By J.A. (Julie) Kazimer
Yeah, yeah, January 1st was thirteen days ago. Get over it already, you’re probably saying to yourself, or a busload of captive passengers, who, by now are looking at you a little strange.
Yes it was.
But just because half of our resolutions are already ripped apart, most by January 3rd (after all, who vows to eat more seaweed? That stuff is fine in sushi, but not great with hotdogs…). This doesn’t mean it’s over for the rest. We can always make new ones.
A few days before the New Year, I did a facebook survey (and we all know how scientific those are) on what most writers are resolving to do in the upcoming year. You wouldn’t believe the answers (oddly enough many included weird things with chocolate. What can I say? Writers are just plain weird). What surprised me most about the answers were, no one vowed to give me millions of dollars.
Right? I couldn’t believe it either.
My stingy facebook writer friends’ lack of generosity aside, the main resolution imparted was finishing a project, either one they’ve been working on or starting a brand new one and finishing it by the end of this year.
A great goal for every writer.
One of my editors, before he was my editor, asked me while we were in a pitch appointment at the CO Gold Conference in 2010, how long would it take me to write a book, from word one until it was ready to submit? I smugly said 1 year. He raised an eyebrow.
And guess what?
Our last contract was for two books, both to be finished in one year. For those writers like me who are bad at math, this means, one book every six months. Yes, I sort of feel sick just thinking about it. But in this publishing world, a book a year won’t cut it for a new author. We need to push harder and write faster.
So now that you’ve resolved to quit writing all together…
Other resolutions my writerly friends shared involved submission (promising to send stuff out weekly or so many a month), getting an agent, self-publishing (designing cover art, hiring a copy editor, formatting, etc), and marketing (the bane of all author existence), and a few odd resolutions about plastic-wares.
Learning craft was also nice to see, but we all know RMFW and those who are thinking of joining because of this fabulous post don’t need to learn craft. We are naturally awesome (though the workshops and classes by RWFW members are, of course, the reason why we rock so much more).
The other big resolution was to write.
Simple and to the point.
We aren’t writers unless we are putting words on the page (i.e. computer screen, yellow legal notepad, college-ruled white paper, that journal you got for the holidays from your grandma, etc).
So in 2014, let’s forget losing weight, getting healthy, quitting vile habits, and instead, focus on doing what we love, which, sadly isn’t giving me money, but writing, in whatever method or madness works for you.
Did you make a writerly resolution? Did you break it yet? If not, what is it? If so, what will be your new-today resolution?
I’ve vowed to be more social, in person, so if you catch me trying to be a hermit, please call me on it.
Happy 2014 to you!
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J.A. (Julie) Kazimer lives in Denver, CO. Novels include CURSES! A F***ed-Up Fairy Tale, Holy Socks & Dirtier Demons, Dope Sick: A Love Story and FROGGY STYLE as well as the forthcoming book, The Assassin’s Heart. J.A. spent years spilling drinks as a bartender and then stalked people while working as a private investigator. For more about Julie, visit her website and blog.
Hi Julie — Yes, I need to work on that social thingie, too. As for the rest of the resolution project, I skipped it this year. I’m going to wing it and see what happens. 😀
We should make plans to grab a coffee sometime this year. I’ll even make the trek to Ft. Collins. Then we can both claim sociability.
Maybe it’s just me, but that whole social thing is way overrated, isn’t it? If I wanted to be social, I’d read and comment on blogs, cruise FB and Twitter and Skype with every new Estonian that gets internet access. Me, I’m shutting in, writing drivel, wiping drool, and trying out some of those chocolate resolutions. See you at the internet bar…if you ever answer my friend requests.
Right. I’ve see photographic evidence of you being in the out of doors, with other humans.