So, it’s a brand new year and you’re absolutely rarin’ to get to those writing goals! Look at you go!
Except that first, you need to clean up the holiday stuff. And then, you need to get those kidders back to school, and whoops! You’re back at work! And now it’s the end of the first week later and you haven’t exactly written one sparkly word. (Insert wah-wah here.)
Okay, there’s no need for all that head-slapping. You just need a little challenge to get that push in the right direction. Luckily, I’ve found just the thing (or two)!
Thing 1: If you’re a Facebook user, sign on with Sylvia Forbes and her crowd over at the January Writers who’ve pledged to write something every single day in January. I like this challenge for two reasons. One, I spend an awful lot of time over at Facebook…er, marketing myself. So now, when I pop in, I usually see a couple words about the January Writers. Which is a great reminder to me to stop…er, marketing, and get back to writing. I also like the January Writers because Sylvia Forbes is a delightful writer who publishes the Bylines Writers’ Desk Calendar every year. Which happens to be a swell calendar, whether you need inspiration or organization.
Thing 2: Remember all those picture book ideas from the Picture Book Idea Month? Yes, yes, the ones now gathering virtual dust in some forgotten file on your laptop (Or maybe that’s just me). Anyway, the 12 x 12 x 12 Challenge is a perfect way to take those ideas and get to work on them! After all, you have an entire month to get a picture book idea to a manuscript ready for possible submission. You have inpsiring posts from Julie Hedlund’s guest writers, and you can join in the Facebook group, too, for added support. Plus, you get a swell badge for your blog that folks will see and think, “My, my, isn’t that writer industrious?!”
Start your new year with a challenge that will challenge your writing and you may be surprised where you’ll go! At the very least, you’ll save your poor forehead. (Or maybe that’s just me.)
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
Good point about the swell badge. Good luck with your challenges this month and throughout 2012.
Hmmmm…I thought I put that swell badge in this post? Oh, well, I’ll take care of that in a minute. In the meantime, thanks for the luck, Stacy. Something tells me I’ll need it. 😉
(Good luck to you in 2012!)
Love your new set up! Very classy and fun…just like you.
Aw, Lisa, you always make me feel splendiferous! ♥
*Looks Around* It’s so purty here! All polka-dotty and such! Nice job with the new site!
There’s just something about polka-dots, Kara, right? (And you can NOT go wrong with a big squirrel.)
Love your new look, and I’ve actually figured out how to become one of your followers on this blog.
You are right about the Bylines Calendar. Sylvia does a wonderful job, and I believe she is looking for submissions for 2013. How’s that for planning ahead?
I need to check out the 12 x 12 x 12 challenge.
Yay, Donna! Thanks for following! And I guess I’ll see about subbing for 2013. The early writer gets the acceptance, huh? 😉
(Good luck with the 12 x 12 x 12 challenge!)
Great job on your new blog!
Cathy, I like your new blog design.
Oh, thanks for dropping in, Lynn and Linda! SO good to see old friends (well, not old so much as formerly Hall of Famer friends) here at the newish blog. 😉
Thanks for the mention of the 12 x 12. Glad to have you aboard!
Hi, Cathy! Thanks for mentioning January Writers! It’s a great bunch of writers, and we’re always open to others joining us so that they can stay encouraged to write daily throughout January. Even though the month is underway, it’s not to late to get started. Find us a http://www.facebook.com/JanuaryWriters.
Thanks also for the mention about the Bylines 2013 Writer’s Desk Calendar. I just started a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BylinesCalendar, so that writers can keep up with what’s happening at Bylines. Currently, for example, Bylines is accepting submissions for the upcoming Bylines 2013 edition. Deadline is March 1. Guidelines are found at http://www.bylinescalendar.com.