Next Year’s Words

‘For last year’s words belong to last year’s language

And next year’s words await another voice.’

― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

The New Year is traditionally a time for making resolutions, something I rarely do, as ‘resolving’ in this way feels overly dramatic, somewhat artificial and a more fitting response to desperate circumstances. Last year though I have to admit, I did resolve to go Indie and it seemed to work for me. I certainly had plenty of fun and some success along the way.

As the year turns I like, rather than resolutions, to have thoughts about the coming year in the shape of things I want to do (especially when it comes to my writing), projects to complete, new projects to begin. I like to include something new – maybe outside of my comfort zone. Last year this was a poetry course which proved to be inspiring as well as difficult. Poetry still feels outside of my comfort zone so I’m going back for more – it’s often the difficult things that teach us the most.

I know I’ll do some of the things on my list but I won’t beat myself up if I don’t get through them all. Things change as the year progresses and we may need to change focus in new circumstances or when new opportunities arise. I want to start a new novel in 2013 but I know I’m not finished with short story writing and who knows where that may lead. Still, the novel feels a scarier prospect now after a long break and this tells me it’s time to put it high on my list.

What scares us most is the very thing we should do. It may be tough, we may not get it right but we shouldn’t be concerned about making mistakes. Making mistakes is part of trying new things, pushing the boundaries, part of being alive. And so I wish you all many happy and glorious mistakes for 2013 – the bigger, the wilder, the more original, the better! In the words of Neil Gaiman ‘ Make your mistakes, next year and forever.’

And to all my Newsletter subscribers – Happy New Year! – the first newletter of 2013 is scheduled for Monday (Do sign up on the right  if you’d like to receive weekly competition/submission info, extracts from my new book about writing, and inspirational tips.)