Monday, January 2, 2012

Twenty Twelve

Don't you love the new year? I do. The bowl is empty and you get to start cooking up whatever delightful repast you choose.

In 2012, I choose Jesus and writing.

My Jesus project is called Living with Luke. I decided to choose one book of the Bible to live with this year: to read through multiple times, and to study bit by bit, and to memorize from. I chose a gospel because I have neglected my faith somewhat in recent years. You know, what with kids and work and broken bones and homework and Life. It's no excuse--this is exactly where faith is relevant and meaningful. But I've been spending more time with Heath Barkley and Detective Goren than with Jesus, and I feel the need to return to the basics, to the Teacher.

I'll keep you posted on this project, assuming that I am able to stick with it.

My writing project has two goals: first, to blog more regularly, because blogging is story-telling, and story-telling makes me happy. "More regularly" is loose enough to encompass a couple of times a week or a few times a month, so that's my goal. Tell your friends to check in at least once a week.

But I feel compelled to work on a bigger writing project, so I'm putting the Book back on the table. I have at least two book projects in seminal stages--and by "seminal stages" I mean somewhere between an idea in my head and a draft of a book proposal including three chapters. My progress on these projects in 2011 was limited to non-existent, and that needs to change.

Writing is hard work--most writers will tell you that. After dealing with an eight-hour work day as well as the daily responsibilities of a household with five people, what I want to do is relax with a glass of wine and Simon Baker or one of my other pretend boyfriends. But I'm thinking that my soul or my psyche or some force inside me demands that I use my love for writing for more than just writing grant proposals and case statements.  My goal is to make a little progress on a book project every week.

I've had three weeks off in December for surgery, and I am rested and happy and ready to have a great 2012. How about you? What are you cooking up in 2012?

2 comments:

zabyt said...

I'm lucky if I have enough energy at the end of the day to pour the glass of wine. Have you tried Mr. Reese from "Person of Interest"?

Good luck on your goals. I'll follow you from afar.

Unknown said...

Zabs! My first comment in 2012! You have won the prize of my undying gratitude and adoration. I hope you will not be too far afar.

I LOVE Mr. Reese and have added Jim Caviezel to my list of pretend boyfriends. Actually, I added him after he played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.

That sounded less creepy in my head.