Thoughts on 2010

I think 2010 is a nice, round number.

So magical and so stoic at the same time. I'm really excited about the next year in terms of writing and publishing, and I'm hoping for big things for my writing partners and for myself.

I've been thinking a lot about how I want to approach this coming year, and the ones to follow. I'm a big proponent on actively pursuing your goals with a plan and a great attitude, and I took up reading Success Magazine this year. I love it! The bonus audio CD you get each month really makes my long commute into work a lot better, and I feel motivated and sharp when I finally do arrive at my cubicle. (Though, in my mind, it's the corner office with an assistant sitting outside...)

If you're interested, the kind folks at Success are rolling out a new program for 2010 called "Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life." It looks very doable, very fun, and very important. It seems like a great way to kick start a new decade. Here's the introduction article over thereto get you warmed up. In this article, "The Life Changing Process of Goal Setting," Darren Hardy (the boss man over there at Success) is setting us up for the weeks to come. It's a great read and definitely worth your time. I'll revisit the challenge often in the coming months, and here's hoping I have great news to report to my friends!

That said...

I've thought a lot about what I want out of 2010 in terms of my writing career, and I've narrowed it down to this:

2010 is the Year of Good Writing

I know it sounds like a blanket, generic statement, but here is what I had in mind:

It's the year of producing good writing (perfecting my craft with classes and mentors)
It's the year of studying good writing (reading the exciting new releases in romance this year)
It's the year of celebrating our good writing (entering contests)
and finally,
It's the year of using good writing (to find representation with an agent or to find our place in publication.)

I'm working on keeping tabs on upcoming deadlines, contests, and classes each month. I think writing is a lonely vocation, and with most of us balancing the real world on top of our dreams and goals, any help we can provide each other is priceless. So, for me, 2010 is the year of good writing, but it's also the year of building a stronger community in our genre.

2010 looks like a fabulous year...make sure you stake your piece of it.

xoxox
h.