have now.
My 2013 challenge is to work on my craft … so I am following both editions of the Writer’s Book of Days doing the writing practice model with a different topic a day .. have already uncovered several potential thingsntomtake further … maybe on my blog. Daily I have already discovered nuggets that extend to a piece of micropoetry … another thing Imam working on this year. Blog site: texasmusings.blog.com … would love feedback … I am a very eclectic writer.
Hey Annie. That is a great plan. I am doing the Daily Writer which has been fun so far. It is more for me, but I will share some on my blog, too.
Sorry about the typos … iPad keyboard sometimes adds letters … oh well ….
Best of luck to you, Sydney! Keep those goals in sight and, remember, baby steps 🙂
Great tip Mark. I will remember that.
You have so much life to pull from after traveling for seven years that your stories will jump from the page. Happy 2013!
Thanks Ciara. That is my hope, as well. Happy New Year to you.