It’s that time of year again. You know, that time when we
reflect on the past year and make promises to ourselves for the New Year . . .
a resolution!
People have been making resolutions since the time of Julius
Caesar, way back in Ancient Rome. The Romans believed in a god called Janus.
Janus had two faces, one looking backward into the past, and one looking
forward into the future. The Romans would ask Janus for forgiveness if they had
done wrong in the previous year, and then make resolutions for behaving better
in the New Year. And if you didn’t know, our month January is named after the
Roman god, Janus.
Resolutions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are based
more on luck, like resolving to win the lottery. Others are more realistic,
like resolving to save money for a special writer’s conference that you really
want to attend. And then we have the most popular resolution: to lose weight.
But we won’t go there, not on New Year’s Eve, with New Year’s Day Dinner still
ahead.
What about writers and illustrators and their New Year’s resolutions? Most
people visiting the Monkey tree house are writers, so perhaps you’ve given a
resolution some thought. The Monkeys have, and I’d like to share them with you.
Amy: I resolve to create a writing schedule and write regularly . . . instead of only when the mood strikes me.
Craig: I resolve to make a million
dollars this year by creating a Trans-media company that creates printed books
with Augmented Reality, wildly enhanced e-books, whimsical apps and web based TV
series.
Ellen:
I resolve to move on and write a new
book. T.S Eliot best put it, "For
last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await
another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."
Hazel: To finish more often.
Julie: My resolution
stems from Terri Farley's wise words about how people around us will only take
our dreams/efforts as seriously as we ourselves do. I want to draw some more
boundaries and shake up my schedule to mesh with my goals. I need to make the
pie chart that represents "how I spend my life" be more in line
with the pie chart you'd see for "what matters to me."
Kristen: I hope to finish a rough draft of my current WIP by March 20th.
Marilyn: In 2013 I want to finish the projects that I began in 2012, take a class in an aspect of writing I've never explored before (e.g., screenwriting), and read more than I do now in the genres I write. This all means that I'll need to use my internet time more efficiently and cut down on my TV obsessions (i.e., Shark Tank, Real Housewives). Or maybe I'll record them instead ;)
Sarah: My resolution will be to write through more than I
have. I've always been that person who revises and revises those first few
chapters. Pounding out the rough draft of Valiant last summer drove home the
value of getting the entire draft down before revising. (Of course, I spent a
lot of time thinking about it before I wrote it.)
So
there you have it, our New Year’s Resolutions over here at the tree house. We
hope you drop by next year, but for now, all the Turbo Monkeys are wishing
you and your loved ones a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!
GO, MONKEYS!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Joanna!
DeleteAs you can see my philosophy is "Dream Big, Work Hard and Be Kind."
ReplyDeleteI wish everyone a very safe and happy new year.
Happy New Year to you and Smittens, Craig!
Deletegood food for thought, Monkeys! But why are the poor monkeys in bowls? Free them!
ReplyDeleteI just think of the bowls as Monkey hot tubs... : )
DeleteI found those Monkeys having fun in a Michigan candy store! Not a "barrel" of monkeys having fun, but "bowls" of monkeys!
DeleteLove this post! Here's to wishing you all the very best in the new year! *cheers*
ReplyDeleteCheers to you, Chris!
DeleteHappy New Year, Chris!
DeleteHappy New Year Ellen, and look forward to seeing you in Maine!
ReplyDeleteMe, too!! And a very Happy New Year, Hazel!
Delete