Hello 2021

We finally made it to 2021!

It doesn't feel any different from the last day of 2020 except for a sense that life will return to some semblance of normal. It may take a while, some experts say in the fall, but at least that's a ray of light after enduring the dark days of the past year.

I hope there will be incremental improvements in the coming months as more and more people get vaccinated. It will be incumbent on everyone to wear a mask and practice personal hygiene such as regular washing of hands. I admit I have my doubts about this because of the selfish attitude of a few who feel it infringes on their personal freedom. Aren't they infringing on the freedom of others by spreading the lethal coronavirus? 

But I digress. 

It'll be nice to see people returning to sporting events . . . weddings . . . family reunions . . . religious services . . . picnics . . . shopping areas . . . birthday parties . . .

On a sadder note, being able to show final respects at funeral homes and cemeteries for loved ones who have died. Perhaps visiting those on their deathbeds in hospitals and nursing homes to let them know you love them and to provide comfort with a final farewell so they don't depart this Earth alone. 

I stopped making New Year's resolutions a long time ago. However, I have goals I want to achieve over the course of time, but they don't have to begin on Jan. 1.

Here are a few odds and ends: 

• 
  On the Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge, I plan to read 24 books this year. My goal was 18 last year and I read 31. (Feel free to friend and/or follow me.)
• I have a large shed that is loaded with stuff, some more than 50 years old. Since the Smithsonian is unlikely to be interested in any of the hidden treasures, I hope to get it cleaned out (much to the delight of my wife). My sons should appreciate it as well since they won't be burdened with sorting through it off if I kick the bucket. The decluttering of the house, especially my study, is an ongoing and neverending project.
• I want to have my next novel in the John Ross Boomer Lit series ready for publication in late 2021. The fourth installment, Make Room for Family, will be released on Feb. 1.
• I want to reconnect with old friends and relatives because life has an undisclosed expiration date. It's a two-way street so let me know if you want to see me.
• I'd like to make some progress on cataloging and editing my photos (it's become computer clutter).

I hope the coming months are filled with joy and happiness to everyone! And if you encounter obstacles along the way, don't forget that you overcame a lot in 2020.

Until the next time . . .

Looking Ahead in 2017

As I wrote in my previous post, 2016 wasn't the best of years for me in terms of writing. And there were a few other events that didn't help matters.

But 2016 is history. Now it's time to forge ahead into the new year.

So here are a few of my goals for 2017:

• Get in a set routine to write a minimum of two hours each day. As noted in other posts, the best time for me is in the pre-dawn hours because it's the most productive part of the day without the countless distractions.
  
• Finish the manuscript for the sequel to "Old Ways and New Days" (I have a working title but I'm not revealing it at this point) and hand it over to my editor. I hope to see it published in the spring.
•  Write six more short stories to complete the second volume to "Laments," to be released in late summer.
• Get started on the third installment in the OWND series. I already know what it's going to focus on, but I need to finish the second book. I'm not the multi-tasker I used to be. Must be an age thing. Either that or I have too much on the table so I'm scaling back.
• Write more posts to this blog. I'd also like to increase the followers (you can help me with that goal) here and on my Facebook page. 
•  Participate in more literary events. I'm already committed to the Southern Kentucky Book Fest in Bowling Green and the Authors Fair in La Grange, Ky., both in April. I'd like to do more presentations at libraries and senior citizens centers and retirement homes.  By the way, my series falls under the boomer lit genre -- aimed for baby boomers. Feel free to email me.
• My goal in Goodreads (feel free to connect or follow me) is to read a minimum of 24 books; that's two a month. I hope to exceed that count because I know reading strengthens my writing. Furthermore, I love to read and that's the best reason of all.
• I also plan to travel more this year because it expands my mind and informs my writing. My tentative plans include South America, Washington, D.C., New England, and a few day trips to places in my home state of Kentucky.

Please feel free to share your writing goals. I'd love to hear from you. 

Until the next time....

Another Year, A New Year

Today is the last day of 2014; tomorrow is the first day of 2015.

It's only a matter of a second separating the two years. As a matter of fact, it's already 2015 on the other side of the Earth (so here's a belated Happy New Year to you!). 

I don't get too wrapped up about a new year. I don't stay up and watch the ball drop at Times Square in New York on TV. I don't go to the neighborhood watering hole and celebrate the beginning of a new year with friends and strangers. Truth be told, I'll probably read and be in bed around 9:30 p.m. 

I don't make any New Year's resolutions. I try to live each day as it comes. I do have goals but they aren't mandated to begin on the first day of the year. 

Some of my goals include:

• Finish a manuscript for a new novel
• Publish another short story collection
• Edit a friend's book so he can publish it in a few months
• Travel to foreign lands
• Lose weight
• Eat healthy
• Exercise regularly
• Stay in touch with old friends
• Make new friends
• Be a good friend
• Spend more time with family
• Learn something new in the arts 

I'm sure I won't realize all of them. But I may reach some other goals along the way that may be more satisfying and enriching to me.

While I think it's important to think about the future, I believe it's equally important to live in the present. We're not guaranteed a future, especially those in my age group. 

And when I focus on the future, I want it to be primarily for my children, grandchildren and others -- socially, environmentally, and spiritually. I want a better world for them.

Wishing everyone a year of peace, love, and kindness in 2015.

Until the next time...

   

Happy New Year

Another year has started. Even though we're 14 years into the 21st century, it still seems odd to me to write or see 2014. I suppose that's because I've spent most of my life in the 20th century -- and most likely will have most of my years in past century when my time here has ended.

I really don't put much faith in new year's resolutions. I tend to resolve any needed changes when they get to a point where it's time to do something. If that happens on Feb. 23, May 9, August 17, or whatever date, that's when I do something about it.

Like most folks, especially here  in America, I hope to lose some weight this year. But I also know from previous efforts -- some successful and some not -- that it's a lose-some, gain-some effort. It's an ongoing thing with me. You simply have to stick to it until you're within a ballpark range of your desired weight. And more power to you if you ultimately reach your goal.

I plan to get more physically fit. I'll do this by enrolling in a program or two at the local YMCA. I'll stay with my regular regimen of walking, hiking, yard work and other physical activities.

And I also want to be more mentally fit through reading, writing, and challenges that will keep me sharp and focused. Another way will be by staying engaged with friends, family, coworkers, and perhaps a few foes.

Other than those few things, I hope to travel more this year, write another book, perhaps finally learn how to play a guitar, and do some volunteer work. 

But the main goal is to remain active, kinda like the late, great George Jones sang in "I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair":

"I don't need your rockin' chair

Your Geritol or your Medicare

Well, I still got neon in my vein

This gray hair don't mean a thing.

"I do my rockin' on the stage

You can't put this possum in a cage

My body's old but it ain't impaired

I don't need your rockin' chair"

My one resolution is wishing each and everyone a healthy and productive new year!

And now for some George Jones:

Until the next time...

Write Resolutions for 2014

When I make new year's resolutions, I try to list those that I can keep. I tend to stay away from the traditional ones such as doing healthier things, quitting bad habits, and decluttering my life because I'm just setting myself up for failure -- albeit minor ones for the most part.

That's not to say a person shouldn't have various and sundry resolutions to improve one's life. But I don't need to create a once-a-year list to do those things. I like to think that I can make changes as they occur along the way.

But I do like to establish some goals in my writing life that I try to adhere throughout the year. They're really not that difficult to keep since they are commonsense goals.

Here what I'll try to do this, and every, year as a writer:

1. Write every day. It doesn't necessarily have to be a book project although that will come during the course of the year. I have a full-time job that involves writing and editing. I post entries to this blog (my goal is two or three a week but sometimes I fall short of that). I also work on short stories.

2. Read every day. I always have a book or two that I'm reading. I try to have an fiction or nonfiction on my nightstand that I read every evening before I retire for the night. I read quite a bit on the Internet and from magazines that I subscribe. And I venture to the public library's reading area for items to read. I must admit that I fell short of my Goodreads goal of reading 40 books in 2013; I only made it to 29.

3. Maintain contact with author friends. I always enjoy their company as we chat about writing, books, and other authors.    

 4. Participate in writing events. I believe it's important for authors to take part in literacy programs, book fairs, library activities and similar events to stay in contact with the reading public and other authors. And in a sense, it's a way of giving back and supporting others.

5. Continue to study and learn the craft. I subscribe to several blogs about writing. They open my eyes to all things writing, from characterization, plot development, dialogue marketing, promotion, and more. 

6. Always give my best effort. I want to be the best writer I can be so I'll endeavor to make every word, every sentence, and every paragraph count. I know I'll probably fall short but it's the effort to improve that will make me a better writer.

Do you have any "write resolutions" for 2014?

Until the next time.

Write Resolutions

It's hard to believe we're already into a new year.

I was able to realize a few writing goals in 2012, such as publishing my short-story collection, "Laments," completing the National Novel Writing Month challenge, and producing blog posts on a somewhat regular basis.

Now it's time to move on. I'm not one to set many, if any, resolutions. As I've grown older, I've learned to move at my own pace and do what I can. I don't like setting unrealistic -- unreachable -- goals. And I believe I have good writing habits.

I think the primary goal for any writer is to write. And that's what I'll be doing on a daily basis. That's been something I've done for me for quite a long time. I guess it must be the journalist in me who cranked out news stories for many years.

I'm currently working on a second volume of short stories. If life doesn't interfere, I can generally write one a week. I hope to produce about 15 this time. If things work out, I'll publish "Laments 2," Laments II," "Laments Two," or whatever.

I also have my raw NaNoWriMo manuscript that I plan to rewrite after additional research. I still haven't looked at it since I saved the last draft on Nov. 30. I know there's a lot of work to do on it so perhaps that's my excuse for not getting back to it. But I will.

Lastly, I plan to read more this year. I downloaded Jon Olson's "The Ride Home" on Dec. 31 to get me started. I'd like to read three or four books a month -- fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Writers read.

What are your writing resolutions?

Until the next time…