Into the New Year…
January 2, 2011 § 17 Comments
(photo of “bear” napkin ring taken on kitchen counter.)
No lists or summaries, no best or worst ofs, no top 10s or 20s…
Interesting that WordPress sends out a stat summary for 2010, which included a funny little pie chart, registering in the “wow!” section which it likely did (I hope) for all WordPressers!
Nope, no wrap ups or must-haves/should-haves…
But resolutions? Mmmmm, I prefer the word “challenge” which is more of a game than a resolution.
So, here are my challenge gauntlets:
to blog with more focus (what on earth does that mean? I dunno, but Litlove just did a great post on it and nailed it)
to whittle down (that is, read) the TBR stack
to meet my own challenge (though there are so many intriguing challenges out there in Blogworld that tempt) and here it is: Write a short piece of fiction, a complete story (story-ette? 500 to 2,000 words) every week. To result in 52 stories. No other “rules.” Just, do it. Sure, I’ll let you know how it goes.
There are a million other logs one could throw on the challenge fire, but rather than creating a bonfire of them, I’ll do my best to maintain a nice steady glow in the hearth.
Thank you to all of you for book titles and ideas and inspiration and cheers and understanding and comments and quiet reads and support and humor and honesty and ‘being there’ in 2010 and here’s to a raucous wonderful creative 2011 with you!
PS And thank you for getting me back to the library. There’s a new branch near my house, sort of, and it’s wonderful. Seriously. Yes, I still go to B&N, but there, I drink coffee and write. It has become, for me, the American cafe. I might browse books and mags, but it stops there, except for jotting down things I might want to borrow at the library! Yay! Really, thank you all for that.
This Writing Life ... 
Your photo threw me for a loop. I thought it was an actual bear in the snow from the tags page.
Very creative.
D
Go for it!! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Best of luck on all your challenges!
I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to meet you in 2010.
That is such an awesome picture. I swear that bear is walking across the snow! Anyway hope you have a wonderful new year!
I like how you’re keeping it simple. Happy 2011 to you, with quiet stillness as you also challenge yourself.
happy new year GBU
That photo is totally amazing. Nice, NICE work.
As for your challenges, Bravo. I am still trying to work out my — my I-don’t-know-whats. No resolutions. Challenges are good. The “word of the year” is good. It’s all good. I’m not so good… We’ll see.
I rediscovered he library in 2010 as well, thank to bloggers who reminded me it existed (like Nor). 🙂 now for 2011, I want to figure out the e-book thing and borrow books to read on my nook….
I am still working out my resolutions or goals or whatever you want to call them…
Happy happy New Year, oh! You have been a complete delight to spend 2010 with, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll do in 2011. Good luck writing those stories – that sounds like a wonderful challenge to undertake, and we can both try to blog with more focus (and have a good giggle at the times it doesn’t quite work out..!).
Love LOVE LOVE the photo! Love your challenge even more — what a great thing to look forward to in the coming year! (hint, hint: we WILL get to read some of these, right?)
Still working out my own challenges … has lately felt as if there’s still too much daily reality — the endgame of older dreams — in front of me to come up with new ambitions, but at the same time have been feeling the need for new dreams to carry me along. Shall be interesting to see how this year plays out…
Happy New Year!
A very happy and productive new year to you! I have decided not to set any challenges but ‘blow in the wind’ this year. No more self imposed pressures, there are enough in the day job! So blogging and writing are going to become pure self indulgent fun! But I almost feel an itch reading your challenges, perhaps I should also…. No, I’m not going there… I wish you well though and I’m sure you’ll do it, writing the 52 stories I mean! 🙂
Many thanks to you for your blog, which I so enjoy reading. Funny about libraries. I’ve become such an avid library user — so, wouldn’t you know it, for Christmas, my brother gave me a very large gift certificate to Amazon.com! I am beside myself. I will definitely spend it all in one place.
Happy Creative and Healthy New Year! Here in NYC, we’re praying for the promised snowstorm this weekend — to cover up the accumulation of garbage on the streets, now that the last snow has melted…
Happy New year and thanks for your long, kind comments on my blog. Have really appreciated them in 2010.
I’m into libraries too these days, no space at home to bring books in and hold on to them for always.
You are a breath of upbeat air in this world where there no longer seems to be a true north or clear direction for so many folks. We all count our blessings for health, family, love, a few bucks to keep the wolves away from the door. Hope you and HM have a great 2011. Looking forward to your next shared words.
I could not survive without my library…books for browsing, and a delightful little cafe for drinking coffee and writing afterwards. It’s my retreat, and I avail myself of it whenever I can 🙂
Wishing you success with whatever challenges you choose in 2011!
Both the book store and the library are my sustenance. I go to the library to get books I don’t intend to own, like popular fiction and crime novels, every John Grisham and Michael Connelly, I’d put a hold on them and wait in line. The bookstore I go browse and choose the ones I must own. I love bookstores and their coffee shops, the environment is so calming… more so than the library. Have a wonderful year of reading and writing, oh!
What? A week gone already? And only now I’m coming round with New Year’s wishes.
No matter. Good wishes are always welcome, and the reminder to keep it simple and focused is perhaps better to read on the 9th of January than the 1st. Just enough time’s passed now that everyone’s been reminded that life is life, and stirring in a dollop of determination will be needed this year, too!
Happy reading and writing – can’t wait to see where it takes you in the New Year!