Resolutions, Goals, and other problems of the New year
I don’t usually make resolutions for the New Year, but I have made a goal of doing a blog a day for 2025. Is it too much? Will it fall by the wayside like gym memberships, diet plans, vows to give up smoking, or whatever we all decide we will be better with or without? This will be the third blog in three days; so far, so good. I admit that I’m beginning to worry a little that I’ll feel inspired every day for the next 362 days because today I was feeling very uninspired. Of course, I’m feeling uninspired even to write the new novel, and it’s Anita Blake, who usually writes fast for me. Having just finished writing a new Merry Gentry novel I have fresh proof that she comes harder at the keyboard. Today I haven’t wanted to write anything which is unusual for me. I finally realized that yesterday’s blog was about us losing my father-in-law this year. It was emotional to write about it and left me in tears at my computer. Maybe I need to give myself some grace in this ambitious goal of a blog a day? If the writing is personal and leaves me in tears, then maybe skip the next day and allow myself to recover before sitting down to search for inspiration again.
Okay, new goal. I will write a blog a day for 2025, but if the blog is emotionally draining or traumatic, then I give myself the next day off. I give myself the grace to be human and take time to process the emotional fallout of finding inspiration in personal pain. Let’s go one step further, I give myself permission to take the day off all writing if what I wrote yesterday has drained me emotionally and I stare at the blank screen with that thousand-yard stare. This leads into one of my other goals, or resolutions for the year, to be kinder to myself. If you are the resolute type I wish you good fortune and a stout heart as you try to stick to it whatever it may be. I’m going to step away from desk for now. See you tomorrow.
Sending you and yours light and love, strength and comfort in these times. Also, giving yourself grace is a gift more of us need to embrace. The only person you’re in a competition with is yourself -and yeah, I am harder on me than anyone else out there.
This year I’ve chosen to embrace potential and progress. No resolutions, just energy.
I know this is probably stupid to ask, but I’m disabled and I don’t get a lot to do, so I check out for new releases of series I enjoy. I read the entire Anita Blake series at least once a year. I really enjoyed the last book. So is there going to be a book out in 2025 I mean if not it’s cool. Thank you for being a bright spot in the other boring life 😂
The complexity of world, story, and character building has turned Anita’s world into my favorite universe to revisit. The ease of writing Anita in most books comes through as does occasional discomfort (Flirt, Crimson Death).
Not sure what goal you have in mind that isn’t inspiring, but remember you have many threads that can be expanded (or skipped for now) to weave eventually toward it.
May you grant yourself grace and find joy in your family, pets, view, activities and pass all along to Anita. For the both of you inspire joy, love, acceptance, and growth.
Wow !
Saw today that A Stoke of Midnight is getting Re-released, was that the new Merry book instead of book 10?
This is such a great idea. It is fun to go back months to years to see yourself in time. It is eye opening of the losses & fortitude you show. Grace, kindness and self love. We all should show ourselves these basic needs. Anita comes when she is ready. You can’t boss her.