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I’ve picked my word. Again, it’s a bit embarrassing to put out there but a little embarrassment is a good thing. Our one word for the year should be lofty enough to scare us a bit and inspiring enough to have to stretch way up past our tippy toes to reach it!
Sometimes it’s difficult to say private things out loud, because sharing our thoughts and dreams makes us vulnerable. I’ve learned that vulnerability can be a good thing.
Well, my family is (I’m sure) fed up with hearing me talk about getting a book published and not completing that goal. These days, book publishing is a sure thing because there are so many ways to self-publish. I am not sure if I want to go that route but I do know that this year is the year that I am going to pull my two half finished books out and get them done!
So my word for the year is (tah dah) Publish!
It’s a practical and work-laden word, isn’t it? But (lest you think I am not very spiritual), I am also using the word to remind me to publish the good news of Jesus; to speak it out in any way that I can. See there? That doesn’t sound as self-serving as you originally thought, does it?
Writing a book is very much like getting a college degree; there are millions of people who have started them but far fewer have finished them. It’s time for me to finish these babies and get them published.
If any of you want to hold me accountable to my goal, I welcome your input! And, if some of you would be interested in reading and evaluating the book before it goes to print, let me know! I’m a closet perfectionist when it comes to words and I want all the feedback I can get. There are too many poorly written books out there! So 2013..here we come.
And, many thanks to Melanie at One Breath Away who is making free One Word blog buttons and who sent me mine less than an hour after I requested it…today! On New Year’s Day!
Have you chosen your word yet?
Hello! I see you got my email last night and got your own blog button! Yay!
I wanted to tell you that I completely understand how weird it feels about putting yourself out there by announcing your word on your blog. My mother read yesterday’s blog post. Honestly I would have thought she’d be delighted about it… but no. I got a lengthy rant this morning in my email about how I’m not a good enough wife and mother and I don’t need to be intentional, what I need is…. and then she proceeded to tell me what all I need. (Which I can’t really repeat to you because I didn’t read it very closely.) LOL! A year ago this would have had me crying for a month, but today I don’t even care. I’ll probably have to answer her in a week or two but today I’m not going to worry about it… Progress! N’est-ce pas???
Anyway, I’m not writing to you to rant. I’d be glad to hold you accountable… feel free to bounce any ideas off of me. I’m writing my first ebook, too. It’s based on a blog post I wrote at Intentional By Grace (There’s that word Intentional again!) that really struck a chord with a lot of women. So, what do you say? Want to become writing buddies? Because I’m having a really hard time getting it wrritten. Daily stuff comes up and gets in the way… and on top of that, the devil is really attacking me when I try to write this book. (Which is why I think this book NEEDS to be written!) I can’t write a book to encourage women when I am feeling emotionally drained and beat up myself, right? =) So, pray for me and I’ll pray for you? And we can check with each other… bounce ideas off of each other… etc. I know time is precious, but quick check ins will be good for both of us!
Today I am working on a chore system that I plan to publish on my blog later this month. I’m having so much fun with clip art!!!
Happy New Year!
Alina Joy Dubois
Visit us at the “Good Old Days” Farm: http://www.GoodOldDaysFarm.com Where these ARE the Good Old Days! Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
You can count on me to be on your team! I write and read quickly and I’ve been editing for a very long time (I am older than you by quite a bit, I believe) so count me in.
You can email me privately if you so desire!
Jill
I’m also working on finishing my projects this year – I probably have 5 or 6 unfinished books or Bible studies. Loren Pinilis a http://www.lifeofasteward.com did a great podcast on this subject. I think it was something about professional quitters – how to not be one. I’ve listened to it a couple of times already and I think it will help me finish those projects. Hope you finish yours this year!
Thanks for the great help and advice, Barb! I will check out the site and book mark it.
I would love to talk to you about writing a Bible study. That is another project I have in the works.
Maybe my word for the year should be Finish!!
Jill
Haha, that would be a good word for me too! I’m doing a new year’s Bible study on my blog and the goal I’m going to work on, I think, is to do my to-do list each day and renew my mind whenever I don’t feel like doing the next job on the list. I think that will help me finish my writing projects, too.
I’ll read and edit and suggest revisions. It’s what I do for a living. I’ve read the written word of first graders, ten year olds, high school kids, and adults. I like to remind them that a finished piece of writing is really never done. I would love to write some day, but for now I’m content to teach writing; and I tell my students that the only way my name will probably ever be in a book is on their dedication page. : )
The best of 2013 in your endeavors as an author!
Thank you Leslie! I’ve written columns for magazines and I wrote and edited for Wycliffe Bible Translators but a book is a whole ‘nother ball of wax. I will take you up on it.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Jill
My one word is “amplify.” It means to expand by use of detail or illustration or by closer analysis. I already choose to focus on fewer things, and I want to do those things larger and greater and more intensely. I want to become stronger in what I do, in those few areas where I already focus. I want to expand in those areas. A quote that represents this focus to “amplify” is from Narnia, The Last Battle, where Aslan tells everyone to “Come further up, come further in.”
Also, I would be interested in editing/proofing for you. Would be good for me refresh those skills, and perhaps I will have a book you can proof/edit one of these days too.
oooh I love it Kari! Great word and what a wonderful way to explain, define and focus on it!
Jill
Thanks for the encouragement, Jill.