I admit it--it's been a slow start to the blogging year. Most of this has been because of the necessary recovery from the holidays (at one point my house was full of guests from England--and my mother just left two days ago.) But lest you think it's been nothing but wassail and Downton Abbey, I have to report that I have been reading up a storm--mainly the Cybils middle grade shortlist, and I can't wait to post my reviews on Marvelous Middle Grade Monday once the judges have convened in our conclave and the winner is announced around Valentine's Day.
As for writing, the one goal I have this year is to enjoy my writing more. It's easy to be swept away into worries about 'is this good?'' and 'will I ever be published?' When it becomes more about the product than the process then some of the joy can go out of the writing. I have to remind myself to play.
How has your year started off? I hope January finds you fine and dandy!
Glad you're enjoying the writing. I'm trying to get into that more too with the new year. Looking forward to seeing what you've been reading.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you back but totally understand why you haven't been around much. Cheers to your writing!
ReplyDeleteHappy you enjoyed (and survived) having your family visit. :) I agree that we need to enjoy our writing. I tend to get caught up in the business and deadlines end of it, so a reminder that it should be fun, too, is always welcome.
ReplyDeleteA slow start is a fine start! Everything moves at its own pace. :) Glad you got to spend time with family- that is a great way to start off 2014.
ReplyDeleteI love your goal for 2014. We went into writing because we enjoy it, so keeping that in mind is key!
Best of luck and happy writing. :)
~Jess
Great goal!
ReplyDeleteI think I've lost track of the enjoyment in the last couple months, too caught up in deadlines and worrying about meeting expectations. But I got some great advice from Katie Mills on my blog this morning, and it is similar to your goal: Have fun with the writing. Write more for my own enjoyment and less for the expectations of others.
Excellent point about the writing, Michael. Katherine Applegate said, "The truth is, you have to have fun with it... You have to do it because you love it, and if you love it, the rest will come."
ReplyDeleteAnd I knew you had a ton of reading to do for the Cybils, so I'm amazed you're here at all!
I'm trying to read more outside my usual genres, and to not only write more, but submit more.
I love your writing goal! I'm working on something now that is just for me (without the pressure of thinking about submitting it or even showing it to my crit group) and I'm actually feeling eager to work on it because I'm "enjoying" rather than "trying" .
ReplyDeleteWelcome back I say! Looking forward to hanging with you in cyberspace again. And boy howdy do I hear you on the worries of writing..must go with the enjoy it more, too!
ReplyDeleteNice to see your here again. Everyone should take a good break over the holidays. Glad you had lots of family around. that's what it's all about.
ReplyDeleteYes! Play! It's going to be a great year.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're enjoying your reading! :)That's a great goal for the year - to enjoy writing. I need to do that too!
ReplyDeleteWassail and Downton Abbey -- hmm, too bad it's NOT all that. :)
ReplyDeleteIn a similar vein, I'm trying to get through several MG contenders before the ALA announcements on Monday.