This Is It

Here we are, another year is almost over. 2012 is coming to a close and 2013 is knocking at the door.

For me, the week between Christmas and New Year has always been a time to reflect on the past year and think about making resolutions for the New Year. To look back at all I have accomplished and to plan for all the things I hope for yet.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called
Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce, Poet, B. 1904

The end of the year can be a stressful time for many people. Because we’re spending so much time thinking about making resolutions and what we’ve accomplished, sometimes people can’t help but think on all the things they’re behind on too.

Best would be to try not to think too much about the growing list and just get to things as they come.

But that’s so hard.

For me at least, I find that making a list of what needs done is best. So for any interested, here are a some practical activities that I wish to finish before 2012 forever goes away.

Empty email inbox.

Yes, I know that this may sound silly, but this one has actually been on my list for a while and I am determined to start out the New Year with a sparkling clean inbox, ready to tackle a new year.

Schedule and prioritize better.

This year, I took my fictional writing to a new level and achieved greatness! Okay, maybe not greatness, but I connected with a lot of great people and actually started doing something about my dream. Looking back now, I see how I could have done a few things better though, namely prioritizing writing over social media more often and keeping a better blog schedule.

Take care of writing (and living) space.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: Clutter kills creativity. And that’s no truer for me than in my writing and living space. When things are picked up and organized, I fell free. Otherwise, I’m distracted by the mess and can only think of all this work that needs done. To start out the new year in a totally clean space would be awesome.

Get in some more reading.

I didn’t read very many books this year, instead chose to spend more time writing. Lately, I’ve realized how much I have yet to learn about this craft and realized that one of the best ways to pick up where my education is lacking is by reading more.

Overall, this year was great for me, writing wise. I wrote more creatively than ever before in one year. I completed one and a half manuscripts. Although there is much editing work needed on them both and I have no idea when they’ll be ready to share with the public, I’m still excited because it’s more than ever before.

What were your biggest accomplishments this year and what do you hope to achieve before the calendar flips to 2013?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!