New Year, New Books, New You

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Whether a magic filled year full of wonder, or equivalent to an angry Uruk-hai-filled journey across Middle Earth, 2015 is over and 2016 has begun with a bang! Throw that mind controlling ring into the fires along with everything that may have happened in 2015, 'cause 2016 is a new year and a new start!

Although every year people--including myself--make resolutions hell-bent on bettering ourselves, losing weight, giving up soda, etc, it seems that people rarely keep these resolutions.

I know that I never kept my resolutions. Maybe 1 out of every 10, but that's not a great track record. So this year, I made a resolution to keep my resolutions, and make resolutions that I would have a chance of keeping.


I'd like to start by listing my four (or so) New Year's resolutions:

         1. Receive at least 20 rejection letters from publishers in 2016
         2. Get a job!
         3. Focus larger amounts of energy on being positive
         4. Read more books. At least 10. 10 books in 2016. I should make it 16 books              for 2016, but hey, I like to accomplish my resolutions... Which brings me                to my my next point. 

I chose to focus on resolutions that I could actually accomplish. No "finish a whole novel!" or "lose 10 lbs a month!" No. None of that. Those are great goals, but they are so specific, and so big. Bite off small chinks. Want to get published in 2016? Start by saying you want to write something every day, or every other day. Say that you want to submit to 30 publishers, and not just novels! Focus small, and let yourself grow.


I believe that resolutions should focus on bettering yourself. And resolutions should make you happy. They should make you feel good. Accomplished. I'm not trying to preach. Believe me, I have made so many resolutions that I never kept and felt worse for the wear from it.

On a completely bookish note, read a book this year. There are so many out there, and even if that book is a free 50-page novella from the Amazon Kindle store, it is still reading. Books are healing. Read them.

I am excited for 2016. I have already been focused on my goals, and I feel good. I wish the same for everyone. Happy 2016 and best of luck on those pesky resolutions!