easing into a new year of writing
🥳️ zoom vision board party TODAY! at 4pm eastern 🥳️ + resources for a slower, gentler start to the new year
Hi there. How is your new year starting? Some years I am off to the races, with ambitious goals and big decluttering energy, and this year, I . . . am not. I always have such high hopes for January. My first year in grad school, I spent those first weeks of the year, before the spring semester started, walking along the frozen lake to a coffee shop to work on poems all morning, and one year more recently I spent January 1 deep cleaning the whole house. Those were great ways to start the year, but that’s not where I am right now.
And you know what, it is still winter. It is cold and gray here, and I know the days are getting longer, but it is pitch dark by 5pm, so right now, my vibe is more baked pasta and books on the couch than taking on the world. (This Smitten Kitchen pasta with broccoli and sausage is the best, though the Alison Roman ziti (NYT gift link) is also very delicious. And lucky for me, my children are monsters who don’t like foods mixed with other foods, so I get the leftovers.)
All of this to say: I’m still excited about today’s vision board party and Tuesday’s planning party (I’ll share that info again below, if you’re not yet signed up and would like to join us), but I’m easing into my vision and my plan a little more slowly this year. So if that’s true for you, too, know that ease and comfort still count as having a vision.
(I owe my friend
(of the famous it is ok to make bad art sign and this great interview about embracing repetition and tedium as the healing part of a creative practice) thanks for a conversation about all this. She pointed out that “it’s okay to rest” and “maybe you can work on something that’s not part of your career” and Y’ALL THE AUDACITY but she was right. I’ve been doing ’s 30-Day Drawing Habit exercises (I’m behind! it’s fine!) and it’s been so lovely to work on something where goodness isn’t the aim. I’m not trying to make good art; I’m just making something. Highly recommend.)
After all that preamble, reminders about our two upcoming zoom parties!
✨ the second annual Write More vision board party, on Sunday, January 7th at 4pm eastern (today!) via zoom✨
Last year, I was a little embarrassed to admit that making a vision board has become part of my creative practice, but you know, here we are. It’s a little woo, but I love it, and I’d love for you to join us, if you haven’t yet signed up. (I wrote about vision boards last year here and here, if you’re intrigued.) You’re welcome to bring a friend (virtually or in your actual home) and to share this invitation with anyone else you think would like a little 🔮vision🔮 at the beginning of the year. You'll want to have a big piece of paper or poster board, some magazines you can cut up, and a glue stick.
To join us, register at this link. (And if you can’t make that time, I’ll share a recording a few days after the party.)
❤️️ if you want to help other people find Write More, click that little heart at the top or bottom of the newsletter! ❤️️
🗒 January Goal Setting Meeting on Tuesday January 9th at 7.30pm eastern via zoom 🗒
This is really special: I’m pairing up with planner extraordinaire and Friend of the Newsletter Erin Flanagan for a January Goal Setting Meeting, hosted by the Midwest Mystery Writers Association. It’s in the spirit of our fall planning party, but with some extra 🌟new year flair🌟. You’ll want to bring all your good ideas and big dreams, as well as a calendar, and/or whatever kind of planner you use, plus some snazzy pens, cute highlighters or little stickers, if you like.
You can register for the January Goal Setting Meeting here.
a few more resources for planning and reflecting in the new year
📋 from
, via , Writing Is About Making Choices, a really helpful guide to deciding which project to work on next➡️ from
, a flow chart to help you plan next year’s goal (by which she/I mean this year, since the post was from December. but, you know, use as you like)✏️ from
, on setting process and outcome goals for writing📖 from
, on wishes and goal in your writing life✨ from
, five exercises and an incantation
It turns out I have written about goals and planning a lot! Here are a few favorite pieces on that topic.
on starting small and getting back to your writing after a break
on using what and how and why to guide your goal-setting
on making a list, plus using your why to guide you, and why not to figure out what to put to the side
on deciding what to count and why
How are you starting your new year? What goals and hopes do you have for your writing life this year? I’d love to know.
Write More, Be Less Careful is a newsletter about why writing is hard & how to do it anyway. You can find my books here and read other recent writing here.
If Write More has helped you in your creative life, I’d love it if you would share it with a friend.
Heyyyy you doodled! Great job ¨̮
Thanks for the shoutout <3