New Year, "New" Direction

Every January people struggle with what to declare as their New Year's resolution. Maybe you yourself have announced that you will quit smoking, exercise more, love more, eat better... you know the drill. I do too as, for so many previous December 31sts, I have likewise resolved to do one or all of the above.

But not this year.

This year I have only one goal... to move in a new direction; or more accurately, move more agressively in the direction that I have been baby-stepping towards for the past couple of years.

Sound mysterious? It's not really.

Needless to say, I am a published writer who has enjoyed some success - a miracle in itself given the challenges and constraints of the past couple of years. Like most if not all writers, I have dreamed of writing "full-time" as opposed to squeezing in paragraphs and if lucky, chapters here and there in the evenings and on weekends. But I have to admit that my writing is routinely sacrificed in the name of work and other obligations.

Well ... "not no more." (dig that groovy grammar! ;)

From here on in, I intend to make my writing and career a priority in my life. In fact I began this "new" and assertive approach prior to the holidays by contacting and sending off a package for one of my as-yet-to-be-published books to a New York literary agent. I hope they will be pleased with my work and offer to represent me, but if not, I will not be deterred. I will try elsewhere until I succeed. The good Lord willing, 2008 will have me embark on a mutually satisfying and lucrative relationship with an established agent who, in turn, will secure a couple of new book deals for us with a major publishing house, as well as sell the film rights to my existing novels to a major production company.

That's the ultimate aspiration but for now, it starts with one 'new direction'... making my writing and my career as a writer a top priority. It's my firm belief that tiny but vastly important shift in perception will accelerate the success I have enjoyed to date and propel me forward.

So here's to moving ahead. Hope all your resolutions and new directions materialize for you this year!

Have a great 2008,

Susan