Skip to main content

Reflections and Resolutions

Happy New Year!

I'm not really a fan of New Year's resolutions, but I do it anyway.

Change happens the instant you truly want it. The date on the calendar doesn't matter when you make up your mind. In fact, I think it's easier to keep to your resolution when you make it because you want to and not because of an arbitrary reason like the start of a new week, month, or year.

All that being said, I like the ceremony of making a New Year's resolution. It's a good time to stop and evaluate my life, where I am, what I want, and if I'm on track to get what I want. I don't make resolutions to be healthier or to finally ask out that cute guy I've been ogling for weeks, because those are things that I should already be doing everyday—I know that, and every morning I tell myself I'll do those things today. As far as I'm concerned, every new day is a chance to be better and do better than the day before.

Instead, I make resolutions for the whole year. 2012 was my year to try new things and push my boundaries. 2013 was spent working on e-publishing three novels. Okay, well, I got two of them finished and published (I'm still working on Game On), but still! For me, that was a big step forward for taking my writing to the next level. Maybe I didn't get all three done, but I'm still incredibly proud of myself for the major accomplishment. Publishing is a lot of work, and I learned a lot in the process—including a lot about myself.

My resolutions aren't vague; they're concrete. I don't just say that I'm going to read more. I say that I'm going to read two new books a month. I don't just say that I'm going to write more. I say that I'm going to set aside at least one hour every day and make myself write. It's not about losing a bad habit and picking up a good one. It's not about being a "new" me—it's about being a better me. It's less about who I am and more about what I can do in a year's time.

So, what about 2014? I'm going to finish Game On and then see a completely new idea through to completion. I have a few personal goals set for myself as well, but these two stories are the big accomplishments I hope to make in the coming year.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hottie Hockey Hunks Blog Hop—GIVEAWAY!

Good morning, and happy hockey! Today is officially the start of the 2013-14 NHL season, and I for one couldn't be happier. Well, I'll be happier on Thursday when the Penguins play the Devils for the season opener, but I suppose I'm just being picky. Anyway. Have you ever heard of a blog hop? I hadn't—until I was invited to join one! So let me explain: bloggers with common interests unite to promote each other. So below, I have a link of seven other hockey romance writers you might be interested in. If you're familiar with me, then you've probably heard of Melanie Ting—a fellow writer who got her start in Blogger. But you should check out these other ladies and maybe find some new authors to enjoy! As a part of the Hottie Hockey Hunks Blog Hop , I'm sponsoring a giveaway (cue flashing lights! Cue trumpets!). I've decided to give a free copy of my new novel, Shots on Net , to one lucky reader who comments on this post! Please leave your e-mail addre...

Classy, Crafty, and Super Sassy

After releasing two books in the span of two months, I've been doing a bunch of different things. Some of it is working on what I've been calling my "Top Secret Project." I think it's gonna be a trilogy, taking place on a new team. I'm trying to get the entire trilogy ready for a quick release schedule. If I can manage it, I'll have it out by the end of the year, but no guarantees! I've also been enjoying my summer! Last year, I felt like I had wasted my summer. I didn't want that to happen this year. So I instituted Pool Day, which was every Wednesday at the community pool (weather permitting, of course). I went to see one of my favorite bands, Jimmy Eat World. I went to the zoo with my friend and her little one. I've already been to the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival once, and I'm sure I will be going again. What else? I've tackled a huge project that's been sitting on my shelf for far too long. What's that...

Remember Me?

*Knock, knock* Anybody out there? Or, better yet, anybody remember me? It's Jay! I haven't completely disappeared, or fallen off the face of the earth. I took a break from posting stories here on Blogger in order to try my hand at writing novels. So many of you, my lovely devoted readers, have left me comments saying that my writing's just as good--sometimes better!--than the books you've read. I especially received a lot of encouragement from fellow Blogger Melanie Ting , who has successfully e-published her first story! So I'm trying my hand at writing full-length novels, and I have lots of new material that I'm e-publishing through Amazon through 2013. First up, I'm publishing Play the Man , a reworked version of A Sharp Contrast. I changed the characters and updated the story, and I'm really happy with the finished product. Here's a peek at the cover:    I love it! What do you think? The story will go live on Amazon later tonight (...