I’ve always had a sort of love/hate relationship with the last couple days before the official new year begins.

It’s the best of times (I can finally relax since most of my work was completed before the Christmas holiday, and the house gets quiet after the crowds exit, leaving me long periods to ponder)…but it’s also the worst of times (the house is a little TOO quiet and after a good, long ponder, I’m pretty shocked, eyeballing that bottom line on my writing income).

Anyway, as I’m wrapping up the old year, I’m passing along a few writing-related gems that might help you wrap up things and get ready for the new year, too.

First, there’s my post over at the Muffin with tricks for cleaning out your inbox. Not to brag, but they’re pretty fine tips, I must say, even if I forgot to mention them last week.

Next, there’s one of my favorite sites, Literautus, for calendars and such, geared specifically to writers. And if you have trouble with little ones (or even big ones) bothering you during writing time, check out the “Do Not Disturb” sign you can make and hang on your doorknob. Get it ready to hang by January 1st!

And finally, I came across Jami Gold’s post of a plethora of worksheets (Worksheets! Yay!) to help you with plotting and characters and scenes and…well, you’ll really have to check it out for yourself; there’s entirely too much good stuff to list.

As for the depressing pondering over the bottom line of your writing income, let me suggest a nice, long movie instead. (I saw Into the Woods and completely forgot that I was broke.)