Do you have favorite authors? Is there someone you automatically reach for when you are tired, or had a bad day, or are celebrating something? I have several favorite authors, but who I reach for depends on my mood at the moment. If I am not feeling any particularly strong emotions, I might stand in front of my keeper shelves and wait for something to jump out at me. If I am tired or worn out, and don’t want to read something which requires deep thought, I often reach for one of my old Barbara Metzger books. Her regencies, especially the older ones, are light and frothy and just the thing to take me out of my world for a short while. If I am looking for something to cheer me up, Janet Chapman usually does the trick. Her stories have enough meat to not be boring, yet also have a fun, irreverent attitude. If I want something with more depth and expertly drawn characters, then Jodi Thomas or Anne Gracie or Julie Garwood is a likely possibility. I can read books by my favorite authors over and over again. I vaguely comprehend that some people exist who refuse to read any book more than once, but I cannot wrap my head around that concept. To me, it’s like having a good friend you choose to never speak to again. Why deny yourself the pleasure? I have also discovered another benefit of re-reading old books. Some of the books on my keeper shelves have sat there so long since I read them, I don’t remember much about the stories. When I read one of those books, it’s like discovering a great story or author all over again. And it didn’t cost me a dime! I feel sorry for anyone who has not discovered the joy of reading. Books can take us to so many other places or times or to meet so many interesting people. And when we re-read a book, it’s like taking a good friend along on the trip. I hope you have many similar good friends, and I wish you bon voyage on many pleasant journeys with them.
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I learned something new today. Did you ever hear of “vinegar valentines”? I first saw a mention of them earlier today. While the sweet valentines we normally think of have been around for hundreds of years, the Victorians came up with the idea of vinegar valentines to send to people they disliked – anyone from a mean landlord to a spurned lover.
Sending valentines in general became more popular in the Victorian era because cards were mass-produced, cheap, and easy to send. While many of the vinegar valentines attempted to be funny, some of them sank to being cruel. I suppose it was the social media of the day. I certainly don’t want to sour anyone’s Valentine’s Day. However, I thought some of the vinegar valentines were amusing, and offered an interesting historical perspective on how people thought at the time. I couldn’t resist sharing some of my favorites. A new year often brings a surge in energy and optimism, and this year was no different. I shook off the holiday malaise, and found a renewed focus on my writing. Since it was the start of the year, it also seemed like a good time to get a little more organized with my writing. As a result, I spent some time over the last few weeks developing a business plan for myself. I read a couple articles I had saved on strategic planning for writers, and looked online until I found a free plan template which looked as if it would fit my needs. The end result is not complete – not by a long shot – but it is helping to remind me of my goals and keep me focused. As the articles suggested, I started with some big questions when creating my plan. First, I thought about my vision for my writing future. (Who do I want to be as a writer? How do I want to be described?) This was followed by my mission statement. (What I want to do as a writer? What do I want to achieve with my writing?) I also spent some time thinking about my values. (What traits are important to me, and what will I do – or not do – as I strive to make my vision come true?) Then, it was time to think about my goals. These are the milestones which I will need to pass on my way to achieving my vision. I began with the larger, long-term goals. Though many people suggest creating five-year goals, that felt like too long of a time frame for me, so I developed three-year goals instead. After that, I created goals for the next year, the next quarter, and so on. Based on my list of goals, I have plenty to do in the coming months! One of my goals is to get back on social media again, so you should see more activity from me in the coming weeks. Another goal is to be more consistent with posting a blog each week. I am still annoyed with myself for letting these activities fall so completely by the wayside in the last 1 ½ years. Yes, I moved twice in ten months, but I shouldn’t have allowed that to become such a long-term excuse. So…, new year, new commitment. These are on top of my more writing-specific goals. Some of these you can probably guess – finish revisions on my current manuscript, get an agent, get my first book contract, and the list goes on. I have started taking some of the smaller steps toward being ready to query agents, and I will keep you posted on how that goes. All of this has made me curious about something. Do other writers feel the same sense of renewal each January? Have any of you also spent time thinking about your goals and your vision for your future? If you have any tips or suggestions for how to approach this process, I am sure the rest of us would be glad to read them. Please leave your tips in the comments section below. And in the meantime – back to my writing! |
AuthorI write historical fiction, and I invite you to share the journey to published author with me. Archives
December 2022
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