2014 here I come!

As cliche as it may seem to make New Year's resolution, I find that every year I'm right there along with so many others making a promise to start some new regime with the new year. Exercise more, drop a few pounds (or a lot, depending), cutting back on the amount of diet soda consumed, those have and are some of the ones at the top of my list every year. 
Regardless the content of the resolution, it matters little as the odds are against sticking to anyone of them throughout the year. 

However, maybe it's not so much the resolutions themselves that appeal but the hopefulness behind making those promises that the important part. The beginning of a new year brings with it a chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew. After a couple of years of incredible highs and some pretty hard lows, the idea of starting fresh with the hope of a year full of possibilities is more than welcome. 

In 2013, one my most heartfelt desires became a reality-- publishing my first novel. Though I've written for a very long time, it wasn't until a couple of years ago I began to allow others into that part of my world. Naming it trepidation over putting myself out there in such a way is a gross understatement. It's terrifying. What changed you might ask? 

I suppose it's simplest to say that I made a promise to myself. One that has nothing to do with New Year resolutions, but with reinventing myself, and realizing that my dreams are important and worthy of my effort. 

New year. Clean slate. A fresh start. 

Recently I read a post on one of the blogs I follow and the author spoke of setting goals for the upcoming year-- goals for what you want to accomplish in your writing to be specific. That set me to thinking about what I wanted in the new year and about resolutions in general. In a way a resolution is a goal, but for some unknown reason (at least to me) a goal sounds more permanent, more concrete if you will. So, in that vein I have set about creating goals for myself for 2014.


1. Publish an anthology of short stories.
I have plans to write a series of short stories to compile within an anthology to then publish. My goal with doing so is to provide a variety of works for readers, and to fill in the gaps between the full-length books. I've set a goal for myself to publish two short story/flash-fiction anthologies in 2014. 

2. Publish the second book in The Shephard Series.
I'm up to my eyeballs with plotting out and writing the follow up to my debut novel, Starting Over. It's been an interesting ride so far. I've set my goal to have the novel ready for publication by late 2014. 

3. Social media and blogging.
While on this journey of rediscovering myself I've found that I have a difficult time with this aspect of marketing. This blog post is a beginning towards that end. Using social media to bring in readers is an important aspect and though I've used it somewhat, I've by no means utilized this tool to its fullest potential. 

New year. Clean slate. Fresh start. 

So get ready 2014, here I come!

Savannah

While fumbling around on the internet working on that social media thing I talked about in an earlier post I found an article I thought was pretty interesting about writing historical fiction. And as I'm currently working on a story that has a historical setting, although not an actual historical fiction work, the article seemed significant. 

http://writedivas.com/special-feature-genre-historical-fiction/

I'm an avid reader of historical fiction. I love it in most all its forms. My favorite are those set in Scotland, the Highlands preferably. Though I enjoy a well written Renaissance as much as the next person. Oh, let me be completely honest, as long as it's well written I will read just about any fiction genre. I do agree with the author of the article, in that, although I love historical fiction, I want fiction. I don't enjoy sitting down with an accounting of some epic battle from any era or an important historical figure's biography. As the author of the article states, and I agree, that's called research. 

When I read I'm looking for escape, no matter the genre. I want to become so enthralled with a story that I'm literally drawn into what's happening to the characters. The story should feel real, as though the events are occurring all around me no matter whether they're flying an X-wing fighter into battle against the Death Star, foolishly waving a wand at a feather while saying Wingardium Leviosa, or wielding a broadsword and targe. I want to believe what's happening. 

That's a paradox isn't it? Searching for escapism while expecting realism in fiction. Maybe, but still, it's what I look for in good fiction whether historical or contemporary. I don't think I'm alone in that desire. 

Savannah