HAPPY 2009!

Do you have those goals ready? Are you enthusiastic about your writing projects for the New Year? It's less than three hours away here in California.

READY, SET, GO FOR SUCCESS IN THE NEW YEAR.

Remember--you are the best.

THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Today I received one of those E-cards we often find in our online mailbox. I always know that when Normie sends me a card, it will be something soothing, loving or inspirational. She didn't disappoint me with this one. It offered me a long list of tips on what I can do to make a new year the best for both me and others around me.

"Find adventure in each day..." Isn't that a great nudge? Instead of looking at what can go wrong, the drudgery of what tasks I have for that particular day, or quaking about something that I am scheduled to do, I need to look on the positive side. What wonderful adventure might I have today? Those tasks I must do might give me some "thinking" time for ideas, or show how to work myself out of that corner I've put my characters in. I need to meet every challenge with a smile and a pep-talk about doing my best, what I am capable of doing, and seek a unique outcome.

"Once a day look in the mirror and laugh with amazement. . ." Boy, I'm alive and on my feet and the bathroom just got cleaned and I've almost completed those revisions on a book that no one thought I could write, least of all myself. Isn't it wonderful to be filled with laughter, fulfillment, contentment, and happiness--life is not always filled with those rose bouquets but it ain't stink weed either.

"Never give up on yourself . . ." I love this one. We writers often hit the wall and want to throw in the towel. We've received another rejection letter, or the manuscript that agent requested has come back almost as quickly as it was sent out. We think we'll never be able to have a book published, or that particular one. We want to give up. But what this tip for a new year is telling us is we can't do it! We have everything going for us if we will just look for it, key those words in, rework that paragraph, accept that speaking engagement, join that critique group--we go on and on because we can't not write!

So my main request for all of you, writers, mothers, wives, friends, sons, husbands, whoever you are--

NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF!

START OVER EVERY MORNING

If you are looking back over your successes during this year, you might feel a bit down. Did you reach all of your goals, half of them, a few, none? Whatever the answer is to this question, don't let it slow you down. Or if the accomplishments are high, don't let them placate you. Next year, is a chance to begin all over again. In fact, we writers can start over every morning.

I have not accomplished many of the goals I set this past year. For a day or two after looking at the list on my whiteboard, I grieved. I blamed myself for too much going on other than my writing, for allowing life to take over this love to create, and for just being a procrastinator. Then I once again looked at that list: there were items there I had accomplished.

I had promoted my books quite often, sold more than I had thought I would. I gave three lectures to receptive audiences. With my help, several of my students became published authors for the first time. I had several articles, poetry and personal essays published. And I completed the first draft of a novella.

I also had rejections. I learned a lesson about rejections long ago: not to take them as a rejection of you as a writer. There is always something to be learned when your work is not accepted. Send it out again and again; if it comes back three times and, I feel I have targeted the right markets, I take a close look at it, maybe even do a complete rewrite. I do not allow rejections to paralyze me, to set me off on a path of "non-writing."

Remember, there is nothing to offer anyone unless we writers sit down with pen and pad, or at the keyboard, and create it. No one can string words together the way we can at any given date. We can be published in this New Year, complete that novel we've worked on forever it seems, and help our fellow writers along the path to success.We can find the time to chase our dreams.

And, we have the ability to start over every morning.

SPARKS

I lead/teach a creative writing class once a week with members writing in all genres. There are different levels of expertise and each has a different goal. Several are writing the great novel, one has been published in children's magazines, another often sells her poetry to national magazines, and still others are not seeking publication at all. But, from time to time, they all have something in common--they have no idea what to write about to share at the next class.

At the beginning of each semester, I present them with a weekly schedule of "sparks" or "prompts" or story starters; whatever they are called they seem to work. These "brain wakeups" as I sometimes call them, give writers a nudge when they aren't writing on a specific project. We've all had fun with some, have been stumped by a few, and used others to create more serious works.

The teacher--me--doesn't always share her writing. Due to time restraints, I am the last to sign up for sharing. Usually, I have something short ready--a story, a poem, an article, a personal essay--just in case I need to perform. I need their critiques, their comments, input, and suggestions as much as they need mine and each others. On one occasion I chose a spark/prompt/story starter to write what I thought would be a short story. Instead, the prompt "Sitting in a diner at midnight..." became the first sentence in "Trusting Strangers."

"Trusting Strangers," a romantic-suspense novella, was one of those things I never believed in--a story that wrote itself. I began to create the first part; I thought it would be a short story, as I said, but it was a chapter. My students showed enthusiasm and urged me to continue. Each week for thirty weeks I produced a chapter. And though, I would never do it again because of the pressure from my students (LOL), it was the quickest anything ever poured out of me. It is in revisions now. I hope to have it published in 2009.

Maybe you need a spark, a prompt--a push. Here are a few from my list:

Ken was noted most likely to annoy an entire country.

I sometims think of myself as a hired gun.

Old wounds heal slowly.

I'v been living in the potting shed since Sunday.

"Hell, Sam, I can't ask her out. I'm a Tootsie Roll Pop and she's Godiva chocolate."

The trip always leaves me wishing for . .

It's the memories that plague me.

You can even make up your own. Have fun. You never know where those beginning ideas may lead.

POETRY FROM LIFE

Several years ago, I joined a group of poets who entered an art gallery, viewed the pieces of work offered, chose one, and wrote poetry to the art. It was a unique experience. The poetry that came from these pieces was awesome; it was a true lesson in how the human mind differs from one person to the other, no matter what the level of talent.

Writing poetry has always been a satisfying experience for me. As a child, I had no money for birthday cards for classmates or family, so these people in my life received a poem for the occasion. I have continued to do this often as an adult, not because I cannot afford a card but I, and the recipient, enjoy the results. When my father-in-law died he still had a famed birthday poem hanging over his desk.

I write poetry when stressed, when happy, sad, or feeling a deep relation to God. When I was still working in a pressure-cooker job, I took a steno pad to my car, or drove to a nearby park, during my lunch hour and wrote poetry. I wrote to clear my head, or to pour our my emotions--love, anger, inspiration--in that form of creativity. I didn't wait. I wanted to be a writer who wrote--anytime, anywhere, day in, day out.

Whether writing poetry or in other genre, we need to be open at all times. We never know when an idea will fly by so we should be ready to catch it. Don't wait, all writing teachers/editors/experts say. If we want to be seen, known, or chosen as writers, we need to write, write, write. It's as simple as that.

We don't wait for inspiration. It won't knock at our door, or thump us on the head. Sit down at the computer. Read books, newspapers and magazines. Write a poem from a headline, or the topic of the piece.

Seek and ye shall find poetry from life.

DON'T PACK UP CHRISTMAS!

It's the day after Christmas. I'm not hitting the after-season marathon of shopping as I don't need (want, maybe) more decorations, lights, electronics, clothes or cards. After New Year's Day I'll get out the empty boxes from the workshop/shed and fill them with colorful cherished momentos. And try to figure out where to put the new LED-crystal lighted raindeer my dear hubby just had to have. But there are some things I can't put too far away too soon.

I'll be clipping ideas out of the holiday magazines and adding them to the file along with my notes for stories, articles or fillers for the holiday season. I always have my large CD collection of holiday music within reach. I'll save certain cards that seem to tell me a story and set them aside. And maybe my favorite old-fashioned Santa will remain on top of my bookcase. Why, after all the rush, and then let down, would I not move on with thoughts of Valentine's Day or Easter?

I plan to keep these items handy because six short months from now it will be Christmas in June. Editors will be waiting for writers to submit a holiday piece that grabs their attention; some tip or essay or short story about this special holiday is waiting to be submitted by you. As writers, we ofte need props of some kind to set us on the writing path.

Choose something that will put you in the Christmas mood (music, picture, clippings, or a combination of all). Even when the temperature has risen into the 90's outside, the wonder of the season will leap from keyboard to screen. Christmas is in July for writers. . .and editors.

HAPPY WRITING.

A STOLEN MOMENT IN TIME

"In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you."
-Deepak Chopra

This quote struck me as a good one to describe what writers, during this time of the year, should seek for ourselves. In general, this is the most stressful time of the year for many people--busy rushing around planning family gatherings, cooking and baking in mass amounts, shopping or, if alone for whatever reason, feeling the pain of isolation. The season offers many challenges to writers.

How do we stay in touch with our creative selves "in the midst of movement and chaos?"

The best way for me to stay centered, is to set aside time each day for what I enjoy. I attempt to find an hour daily to engage in some aspect of this writing craft I seem to have to pursue. No matter what preparations are needed, we owe ourselves the pleasure of writing, and I aim to be selfish enough to make the time. I may use the time to research a new idea for an article, or educate myself about a new location for setting. An hour per day allows me a good chunk of revision time on a completed book or story. That hour might be used to give a last read to an article, write the cover letter, and send it out--either snail or e-mail.

Maybe you honestly can't find an hour per day. I am sure you can grab snippets of time to make notes for your next project while waiting for an appointment,or someone. Between batches of cookies, read another chapter in that book you chose because it resembles what you would like to write. Instead of watching TV until bedtime, use some of that time fo sit down at the computer and complete a draft of your next essay, or book chapter. You can even write a character sketch in your head while driving to the mall. Hey, it's better than that cellphone stuck to your ear for distraction, isn't it?

Today I spent my hour working on the outline for the sequence of articles for my Soul Sisters Newsletter. Tomorrow, I'll set up the masthead, clip in the first graphic, and maybe even get an article or two typed. With these stolen hours, I will have the newsletter ready to be sent out the first week in January.

Promise yourself that no matter what is going on around you, you'll give yourself a gift: Indulge in your love of writing. I'm betting you won't feel half as exhausted by all the "movement and chaos" around you when you let the "stillness" translate into creative accomplishments.

THE NOMINATION

The New Yorker always has wonderful covers. They are well-drawn, colorful, and intriguing--often asking viewers to figure out the punch line for themselves. The December 8, 2008, issue cover leaves no doubt about the story.

President-elect Barrack Obama, upon winning, promised his daughters they could have a dog when they make the big move. The canine member of the household has to be virtually shed/allergy proof as one daugher is allergic to bow-wows. Of course, every dog lover in the country has offered their recommendations.

The family won't move into the White House until late in January so they still have time to choose. But, if the magazine cover is any indication, the head of the household is already contemplating interviews.

What kind of questions do you ask the applicants? As Obama interrogates the Beagle, is he also checking the strength (or lack thereof) of doggy breath? I must say he should take notice of the decorum of the three patiently waiting competitors--they are true ladies and gentlemen, standing erect, facing forward, not barking, nipping, growling, or paying any attention to anyone but the interviewer.

I wonder. Will the winner have his/her pedigree scrutinized by Homeland Security?

Will the Top Dog be nominated, and then be required to face a hearing before Congress? NOTE: Does anyone know if Pelosi is a dog lover or not?

On the other hand: Do the lawmakers dare not confirm. Do they think they can get away with breaking the hearts of two precious girls?

The American people are watching.