The Story is Yours in 2024!

Calling all writers! Time to celebrate your story!

Though it's cliché to make resolutions as we ring in the new year...

And usually those resolutions are the same as the year before...

Then those promises are soon cast aside by the return of every day drudgeries...

But I won't give up... I say: Try, try again!

And what better time to start than on the first IWSG post for 2024. To be successful, we need daily reminders of our Resolutions. I want to think about health improvements, writing goals, and being a better person in general every day. And this year, I plan to do that by using positive daily reminders. I'm also happy that my puppies need less attention, getting me back to a more normal schedule. Here are my goals:

• I've been sharing inspirations with my homeroom students for years, encouraging them to have more self-confidence, kindness for others, and a broader perspective. This is a positive boost for me too!
• For a healthier lifestyle, I've used a Food Diary App which I really like, until it becomes tiresome and time consuming to enter all the foods and activities... But I'm going to try, try again!
• 
  What I always need help with is carving out time to write--plus all the other fun and not-so-fun parts of publishing. Making a list helps me get started:
• I want to re-start the Writer's Chat.
• I need to publish the e-book of CONDUCTION--not to mention the million things that along with it (but that's another list -- check off book trailer, still perfecting, but here's the prelim)
• and I have a bunch more stories waiting to be written!
• So, I need a plan to find time to dedicate to writing, et al, and stick to it! I'm sure I'll figure something out like leave myself sticky notes, annoying phone reminders, or reward myself for getting things done.

What's your story? Are you writing? Got any advice for making time to get things done? I hope you accomplished everything you wanted to in 2023, and will accomplish more in 2024!

PS - Don't forget to stop by Alex J. Cavanaugh  &  Christine Rains my helpful cohorts promoting CONDUCTION! All you folks in the IWSG keep me going!

Happy New Year!

via GIPHY

I Love a Happy Ending

I especially love a happy ending that leads to a beautiful beginning.

If you set any resolutions, I hope those haven't ended. But you can resolve to make improvements in your life at any time of the year! I found a great list of inspirational changes for a better you (and me). I edited it down to a more manageable list because I find a shorter list is easier to handle (and remember). Maybe just try one each month (and hope they stick from the previous month)

15 Positive Resolutions... (borrowed from Article)

1. Drink more water
2. Move more, sit less
3. Volunteer more
4. Call mom/siblings/grandparents more
5. Live simple, consume/waste less
6. Turn on music instead of video
7. Take more breaks
8. Ditch one bad habit
9. Clean out your in-box
10. Take a 24-hr break from social media once a month
11. Clean out your closet
12. Make a new friend
13. Learn a new language
14. Organize your photos
15. Go outside more

I started working on #2 - I was doing great with my nightly treadmill treks, until I got sick again. I'm trying to get back into it now that I'm better. The trick is to remember to go down there when I'm at a break before my alarm goes off. I'm usually in the middle of something for the alarm and forget to go later.

I also picked up #6 - not that I watch much TV or videos these days. And not that I have much interest in the current TV Series. I've been watching re-runs of old faves and new-to-me oldies. But turning on my radio instead of wasting time trying to find something to watch has been a pleasant change.

And I hope to carry these forward into my regular routine when I choose another one... 

This summer I hope to pick back up on my writing. I've had a few ideas strike me but time is not on my side. I'm just glad we have the IWSG to keep me blogging. It's so nice to communicate with you all. Something I don't want to come to an end any time soon!

Speaking of Happy Endings, we are celebrating Valentine's Day with lovely bites from each author in the new IWSG anthology - First Love. Stop by if you can!

So, do you have any positive changes you're working on?

Is this year going well? I hope so!

Stay warm and optimistic!

Tara Tyler Talks #Goals and Remember Blog Hops?

Anyone fall of the Resolution Wagon yet?
I hope not! Keep at it all month and it SHOULD become a good habit.

I was really feeling the need for New Year's Resolutions this year. The treat train finally came to a stop, and I totally purged my pantry. Better eating is Goal #1 and my method is--if I don't buy it, I can't eat it!

Speaking of goal-setting, one of my writer friends appropriately pushes forward any goals not met the year before. As surprises, emergencies, and other life stuffs jump out at us throughout the year, our goals get shoved aside. Sometimes this is for the better. Maybe we weren't ready to publish yet, which is just one more step toward the worst part of books--the dreaded marketing... Not to mention, some unexpected experiences can add quality to our writing. No worries, we deal with what comes and adjust accordingly. So don't fret if you can't reach all your goals.

The first step toward achieving goals is to write them down (and I love lists). So here are my broad Writing goals for 2020:

• Taking back BEAST WORLD Campaign, Phase 2 - a subtle undercut jab at Pixar for appropriating my unique setting. Would love to have you JOIN THE CAUSE!
• Repub Cradle Rock, Simulation, and Disposal (and tweak Windy Hollow) -- 2 down, 4 to go!
• Publish GERTRUDE - the Nerdy Princess
• Write first draft of CONDUCTION, Pop Travel #4
• Polish and Submit FARTHER ALONG, Christian YA
• Connect more with writer friends by posting more often
• Market more... ugh.

My process: chip away at this list on the weekends and go gung ho during the summer.

What are your goals for this year?? 

Let's help each other stay on track. I'll be checking in more regularly this year. Hopefully that will help!

One way to connect more... Remember Blog Hops? I was just reminiscing about how much I liked them and how I met new writer friends when we used to do them... and BLAMMO!
Patricia Josephine is having one!

Valentine's Day is ABDUCTED LIFE's birthday. To celebrate, Patricia's asking us to write a little story about being abducted by aliens... sounds like fun! I'm making the time.

Here are the deets:

• Possible approaches: Government report. First person encounter. Stowing away on an alien spaceship. Maybe write it from the alien's POV. Go to the Outer Limits!
• 500 words or less. 
• Posts will go up the week of Valentine's Day.

I hope you join in! Sign ups for the blog hop
(This prompt also fit right into another contest I happened to find, so I already wrote my story--submitted to the contest too. Love when that happens. Thanks, Patricia!)

Good luck with your Goals & Keep Writing!