February 2009
Getting Cozy with Karen.
February Musings
People need dreams, there's as much nourishment in 'em as food.
~ Dorothy Gilman ~
February usually launches hundreds of Valentine's Day articles. It's a month of cards, flowers and chocolates, of romancing those you love in a myriad of ways. My brain isn't working down that road quite yet. At least not in the way you would think.
You may not have noticed, but there was no Musings column for January. Why? Because I never got around to writing one. :-) I could go into the litany of obligations that took precedence, but the bottom line is I had to clear the decks so I could go into surgery with a clear conscience. Interestingly enough, it's that very impulse that fuels this month's musings.
Not only do I tend to be a Type-A personality, I'm a nurturer. It's difficult for me to say "no" when something affects what I love and value, whether it be family, friends or organizations I support. Most times, I don't even have to be asked before I jump in with both feet. Thanks to health issues and this tendency to overextend, 2008 was a rough year for me. As a result, my writing fell completely off the radar.
Many of us reach a point in our career when we must evaluate where we're going, what we want, and what we're prepared to do to fulfill our dreams. I've reached that crossroads. I can no longer pretend I'm Superwoman [had you all fooled, huh?!] and be everything to all people, however I can't stand by and watch my writing career slowly starve to death either. The question then becomes what changes am I prepared to make to find a new balance in my life while still nourishing my dreams?
Lying flat on my back these past couple of weeks with nothing to do but heal, I've made a few decisions to kick my writing career back to the top of my "To Do" list where it belongs. I've written a list reminiscent of New Year's resolutions. Unlike resolutions that can slip through the cracks though, my list includes changes that I need to institute in order to find a better balance in my life. [I do still want it all, but must be reasonable. :-) ]
To nourish my dream, I resolve to..
. Take time, at least an hour, every day to read. For those who read my December Musings, you know reading fills my creative well. Reading recently has reminded me how much I love to write. I'm beginning to feel creative again and need to foster that further.
. Set aside time to write every day, preferably two consecutive hours. I know less than that might be okay for some but I'm familiar with my most successful writing habits. It often takes that long to hit my stride. Once started, though, I can write and write.
. Avoid dwelling on the word count I did or didn't accomplish today. Today I might write 1,500 words. Tomorrow, it might be 100 words. Each day must stand on its own. Consistent word count will add up.
. Get more sleep and R&R. I need a good night's sleep and personal time to help me maintain a healthier and more energetic lifestyle. I can no longer subjugate my health to everything else.
. Work to accept imperfect scenes and chapters for at least the first draft. Kicking my internal editor off my shoulder is a major challenge for me. She's got her titanium-encased talons buried ten inches deep in my shoulder, her harsh words grate against my ear! :-) This one's going to take some serious practice.
. Become selfish. Think once, twice, six times before volunteering for anything. I need to finish a novel in order to publish it.
. Arrange accountability. The support of my peers and writing friends will push me back on track. I've jumped on my chapter's Challenge loop but have yet to produce anything. They'll be pushing me soon enough!
As you can see, my list is pretty basic. It has to be to succeed. Complicated too often fails and I'm realistic enough to know I won't be able to change my entire life in one fell swoop. Old habits can be difficult to break if they're as deeply seated as some of mine.
I'll print off my list and post it near my monitor so I can read it every day and, in the interest of strengthening my resolve, I'm sharing my thoughts with you. If my story resonates with you, feel free to take a page from my book. Use my list as your own if it would be helpful. Whether we're in the same place or you're moving right along your path to publication, I wish you a successful writing career!
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What else is happening in my writing world?
As already mentioned, I had major surgery at the end of January from which I'm still recovering. Surgery didn't proceed as planned so it's going to take me longer than expected. It's a good thing I shook my life free through March, isn't it?
Beginning in April, I've got three back-to-back weekends of personal appearances. I've also begun scheduling "W" workshops after mid-year. I'll post those events as we get closer to the dates.
As always, if you'd like to comment on this newsletter or anything else, please feel free to sign into my guest book at the bottom of this HOME page. Looking forward to hearing from you! If you're on MySpace, you can find me at http://www.myspace.com/authorkarendocter. If you're on Shelfari, I'd love to be friends and share what we're reading. If you're not and would like to be, contact me at karendocter@yahoo.com. All I need is your email address to invite you. And, by all means, if you enjoy reading my newsletter each month, please tell your friends. They can sign up for their own copy easily at the bottom of this page.
See you in March 2009 if you'd like to Get Cozy with Karen again. In the meantime, feel free to check out the rest of my website at your leisure.
I wish you a month overflowing with creativity and confidence. May you realize all of your dreams! Happy Valentine's Day!!
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Plotting.Beauty or Beast?
First Print - savvyauthors.com blog, June, 2010
Born to Write
Colorado Romance Writers Romance in the Rockies newsletter - February, 2006
The Big Kids Clubhouse Secret Handshake.Finally!
Colorado Romance Writers Romance in the Rockies newsletter - August, 2006
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