Happy 2020 All,

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was so glad to see the end of 2019. It was a year filled with events that pulled me into an emotional vortex of the extreme. Last year began with a very sick mother who lost her battle to cancer in March. Then a husband who also found himself in a fight with cancer. After months of treatment, he won! Thank God! After the first half of 2019, storm clouds finally lifted. My son married and we are blessed with a beautiful daughter-in-law. I found out I was to be a grandmother again, and of course, my first novel “Bird” was published. I’ve heard it said that you should stop and look around at the end of each year. That things won’t be the same a year from now. How true. I did stop and look around. I took a mental picture, I then took a breath, and now I’m ready to move on.

So, what resolutions did I make for 2020? I’m not sure I’d call them exactly resolutions, but more like bite size goals. And not goals for my entire life either. Nope, I’m just going to focus on my writing. That’s it. That’s my 2020 focus. You see, I’m planning on a new novel, and I’m excited. Nope it’s not a sequel to “Bird” (hope I haven’t disappointed folks) but a story I hope you’ll enjoy just as much. In order to accomplish this, I will need to push myself, and my bite size goals will help me do this. So here they are, rather raw and uncomplicated.

  1. Write daily, even when I don’t feel like it.
  2. Research, research, research. That will take time and patience.
  3. Reach out to experts. I’m going to need their help and its not something I do comfortably.
  4. Stop apologizing when I ask someone to take a look at my work. My writing can only get better with constructive feedback.
  5. Work on marketing strategies I’ve been taught. I’m going to admit something here, I HATE marketing! It’s a necessary evil.
  6. Write daily, oh wait, I think I already said that.
  7. Set a routine, don’t be interrupted. No phone calls, no texts, no checking emails while I’m in the writing zone.
  8. Think of myself as a writer. This may sound ridiculous, but it helps.
  9. Continue reaching out to the writing community.
  10. Write daily. I know, I keep repeating myself  but it’s key. It maintains writing rhythm.

That’s what I’m doing in 2020. I wish all of you the very best this new year has to offer. Please feel free to reach out to me. Let me know what you’re thinking, what you’re reading, whatever you’d like to share. I would love to hear from you. I’ve met so many extraordinary people over this past year since “Bird.” was published. I’m incredibly grateful for the love and support that has been shown to me. Love to all and a very Happy New Year!