I’m a sucker for a clean slate. There’s something divine about letting go of the past – releasing everything including fear, guilt, sorrow, grief, regret, and a longing for what might have been – and looking forward.
I embrace this concept repeatedly during the year. I don’t generally wait for New Year’s to make proclamations about what I’m going to do better. Rather my life is usually a series of mistakes followed by some hard thinking and self-assessment and a determination to do things differently, and hopefully better, from now on. Really, there’s no reason to wait for a special day to begin living a better life. Every day, every moment, is a special one and an opportunity to be better.
However, New Year’s does provide a certain drama that can be helpful when you want to make BIG changes and promises to yourself. So having a flair for the dramatic, because all romance writers love a bit of drama, I wholeheartedly embrace this day of Larger than Life Promises and I dive into the New Year’s Resolution tradition with an unbridled excitement.
Of course, before the excitement and the grand announcement comes a bit of soul searching because I think too much and spend way too much time pondering everything…
So….
After much thought, journaling, and talking (my poor family – they had to listen to me yap) I’ve decided that this is the year that I dedicate at least 10 minutes a day to a story idea that has been rattling around in my brain for more than a decade. Yep, a decade. (I’m old and apparently I hold onto things.)
My thought is that if this story line has been with me for ten years, I either have to write it or live with it muddying my thoughts for the rest of my life. So I’m going to write it.
I honestly have no idea where to start except that I know if I spend 10 minutes a day with this story, it will gradually unfold and I’ll figure it out.
You Still Have a Few More Days…
You have time to muddle, ponder, stew and noodle – you have time to create a New Year’s Romance Writing Resolution that challenges you and makes you feel excited for the future. 2015 really is going to be an amazing year.
Happy Writing!
Annette