Happy New Year

It’s New Year’s Eve, a few hours before 2009, and I’m sad to say I didn’t make my goal of finishing my novel revision by the end of the year. (I could bust my butt and do it tonight, but my husband, a friend and I are going to see in the new year with hours of Rock Band.)

I emailed a friend last night saying I wasn’t going to make my deadline, and, the nice friend that she is, she congratulated me on getting as far as I did. I’m only about 3,000 words short of the full 60K. There are many reasons why I didn’t make it, and we all experience them: work, family, housework, gardening, life in general. And they’re all good reasons.

But, although I’m bummed about not making my deadline (especially as I had extended it from summer to November and then to the end of the year), my friend is right. With so many other things going on in our lives, especially at this time of year, it’s important to recognize the writing we do get done. It’s often not easy to fit in writing with everything else that fills our days. It’s easy to go months without sitting with our novel or screenplay or whatever we’re working on. Believe me, I’ve done it. But, like anything that’s worthwhile, writing takes time and dedication, and we have to make that time and be dedicated if we’re going to be a success (just not on New Year’s Eve).

So, look back at the writing/revising you did this year and congratulate yourselves. Tomorrow, after the Rose Parade and football, dedicate yourself to doing even better in 2009. Finish your novel or screenplay, revise it, send out query letters, make a plan to do whatever it is you need and want to do. And, most importantly, as you strive to make writing a priority in your schedule, pat yourselves on the back everytime you stick to it. It’s not easy, but it will be worth it.

Happy New Year!

Now, off to Rock Band.