Monday, January 5, 2015

Start the Year Right

I hope you'll visit me today over at the A to Z Blogging Challenge Home. You can share your plans for networking in 2015.

Don't forget that Wednesday is IWSG post time. After three years as a group, many members have come and gone but most stay once they get here. To help everyone get to know the new folks and for the new folks to learn more about the veteran folks, on January 7th, all the participants will introduce themselves as if they just met. If you're not yet part of IWSG, Wednesday is the day to check out the members and see if you want to be part of it.

I'm of the school of thought that I should always be working on improving my writing. My writers' groups provide opportunities but there are lots of places to learn online. Writer's Digest always has some great articles on every aspect of the writing business. Brian Klems put together this list at the end of December, 50 Articles on Writing to Help you in 2015. I'm still checking a few of them out.

Since improving organization is the #2 New Year's Resolution, I admit I try to do a little bit of that at the start of every year. My daughter helped me and we have four boxes for Goodwill and a big box of books we're taking to 2nd and Charles. My shelves look better and I have my entire TBR pile stacked together. Except for the dozens on my Kindle. I'm also making sure my children to adopt some of my physical books and over stuff their shelves. Yet I could still borrow my books back from them. How great is that for me?

I'm also setting up some blog appearances for the reissue of my first epic fantasy series. I love reading and writing fantasy and am thrilled to have these books ready to go out again. My publisher has given me a great new cover. It's darker and better suited for a dark tale.

"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin

What are you working to improve on? How big is your current TBR pile and how organized is it? What do you do with books when you have to clear out some space? Have any plans to increase your networking this year?


20 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Your new cover is cool!!! That is awesome. And let me know if you need a tour stop.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I usually pass specific titles on to people I think might like them, or I donate books to the Friends of the Library bookstore.

Maria Zannini said...

I like to donate my old books to women's shelters.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

We've donated a lot of books.

If you need any other organization tips, let me know. That's the one thing I excel at.

Luanne G. Smith said...

Love the new cover. And I have boxes and boxes of books in the basement I really should donate. Got more books for Christmas, so the TBR list has grown again. A terrible problem, I know. :)

cleemckenzie said...

I'm with you about improving my writing. Such a slow process for me. I don't think I'll ever get where I want to be. I'll check out that list of articles. Thanks for it.

Great new cover!

Julie Flanders said...

That's a fantastic cover! Congrats and best of luck with the re-release. Thanks for the link to the article list, definitely one to bookmark.

Pat Hatt said...

New cover is great and haha yeah that is a good way to clear some shelf space and still have the books if you need them.

Chrys Fey said...

A writer should never stop learning and improving their craft.

I can't what for IWSG day this Wednesday! :D

Christine Rains said...

Fantastic new cover! My TBR pile is on my Kindle. So it doesn't take up space which is already owned by the hundreds of books on my shelves! :) Here's to a great 2015.

Joss said...

I struggle to get rid of books as I only buy ones I lev or which are by authors I know I love, Hence why hubby just had to buy me a massive bookshelf for Christmas :)

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

The cover is awesome~! Who could resist it! I'm not setting any goals this year, other than to be content and happy, no matter what. Harder to do than I thought, so I've got my work cut out for me. Happy New Year, Susan. Thanks for the links.

The Happy Whisk said...

Fun new cover and much joy to you in 2015.

J.L. Campbell said...

Hi, Susan,
Like you, I believe I should always be about the business of improving my writing.

I envy you that de-cluttering move. I did some clearing out too over December, but didn't get rid of any books.

Dianna said...

I haven't done any decluttering... Or housework... But I have done lots of promo work and edited 24 pages of a novel--which also means this edit is moving at a faster pace than any structural edit I've ever done. Oh, and I got a second job today.

Tammy Theriault said...

I needed s good cleaning on my shelves too. I,um, threw them in the library shoot. Haha! Figured they could use a few more books!!

Robin said...

I read your blog (and see your new novel covers) and think, "I suck." I'm still revising my first novel, and still see so many flaws. Egads. Meanwhile, the rest of my life feels like constant struggle. And the migraines are raging. How do you do it, Susan????

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Oh, Robin, you're reading about me now. I did so many revisions on my first novel and over the course of years. Take care of your health first. It's tough to be creative when you don't feel well.

The Happy Whisk said...

Just got your new comment. Love the new cover by your name in the comments section. Very cool.

Our Bug does the same thing. Where's my snowball? It was just here.

Unknown said...

I really admire that cover, very striking. And many books went to the library, they spent a great deal of money on the new building and forgot to budget for any more books!