With a New Year Comes New Resolutions

The new year has already come and gone and with it I have made a few new resolutions.  I decided this year I will focus on a few new ones, not the old stand-by ones.  I am focusing on new ones because the old ones are simply constants for me: lose weight and quit smoking.  Now, the first one, lose weight, cannot be a new resolution for it is in no way new for moi.  The second, quit smoking, is an ongoing battle for me, thus not new (sidenote - I have not had a cigarette since August, but I am now addicted to my electronic cigarette).

No, NEW is the word.  So, for my 2013, I hope to accomplish the following resolutions:

1) Wipe out the road rage.  Yes, I have a nasty temper that flairs when people act stupid behind the wheel.  But here is my problem, WHO CARES?  If someone pulls out in front of me, isn't it obvious they did not see me.  And if said person does pull out in front of me and I do not careen into the side of their vehicle, why am I honking and giving them the bird?  They in no way hurt me or my property.  Rather, they simply pulled out unexpectantly.  It is not the end of the word, thus I should not throw a complete fit.  So, I plan to be nicer behind the wheel.  So far so good.

2) MobyDickBigRead.com - I love that the classic Moby Dick is available in audio format for free.  I never read the book, but this is the next best thing.  It is 100's of chapters long, so I plan to listen to it in its entirety.  I think I can, I think I can...http://www.mobydickbigread.com

3) Be more creative!  I have two ongoing projects I would very much like to keep "ongoing".  One is scrapbooking.  I just love it and I have lots of little mementos and various pics to clip and store away.  I definitely need to keep that up.  My other project is my little novel.  I am happy to report I recently re-picked up Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (5th Edition) by Janet Burroway.  It is really good!  I learned I should simply restart my novel, which pains me so.  I have over 20,000 words written, but Janet is right.  They are probably crap.  Starting over will really help me zone in on my character and edit out a great deal of noise.  The other thing I learned just last night is I need to create more crisis and conflict.  Who wants to read a story that goes on and on and on and on?  We want action!  We want the see-saw of drama.  Heck, my life is boring.  Novels take me away to a fascinating place.  And if the story doesn't, I stop reading.  So, picking up this book has been a breath of fresh air into this project of mine.  I hope to have something ready for someone (my sister) to review.

Any who.  I hope I can keep this up for a long time.  Happy New Year!  Good luck with your own resolutions, whatever they may be.

CC

Check out Janet's book -

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (5th Edition) by Janet Burroway Permalink: http://amzn.com/0321026896