New Year's Resolutions: 2014

[xerinmichellex]

First: My endoscopy went fine. I had a sore throat throughout the day and felt a little lethargic from the sedatives; but other than that no complications. The doctor took a few biopsies, but he has ruled out cancer (whew) so it'll probably be a week or two until I know what is wrong and what the next steps are going to be.

(Also: I'm pretty proud that while I was waiting for the anesthesiologist I rectified a lot of plot questions I had for The Book. I cut a character, altered my MC's role in the conflict--which deletes a few plot elements that I don't have to think about/research--and figured out one behind-the-scenes character's motives. So all around an awesome way to occupy my time.)

Now this year's resolutions, quick and to the point:

1. Don't be afraid to ask for help

Between putting off my health issues and, in general, bottling up my feelings, I want to try and be better about asking for help or voicing my feelings when something isn't going right. I want to get to a point where asking for help isn't because I'm a failure or not smart or not capable of doing things for myself. I want to reach out and accept the help of others. Because I feel like I'm good at giving advice and willing to help; and yet, I don't like accepting help or assistance for myself. So I want to break that and whatever stigma I have against asking for help when I truly need it.

(I also want to start keeping a writing journal again. I did a good job of it years ago, when I was balancing work and writing [mostly the journal was to bitch about work, tbh]. I think that'll help with my feelings of hopelessness and hashing out why I find myself procrastinating with writing.)

2. Cook one, new recipe/meal every other week

Again with my health being what it is, I've been trying to eat better and not be afraid to try new things. I'm a very picky eater; but instead of turning up my nose before I've had something, I'm going to actually put it in my mouth and eat it before I say, "No, I don't like it." I've been flipping through my mother's cookbooks and marking recipes I want to try. So it's about time I try them instead of staring at their picture and imagining myself eating it...some day.

3. Complete The Book and have it in querying order by the end of the year

Pretty self explanatory. If all things go well, I should start the first (terrible) draft of The Book on Monday; and even if I only write two paragraphs THAT'S OKAY. A FULL 80K BOOK ISN'T GOING TO MAGICALLY FALL INTO MY COMPUTER IN TWO WEEKS! Ahem. This year I really want to focus on finishing the thing and not even worry about querying until the new year. (Unless, of course, that 80K book magically falls into place before the end of the year.) It's been, hmm, about 4 years since I've done any querying. Basically, I'm starting over and re-learning everything and I want time to do that and not muck it up right out of the gate.

No reading resolutions this year; I didn't read a whole lot in 2013. I'm really trying to focus on getting myself healthy--physically and mentally--and focus on one "superficial" thing this year than freak out over hitting a magical books-read number. Although the TBR piles--yes, piles--next to my bed may disagree.

Comments

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

Wow, all very good resolutions! Sounds like cooking new recipes and trying them will be the most fun. :) (Hate to admit it, but I probably could use a reminder to ask for help once in a while. I tend to be very must-do-this-myself about a lot of things, too.)

I hope your book's finished draft almost falls into your lap by magic, but not quite. May it go smoothly enough so you don't agonize over it too much, but give you just enough work so that you feel very accomplished indeed. :)

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

Sounds like cooking new recipes and trying them will be the most fun

I should've prefaced that resolution by saying "Have my mom cook the new recipes I try out" because I absolutely hate cooking. By the time I've assembled and cooked the meal, often times I'm not hungry.

May it go smoothly enough so you don't agonize over it too much, but give you just enough work so that you feel very accomplished indeed

I'm hoping because I've been working on this story for a couple of years in my head, and thus have amassed a collection of scenes, putting it all together won't be the hardest thing. Inevitably, though, I'm afraid I'm married to a bunch of scenes and then won't be able to alter or cut them entirely if they no longer fit within the plot.

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

By the time I've assembled and cooked the meal, often times I'm not hungry.

That happens to me often, too, and it drives me crazy. Half the time, I just cook something up early and save it for later.

Inevitably, though, I'm afraid I'm married to a bunch of scenes and then won't be able to alter or cut them entirely if they no longer fit within the plot.

Yeah, that's a nightmare, and a road nobody wants to take.

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's a nightmare, and a road nobody wants to take.

Which is why having a beta reader (or two) is really helpful. Rhoda beta'd a novel for me a couple years ago and it was extremely helpful to hear "LOL this scene doesn't work" and also when scenes DID work coming from someone other than myself.

(Incidentally, if you're feeling up to it/have the time, I would love to have you beta, too. The more opinions, the better!)

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

I'd love to beta for you, and I'm flattered you've asked. :) Any time you want to send something my way, feel free to do so, though it might take me a couple days to get back to you.

[xerinmichellex.livejournal.com]

We'll work out the details once I'm ready and have an actual manuscript and I'll give you plenty of a head's up. (And don't worry, a couple days is completely normal for beta-ing a manuscript.)

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay. Good to know. :)