You’ve heard me complain about January’s cold and snow and ice. Deep Winter. All true. I’m not a big fan of icy streets and walkways everywhere. Weather-wise, it’s not my favorite time of the year.
However, I have learned to appreciate January—indeed, look forward to it—for other reasons. Over the years I’ve experienced a renewed surge of energy and ideas that show up during the month. Of course, energy and ideas come at other times of the year, but for some reason, January has always been the time of year when my most significant and life-changing ideas push themselves forward. Right in front of my face, where I can’t miss them.
I won’t go into all the personal transforming ideas that “showed up” in Januarys past, but some important shifts in my writing career have been sparked by the new directions that came along on a current of January Energy.
New characters have shown up and introduced themselves in January. New writing paths have also blown in like a January blizzard. The “out of nowhere” suggestion that I start writing non-fiction articles in January 2003 directly led to my walking into the knitting shop where I fell down the “rabbit hole” into a wonderland of color and texture and fiber. Months later, Kelly Flynn and her friends at the imaginary shop walked onstage. And my life changed direction again.
So—-January can bring on its snow and ice. I can handle whatever blows in, blizzard or light snowstorm. Because I can count on January to also “blow in” new ideas, new opportunities, new directions, new characters, and new paths. In fact, it’s already done it. Several new ideas. Some having to do with my daily schedule and some having to do with personal stuff. And some about the writing.
I’m determined to try them all. It’s going to take some juggling and rearranging of my schedule, but I’m looking forward to it. January Energy is seductive.
How about you folks? Has any January Energy brought you some new ideas?
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No January Energy here, but I’m sure glad there was for you! Kelly and her friends make me very happy, and I want more, more, more!!!! Obviously, looking forward to a new release!
by Jan
on January 15th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
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Thank you for saying that, Jan. You made my day. I’m so glad you’re enjoying Kelly and Co. I’m having a lot of fun with them. Next one out will be DYER CONSEQUENCES in June.
by Maggie
on January 16th, 2008 at 2:37 am
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I always feel guilty in January that I’m not doing more. It takes me a while to get out of the holiday slump and I tend to break more resolutions before I settle in and really work. But this year I’m focusing on my day job career and have made a few significant steps. Looking at putting money away for retirement (again, since I spent a lot of it) and finally getting a house again. And I guess I will need employer supported health care since now I have the Big C in my history.
I’m with Jan about Kelly Flynn. I’m really in love with the books and trying desperately to learn all your secrets that keep me involved as a reader. Thanks for sharing this journey.
by Lynn
on January 16th, 2008 at 8:44 am
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That’s so sweet of you to say, Lynn. Thank you. It’s late at night, almost midnight, and I’m finally able to check email and the blog. Why? I spent all day (and some of yesterday) reading the galleys for DYER CONSEQUENCES which will be out in June. You have to be careful because errors and typos and even missing words show up out of nowhere. That’s the other part of a writing career we don’t often talk about. The slow and careful reading and re-reading of copy. And then—-after we’ve found and corrected any errors and sent it back—we PRAY that the finished copy of the shelves doesn’t suddenly sprout a new typo. Believe me, it happens.
Hey—you should definitely think about healthcare, girl. Everybody needs to think about that. It’s pretty important. Retirement funds, too.
by Maggie
on January 17th, 2008 at 2:40 am
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You might not see this since you are knee deep in galleys, but rereading my post, I guess I gave the wrong idea. I have healthcare, but I guess I was saying I’m going to have to stay employed rather than jump into self employment again due to needing the health care.
But the good news is Wednesday, after I responded, I talked to a woman in Corporate Training who thinks I’m delightful (boy did I do good, huh?) and is helping me carve. climb or scratch my way back into training in a year or so. So I have a direction. It’s a long way from where I am but doable. And it pays more. Always a good thing.
And she loved the premise of my children’s story and wants to read it when I’m done. Which will guilt me into finishing it finally.
by Lynn
on January 18th, 2008 at 8:51 am
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Good for you, Lynn. Goals are SO important. It’s how move forward. I’m a big believer in setting goals—writing them down, saying them out loud as intentions, taking targeted action designed to achieve them. . . all of that. It works.
And yes, use whatever motivation it takes to finish that story.
by Maggie
on January 19th, 2008 at 2:13 am
