Friday 1 January 2010

My one resolution

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I'm only making one resolution this year on the grounds that it'll be less easy to break it if I don't have half a dozen others in hand.

It isn't to eat sensibly, because I promise myself that after every meal. It isn't to exercise more, because I vow to do that every time I'm out of breath racing to beat the free-parking limit. It isn't to drink less because I remember that after every RNA meet-up.

It's a resolution that's really quite difficult.

Put Writing First

I believe women are conditioned to look after others first and themselves later. I certainly am. I have this huge sense of responsibility that has me saying "yes, of course" when I really mean "no, I don't have time".

But this year I'm totally going to try. I have short stories waiting to be written, I have the third Newmarket Regency floundering at the Midsummer Fair, I have an exciting new project that needs me to concentrate on it right now.

I don't think I can write before I clear my emails in the morning - tried that before and it was a disaster - but I'll whizz through the posts, answer quickly and succinctly, and then I'll write.

So, one resolution that I honestly want to make work. What's your one?
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13 comments:

Kate Hardy said...

Happy new year, Jan.

And that's a great resolution.

Mine's to build on last year. (That's split into diet/exercise, work-life balance, and work.)

Lesley Cookman said...

Don't do resolutions, but that's a good one, Jan. I am the laziest writer in the world, and with revisions and a new book to write by May, I have closed my eyes to the lot and taken Christmas OFF. That's to say, apart from catering and entertaining - more of that today. But I ought to be more disciplined, like our dear Penny. How DOES she do it?

Happy new year. Love, Lesley

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

It's certainly worth a try, so I'll give it a go.

Hope you have a wonderful 2010. x

Unknown said...

Don't think I can quite do that yet but I can certainly push it higher up the scale.

Wishing the best of 2010 and looking forward to the new Newmarket book :-)Did I tell you Amazon sent me the wrong book last time? The right one is waiting for me at DD's school - so soon Cornwall and a good story...

lx

Jayne said...

Great resolution Jan. Mine is simply to write more.....same kind of thing I suppose. I get everything else done (and for everyone else!) first and then have no time or energy left to actually sit down and type! No more I tell you!

Dumdad said...

A writer is someone who writes. When you don't write you're not a writer. Nuff said!

Bonne Année!

Phillipa said...

Happy new Year Liz and mine is pretty much the same resolution as yours...I hope I can stick to it!

Susie Vereker said...

Jan, you're absolutely right. And at the moment I am absolutely doing the wrong thing. But maybe I'll just go and watch the Italian Job all the same.
Happy new year.

The romantic query letter and the happy-ever-after said...

Every happiness in 2010 and wishing you success with your resolution.
Warm regards,
Simone

Liz Fielding said...

Happy New Year, Jan.

Good luck with all those writing projects. As for the internet, you have to do what works for you, but I do find I get a lot more writing done when the wretched thing is "down" :)

Jan Jones said...

Kate H - Happy New Year again. Excellent resolution.

Lesley - don't take too long off. People are waiting...

Debs - hope you have a good 2010 too.

Liz - Hope you get hold of Fortunate Wager soon!

Jayne - yup, that's me too. So this year I'm going to be just a tad more selfish.

Dumdad - I know I'm a writer, my publishers know I'm a writer, I need to convince the rest of my world

Phillipa - Happy New Year to you. Wishing you luck with your resolution!

Susie - Knowing what to do and doing it are two quite different things, I find!

Simone - Thanks for dropping by. Wishing you all the best in 2010

Liz - Happy New Year! Repeat after me: In 2010 I am going to be strong...

Nicola Slade said...

I know what you mean Jan but my resolution (such as it is) is to STOP getting stressed about the writing ie if I haven't done any for a week or three. I'm never going to be a full-time writer and I need to accept this - I don't want to be that anyway, I like my life as it is. (The cunning plan is that if Providence thinks I'm not bothered, I'll suddenly burst out into a writing frenzy and come to and find I've written a brilliant book just waiting for me to submit). Sigh, if only...

Elaine said...

Jan - sounds a pretty good resolution me. Happy New 2010!