Chapter 84.4: Resolutions and Revolutions

I like the beginning of the year. No, I don't have a hankering for snow and sleet and chill of night. Such inconveniences are fine in small amounts — when I'm inside and able to look out at them with little fear of having to subject myself to such evil elements.

But the new year brings with it the idea of a clean slate, a newness that bodes well for the future, even if past still serves as prologue for so much of life in general. For example, I'm hopeful that I'll finish the manuscript for my second novel this year. I have worked on it piecemeal since the end of November; I'd returned to it for National Novel Writing Month, which is November. That's more than I can say of what I did after November 2008 when I'd started writing it.

I have written more than 25,000 words, which isn't too shabby — nothing awe-inspiring either. It's progress, nothing more, nothing less. Anyway, I believe I can write another 65,000 to 75,000 during 2010. I have goals and the means to accomplish them. I also have lots of other responsibilities, which I also need to accomplish. Life, like politics, is often found in the choices we make about what we can accomplish and what needs more time.

The past five years or so, I've rediscovered an affinity in my life for the 18th century. I don't attend mock Revolutionary War battles or anything of that nature. But ever since I was a little kid, that era has resonated with me for some reason. I liked that a group of people stepped above their own personal needs to start a nation, ostensibly to benefit all of those who lived in what became the United States. I was enthralled by HBO's John Adams series. I've read a lot about John Paul Jones for a project that hasn't come to fruition. And a book that my great aunt gave me decades ago recently returned to me; it was about ordinary life during the time of the American Revolution. Some thirty years after the original gift — before I really had the capacity to understand much of its significance — I'm going to read it.

That's not a New Year's resolution. But rather, I'm resolving to have a little revolution in my life: to accomplish things for my family and for me that aren't necessarily easy but are easily necessary. I'm not quite sure how I'll do all that I need to do, but opportunities have a way of making themselves available to those who work hard to a goal.

So that basically is what I intend to do in 2010: To put a little revolution in my life for the betterment of my family.

How about you? What are your goals for 2010? Care to share?

Chapter 81.7: Thanks, Happy New Year, and Good Luck!

I was very pleasantly surprised to see the recent results of my latest poll, which asked whether you had made a New Year's resolution. I got six responses in a week, which for this little blog is pretty much record-setting territory.

Not only that, but no one responded that setting resolutions is a waste of time. I used to think they were. I used to say "I resolved not to make any resolutions," but that joke got old. So did I, and I realized that setting resolutions is essentially goal setting, and I have many goals.

I won't go into all of them, but my goals for 2009 include getting a literary agent, finishing my second novel (a tough challenge, with newborns), and doing my diaper duty. (Pardon the play on words.)

Anyone else care to share their resolutions for 2009? You don't even have to be among those who responded to the poll.

Chapter 53: Looking to 2007

Throughout the year, I've had many friends and acquaintances ask how I'm progressing on my novel. With few exceptions, the answer has been, "I've barely touched it lately." That remains true right now. I've had self-appointed deadlines that have passed by barely noticed. And the latest is fast approaching and will likely be met with similar results. Life has just gotten too darn busy.

Although there's no one with an ax over my neck to inspire me to get back to the book, I pledge to get what I hope will be my final pre-agenting draft complete before the end of March. I'll take a week off from work to get it into gear if I have to; it'll probably take that kind of decision.

And once that version is done and I start looking into getting an agent to sell my book, then I'll start on the next novel. Again, it'll be difficult to stay to my schedule, but I'd like to think that having a new project to work on will be the creative kick in the butt that I need. There's still a lot of research I need to do on that one to make sure some of the settings are believable, but I can start to write the character development, which is really the heart of any story. All in all, it should be a busy 2007, especially if I do what I am setting out to do.