Tuesday, January 10, 2012

“When the glitter settles … a pep talk is in order.”





Of all the blog posts on making New Year’s resolutions about writing, one stood out, Resolution...or...Revolution,* by Stacy at Heartprints of God.



Have you declared that 2012 is The Year of Your Memoir?* I hope so! (Read last Wednesday’s post* if you missed it.)


Some of youPenny, De, and Janet—say this is The Year of Your Memoir! Bravo!


The rest of you can do the same!


Just picture it: A year from now, your memoir could have a title.


Your memoir could have a cover.


Inside, black ink on white pages could chronicle your stories.


Sounds pretty exciting, but how can you make your memoir a reality?


If you’re like many of us, you took time off during the busy holiday season and now need a boost to get busy writing again. Maybe you can identify with Dianne Christner at WordServe Water Cooler, * who says,


“When the glitter settles, I often discover that my creativity has gravitated from the work place to family, friends, and holiday festivities.… Christmas can leave me feeling unmotivated to return to the hard task of writing. When this happens, a pep talk is in order.…” *


Dozens of writerly-types have written blog posts about the need to make New Year’s resolutions, and perhaps most of us have made some—but I’ve heard only one in five people will keep them!


Here’s a quote I recently put on SM 101’s Facebook Page because, if you want to make significant progress on writing your memoir in 2012, here’s wise advice:


"...You have to be driven. You have to have the three D's: drive, discipline and desire. If you're missing any one of those three, you can have all the talent in the world, but it's going to be really hard to get anything done." (Nora Roberts; emphasis mine)


Of the dozen or so blog posts I read on making New Year’s resolutions about writing, one stood out, Resolution...or...Revolution,* by Stacy at Heartprints of God.


Stacy says that a resolution is a decision.


It “starts in the mind. It is making up your mind you are going to do something different.”


“But,” she asks, “is a resolution what you and I are really wanting?”


Then she defines revolution: It is a complete turn in a new direction resulting in far-reaching change.


I picked up The Synonym Finder, by J. I. Rodale, and looked up revolution: a radical change, a metamorphosis, a transformation.


Stacy says, “We don’t just want to decide to make a change, we want the change! We want to make a complete turn and head in a new direction. We want far-reaching and drastic change.


“… How do we turn our resolution into a true revolution?


“By being intentional. By keeping our goals ever before us… always in view. By doing something each day to bring this goal to a reality.


“Change starts in our mind, but comes to fruition in our actions.…


“It’s not enough to decide one time. We must keep deciding and keep choosing and keep resolving each and every day.”


Wow! I like that, especially the word intentional. How about you?


If you have resolved to make 2012 The Year of Your Memoir, let us know. Leave a comment below because, like Kathy Pooler recently said, it takes a village to write a memoir. We’re in this together!



*Resources and links
Wednesday’s post,

Dianne Christner’s quote, “When the glitter settles,”

Stacy’s Resolution or Revolution,

8 comments:

  1. My Dear Linda,
    What a pertinent and inspiring post and just what I need to keep my own momentum going in this "Year of the Memoir". I love "the 3 D's" and the image of turning resolution into revolution by writing with intent. Mostly, I feel so blessed to belong to such a wonderful village of people who are helping me move my dream forward! Thank you,Linda for always being there with just the right words,at just the right time:-)
    Blessings,
    Kathy

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  2. Kathy!! How did I leave your sweet name off the list?!? In an earlier blog I mentioned that this is the Year of YOUR Memoir but left it out of this one. How could I have done that? I apologize. If anyone is motivated and capable of finishing a memoir in 2012, it is you! You're such an inspiration, and I can hardly wait to hold your memoir in my hands and sit down and read it.

    Smiles and hugs,
    Linda

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  3. Oh my gosh, Linda,there is absolutely no reason for you to apologize! I appreciate your ongoing encouragement,guidance and cheers more than words can say. If anything is going to keep me going,it's going to be the image of you holding my memoir in your hands,sitting down and reading it!

    Bless you for all you do to inspire all of us :-)

    Kathy

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  4. Kathy, thank you for extending your grace!

    Keep writing! You're amazing!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  5. Thanks for this post Linda! I've been dragging around with a cold the past week, looking at the list of writing projects I resolved to get started on while my motivation has been off somewhere on a winter vacation. This pep talk really helped and gave me some good tips for recharging and getting started. I especially liked the comment that we have to keep choosing and resolving each day. That takes care of the excuse that if I have a bad day, I may as well continue to procrastinate since I broke my "resolution."

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  6. Oh, Cathy, I'm sorry you've been sick. Truth be told, I've been down with a "bug" too. I think I'm finally back on my feet though. Please get well soon, Cathy.

    Stacy's "Resolution or Revolution" spoke to me, too, so I'm glad it helped you as well.

    Here's to recharging and starting!

    Linda

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  7. Wonderful post, Linda. You are always so encouraging and I am grateful for each word of encouragement you leave for me, on my blog and on facebook. I don't know if this will be the year of the memoir for me - most likely, it will be the year of intentional writing in as many venues as I can muster, mostly to get more practice, to learn to be briefer, to show it rather than tell it. Time will tell, but I'm heading in that direction, that is for sure.

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  8. Hi, Diana, you are WELL on your way to a finished memoir! Your stories are so compelling, so insightful, so vivid. I find each of your posts moving and so well written. I can't remember how I found your blog in cyberspace, but I'm so glad I did!

    Blessings and smiles,
    Linda

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