I've started thinking about what I want to do for my resolutions for 2013. Sure, I could go with the old stand-bys of working out x days per week or losing x pounds during the year or paying off x debt. And I think I might do that as some goals.
But more than thinking about that, I want to work on my writing. And I have been thinking about creating a goal related to that. I have two first drafts of novels written, as well as some unfinished writing projects. But I kind of want to do something new as my primary project.
Have you given any thoughts to resolutions? Are you going to make any, or are you against resolutions?
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Favorite holiday traditions
One of my favorite traditions this time of year was going out to see Christmas lights with the family on Christmas Eve. There were some houses fairly close to ours that went all out with their lights, and it was a lot of fun to see them. There was even someone who would dress up like Santa and hand out candy canes to people in cars that were driving slowly down the street to enjoy the lights. It was also a tradition in the area to put out luminarias, which were lighted candles set inside paper bags. Seeing those in the neighborhood really was something.
We have tried to create some of our own traditions as a new family. Each year, we go to a local thrift store and look for Christmas sweaters to take a family photo in. Then we buy a picture frame ornament with the year on it to put the picture in. The first year we did this, one of my older sisters told another sister that she was worried about me. We tried to be as cheesy as possible so people would know that we weren't serious, but apparently she thought we were serious and I was turning into my mother or something. Ha ha! This year, we haven't found Christmas sweaters, so we think we may not be able to participate, and I'll be really bummed to have to break this tradition.
Another tradition we're trying to keep is based loosely on something we did as a family when I was younger. As a family, we went around to neighbors and family friends singing Christmas carols and giving some sort of homemade gift my mom baked. I wasn't a fan of the singing each year, but we always got into the spirit of it part of the way through. Still, I decided I'm not really interested in a Von Trapp singing family (especially since there are only 2 of us right now who can sing), but I want to at least do a little something for my neighbors. We haven't done this every year, but this year we dropped off poinsettias and Christmas cards, and all our neighbors were appreciative.
What are some traditions you have or would like to start for the holidays, whether Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's, or some other day?
We have tried to create some of our own traditions as a new family. Each year, we go to a local thrift store and look for Christmas sweaters to take a family photo in. Then we buy a picture frame ornament with the year on it to put the picture in. The first year we did this, one of my older sisters told another sister that she was worried about me. We tried to be as cheesy as possible so people would know that we weren't serious, but apparently she thought we were serious and I was turning into my mother or something. Ha ha! This year, we haven't found Christmas sweaters, so we think we may not be able to participate, and I'll be really bummed to have to break this tradition.
Another tradition we're trying to keep is based loosely on something we did as a family when I was younger. As a family, we went around to neighbors and family friends singing Christmas carols and giving some sort of homemade gift my mom baked. I wasn't a fan of the singing each year, but we always got into the spirit of it part of the way through. Still, I decided I'm not really interested in a Von Trapp singing family (especially since there are only 2 of us right now who can sing), but I want to at least do a little something for my neighbors. We haven't done this every year, but this year we dropped off poinsettias and Christmas cards, and all our neighbors were appreciative.
What are some traditions you have or would like to start for the holidays, whether Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's, or some other day?
Monday, December 3, 2012
NaNoWriMo
I am a writer!!!
I have had a couple little things published and haven't even kept track of them. But I have participated in National Novel Writing Month four different years and have "won" three of those four years.
Writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days (the goal of NaNoWriMo) is fun and yet challenging. There were more than a few times during that 30 days each year when I thought about giving up. I had to silence my inner critic (who I will call Cruella, because of her ruthlessness) who wanted me to re-write what I'd already written and/or start over and/or edit the crap out of it. I wanted Cruella to shut up for 30 days so I could just get a beginning, middle, and end out on paper. It was tough, but I managed to do it. And now, I have a story written. I'm pretty sure I contradicted myself at least once in the story, but it is written! It is a story that wasn't written in my head (only the basics), let alone on paper (so to speak) before November.
So I have been relaxing the past few days, enjoying library books that I wondered when I'd get a chance to read them. It's a fabulous feeling of success.
The writing process was surely a labor of love, and now I have a newborn baby book to nurture. So I suppose I should get to work on that. But I'd like to finish the books I have checked out from the library first.
I have had a couple little things published and haven't even kept track of them. But I have participated in National Novel Writing Month four different years and have "won" three of those four years.
Writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days (the goal of NaNoWriMo) is fun and yet challenging. There were more than a few times during that 30 days each year when I thought about giving up. I had to silence my inner critic (who I will call Cruella, because of her ruthlessness) who wanted me to re-write what I'd already written and/or start over and/or edit the crap out of it. I wanted Cruella to shut up for 30 days so I could just get a beginning, middle, and end out on paper. It was tough, but I managed to do it. And now, I have a story written. I'm pretty sure I contradicted myself at least once in the story, but it is written! It is a story that wasn't written in my head (only the basics), let alone on paper (so to speak) before November.
So I have been relaxing the past few days, enjoying library books that I wondered when I'd get a chance to read them. It's a fabulous feeling of success.
The writing process was surely a labor of love, and now I have a newborn baby book to nurture. So I suppose I should get to work on that. But I'd like to finish the books I have checked out from the library first.
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