Back in the Saddle Again

Tuesday, January 11, 2011
This is me, pretending to be thrilled to be riding Traveler. Ireland 2005

Yesterday, my 2011 day planner showed up in the mail. While this fact in and of itself proves that I'm not totally on board with the 2011 concept just yet, but I was still surprised when I flipped open the planner to this week and realized  . . . we're already approaching the middle of January and, consequently, my middle of January writing deadlines. Wha?!

I feel like January has somehow sneaked in the back door of my life and hasn't bothered to check in at the front desk.

Anyone else feeling like this?

Personally, I blame the holidays. Don't get me wrong, I loved the holidays 2010 style. They were a ton of fun. (Maybe a little too fun?) But I think I contracted something which is referred to as "the Itis" over at the Writer's Den. You know: the "I ate way too much and have spent too much time running around like mad woman" blahs.The "I can't even think about taking down Christmas decorations yet" crazies. Of course, promptly  followed by the "If I don't take down these Christmas decorations soon, I'm going to go crazy" sentiments. 

So yesterday, I welcomed a return to my normal freelance writing life with open arms. Plugging away on one project for a few hours, doing an interview for this article, frantically scribbling a fiction idea onto a Post-It note after I got back from checking the mail.*ahhh* I heaved a huge sigh of relief. At long last, normality!

Last week, I mentioned that I don't do resolutions, but I make goals. Especially when it comes to the writing life. Perhaps no other path in life can evoke more floundering than one like the freelancing writing life where you're completely in charge of your own destiny. It's like that saying my boss at the canoe outfitters used to tell canoeists who didn't think they needed a map: "If you don't have a map you're actually lost; you just don't know it yet." I need yearly writing goals or else I'm apt to sit down at my desk every morning and turn on my computer and fritter away the morning on Facebook "liking" things. Let me tell you, "liking" things does not the bills pay.


Luckily, the mail today also brought not only my 2011 planner, but also the latest issue of Writer's Digest and a copy of The Productive Writer. Just what I need: a gentle nudge in the derriere to spend some time really thinking about writing and getting on paper a set of writing goals for 2010 that will look as faded and tired as last year's goals when Jan. 2012 rolls around.

I'm looking forward to getting down to business, making a plan for 2011 that I can stick with, and getting back in the saddle again.

Has everyone else got a firm hold on the reins of 2011? What are you hoping to accomplish this year -- writing or otherwise?

3 comments:

  1. Looks like your derriere was looking forward to it.... reign of 2011? Not yet at all. Guess I am still to busy being newly wed, coping with HUGE amount of boxes to be unpacked, furniture to be selected and my AOS applied for. I am still cleaning the stable....

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  2. No way do I have the reins on this year! LOL
    This year, I really want to spend a lot more time working with my horses. I've neglected them for too long.
    Writing goals? Maybe my writing goal should be to find some writing goals...

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  3. You're definitely not alone with the blah-thing. It's taken a lot of focus to get back into the swing of things.

    I'd forgotten all about Writer's Digest! I subscribed way back in the '80's when I first thought {underline 'thought'} about writing. I saved them for years until I finally had to move. They are such a valuable reference!

    Thanks so much for stopping by today.

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