Thoughts On 2016: Making It Count
With the passing of David Bowie and then a few short days later, Allan Rickman, it's tempting to let our spirits fall. And indeed, we've lost two amazing artists, men who brought all they had to their work, leaving impressions that will never be forgotten by the audiences they touched. But with their passing, I believe it helps to look beyond grief to an important message: life is precious. So create, LOVE creating, and show it by throwing all your passion into it. Don't wait.
As writers, artists, creators...making it count is the message we should take into tomorrow. Let's not put it off. We want this dream, to have our books read and enjoyed by people all over the world. Let's recommit to the path that will take us there, and use each moment in 2016 to its fullest. This is how we honor the great artists of our time, and how we honor ourselves.
I've put together a few links I think are important, ones I hope will help us all get into the mindset of making it count. For myself, I make a list of my goals, and think about areas I want to improve in that will help me grow as a writer and gain stronger business skills. (Writing is a business after all, and becoming adept on that side of things is just as important.)
One area I needed to tackle was FOCUS. Eliminating distractions. Why? In my home office, one of the walls is an open balcony and so noise from the lower level is always filtering into my writing zone. Luckily, I tripped upon Brain FM and gave the free trial a go. I was so happy with the product and my newfound ability to focus I signed up!
What can you do to evolve as a writer? Can planning a bit help you? If you are interested in this idea, start by asking yourself the big questions about self-improvement and how you organize your time. And if you like, I'll lead you through the process of creating a plan. Becca has some great advice as well, and it is interesting to see both sides of the coin when it comes to two writers using the same plan.
Guys, I know words like business plan and organization can sound scary. They sure scared me, especially as I am not the most organized individual. But, here's the thing--once I started, my life as a writer changed, and I want yours to as well. As you can see below, I still follow a simple "Plan on a Page" each year (bottom). And I have a schedule for One Stop For Writers' upgrades for the next year there as well (top). Having these beside me as I work remind me of my goals, and keep me on task!
