Here we are welcoming 2023. Will it be a good year or one like 2020? Let's hope not.
At this time every year, we tend to look back at the previous year and look forward to the new one. It's no wonder that the Roman god Janus (January) is associated with the new year. He's often shown with two faces.
Looking back, was 2022 a good year for you? Not so much for me. I've had worse (e.g., the aforementioned 2020) and better (too numerous to mention specifics). My productivity on the writing side in 2022 was zilch. I forgot (or ignored) the axiom of writers: BICHOK. What's that, you say? Butt In Chair, Hands On Keyboard. That's the only way writers are productive.
On the other hand, 2022 marked my 50th wedding anniversary. Yeah, 50 years with the same man. Many of my friends already surpassed that. Yet, many people don't reach that milestone. My parents almost did, but my dad died four months before. As a writer of relationship stories, I'm glad I found my happy-ever-after. Not that it was all rainbows and unicorns. But then, what marriage is?
Enough looking back. New Year's Day is a time to plan, a time to make resolutions (that most of us don't keep) or promises to do better. I consider the new year as a time to begin again. I started writing almost 30 years ago. Many of those manuscripts will never see the light of day. They were practice. My first published book was a science fiction romance. I've written several more in that genre. Also, some cozy mysteries and suspense. A few short stories, some novellas, and enough full-length novels to be proud of.
I could sit back, resting on my laurels. Or I could finish the novels already started, the novellas from short stories. No promises this year. No resolutions. Done that enough times, only to disappoint myself. So, what to do?
The best I can.
How about you?
Happy New Year to my colleagues and especially to our readers. May it be the best for all of us.
