As I write this we are barely into the new year and my thoughts have turned to what I expect from 2011. As most of you know, 2010 was a pretty big year for me; I finished graduate school and got tenure at work! Accomplishing these goals feel huge to me because it means that I can turn my thoughts and energy to other goals.Pantster and I are working a new manuscript that I am very excited about. We have gotten some great feedback and are making some changes that will make it even better. We plan to pitch it at the Romance Writers of America's national conference in New York this summer. In fact, that is another great expectation for 2011. National Conference is in New York and should be a great adventure. I am a newly elected Vice President for my wonderful chapter of RWA, Heart of Dixie, and I am probably going to get represent my chapter at the Leadership Conference. I am also the chair of a committee for the organization and get to meet some great folks and work behind the scenes a bit so it should be a ton of fun!
On a more personal level, I am working on some fitness goals. I am going to the gym more and making healthier choices in the food I eat. Of course, I would love to lose some weight but I would also just like to have more energy and feel better. I would also like to find true love. I am a great believer in the Happily Ever After fairy tale romance. Perhaps 2011 will be the year I find it for myself.
What are your expectations for the new year?
I, too, am very excited about improving this manuscript. We all write but, like with people, sometimes we click with the characters in a special way. We've gotten some great advice from someone who really knows and I want to give these characters the best story we can.
ReplyDeleteI know my life goes better when I eat fruit, take walks, do a daily devotion, and eat sugar only as an occasional treat. Yet I have let those things slide. I am working hard toward rectifying that.
Also, I expect your happily ever after this year!
My expectations for 2011 have surprised me. I like writing romance but I am currently tinkering with a suspense/thriller. Maybe I am changing directions or this is just a side-tour. I don't know. I think this would be a good book with a little romance in it. That is my expectation - to get this thing out of my head and on paper!
ReplyDeleteJean-You are right that we all feel better when we make healthy choices. It is just hard sometimes to give that part of our lives any energy. I am sure you will be successful in doing more of that in 2011.
ReplyDeleteCheryl-That new idea sounds very intriguing. Maybe your muse was hiding in the mist but maybe it was because she was checking out what it was like to sneak up on someone to get them!
Stephanie, you accomplished so much last year. This year is sure to top that! Gotta 'believe' and work toward that balance of happiness and good health. Little steps everyday will get you there. ;)
ReplyDeleteJean and Stephanie, I'm excited about your excitement! New doors are opening. New paths await you. And NYC is going to WOW us all! :D
Cheryl, you're going to nail this suspense/thriller. I just know it! Write everyday and before you know it, that book will be done. ;)
I feel like my muse has been hiding in the mist for a long time, but ideas are flowing and the words are streaming coherently. That's always a good thing. ;) I'm very exited about this year and new projects I'm working on. And ever hopeful I'll receive the call of my life!
Congrats on your successes in 2010, Stephanie, and I wish you congrats in advance on those I'm sure you'll achieve in 2011.
ReplyDeleteI expect to get agent queries sent off for my fantasy novel (working on the query letter as we speak), and depending on how that goes, get the work itself submitted to publishers accepting unagented submissions. Then there are other ideas brewing and taking shape. I'm looking forward to honing those ideas into future books, but that is a long-term goal.
As for the health/weight loss portion of my goals, I plan to make better choices about what I eat and do the best I can to limit sweets (not an easy thing) and get more exercise. Baby steps at first, but I'll get there.
I love your new year approach! I'm super curious about your new stories. And I'm also working on a new one. I'm enjoying the process of discovering my people and getting into their heads.
ReplyDeleteGood luck this year and if I save enough quarters, I might get to Nationals again.
:-)
Kathy-We are all pulling for you. I bet your muse was just in that mist looking for a pirate ship. lol
ReplyDeleteCrystal-Thanks! Best of luck on your query!
Christine-Isn't it fun and exciting to have new and interesting people in your head. lol
We all hope you make it to Nationals with us!
Crystal, limiting the sweets? And after I bought the prettiest little cake at Publix today too. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, Christine! Save those quarters, girl! Sure hope you get to go to NYC. :)
Thanks, Stephanie!! I really appreciate the encouragement you've given my muse, especially after being waylaid by those pirates...