Another year ending can spur contemplation: Did I accomplish what I wanted this year? Do I have regrets? What can I do better in the coming year? For writers, often these thoughts center on their literary achievements, or lack thereof. The new year may be coasting in on the thrill of a first time publication, or it may be weighing heavily because of too many rejections. Eagerness to begin a new plot idea may be a cause for anticipation in the new year. Disappointment from too little time writing may bring dread for a continuation of yet the same.
How we handle both the good and the bad depends on our perspective. At the end of 2015 in early December, our writing community lost a very special friend, Tyke Crowley. For both his life and his writing, his philosophy was �make every day count�. While many of us want to do so, he actually did. Every minute of every day counted toward living. In the months before his death, he was working on a manuscript, which he did not complete, but when asked about any regrets, he still answered, �No.� How many of us would feel the same way about our lives and our writing?
A new year brings an opportunity for new perspective: What do I want to accomplish this year? What can I do to ensure no regrets? What will be better about this coming year? Whether you�re working on a new literary endeavor, have a desire to complete one already begun, or simply want to write as life allows, may 2016 be your year for being true to yourself as a writer.
Paula Castneris a wife, mother of three, and a co-founder of Seven Bridge Writers' Collaborative as well as a freelance writer, playwright, writing and baking workshop facilitator, and drama director. She receives emails at pajamalivingwriting@gmail.com.
