I don’t do resolutions. They’re like rules. They’re made
to be broken, but this year I do want to get some of my longer manuscripts completed
and out there. I’m always telling other people that their work will never get
published if it's sitting in a pending file, so I suppose I really should
listen to myself. This means that I’ll be doing a fair bit of editing over the
next few months and, as editing can be tedious, I’ve planned two Twitter distractions:
#UKwriters
@mariaAsmith and myself, @RosalindAdam, thought it would
be useful for UK writers to have a tag so we can link up with each other to
share news on Twitter. The news can be writing opportunities, competitions,
conferences, in fact anything that's relevant to UK writers.
If you're
interested then please tweet ‘I'm
in #UKwriters’ to
@mariaAsmith and she'll include your twitter name on her UKwriters twitter
list. If you're already on the list and want to follow more UK writers go to Maria Smith UK writers list where you can check it out. Do please use the #UKwriters tag whenever you tweet writing
advice etc. Who knows, we might even get it trending.
#smallstones
I’m having another try at taking part in the River of
Stones project. It’s
run by Fiona and Kaspa and this is how they explain what you have to do:
"You'll create a 'small stone' every day when you pay
proper attention to something (a cloudy sky, or your cat leaping lightly across
the lawn) and then write it down as accurately as you can.
Writing small
stones will help you to engage with the world around you - to enjoy every sip
of your black coffee, to savour the scent of lemon wafting around your kitchen,
to appreciate the grungy sliminess of your compost pile."
You can find out more on their website at Writing our Way Home. I tried
to take part in last July’s project but life overtook me. Hopefully, if I can
keep ‘on task’, I’ll be tweeting a ‘small stone’
daily throughout January using the tag #smallstones. I’ll post up
the best at the end of the month.
What are your plans for January?
I come from the UK....
ReplyDeleteJanuary (and February and March and some of April) I'll be taking part in Sally Quilford's 100k words in 100 days. That's the plan anyway. Good luck with yours!
I love both the ideas and will try and participate... I will! As for 2012, to be healthy and happy and work on promoting my Famous Five Plus group for Indie Authors. Hugs always to a lovely lady x
ReplyDeleteI like the ideas of both of these, especially, the UKwriters hashtag. I tend to use the Amwriting hashtag, but would like to use this new one too. As for plans for January - lots of writing - lots and lots and promoting Buttercup Magic, which is due out in April in paperback - hoorah! Hope 2012 is good to you Rosalind.
ReplyDeleteRos, Can ex-pat UK writers join?
ReplyDeleteMy plans for January are:
1.to enjoy my daughter's wedding :-)
2.get back into a proper blogging routine which has disintegrated due to several very happy family circumstances for which I am very grateful.
3.concentrate on the wonderful children's writing course which I am also sadly neglecting for above reasons.
The small stones thing sounds really interesting. I may participate.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas Rosalind. I'm definitely going to do the small stones writing. I could whip up a few poems doing that I bet. Thank you and Happy New Year. Good luck with your editing!
ReplyDeleteHi Miriam, that sounds like yet another demanding writing plan for you. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteHi Pauline, best of luck with your Famous Five Plus group for Indie Authors. Whenever I see that title it makes me come over all nostalgic for Blyton’s Famous Five.
Hi Abi, I often use the #amwriting too but this one is to link us UK lot together as the writing opportunities in different countries vary so much. I guess we can use both.
Hi Ann, it’s always wonderful to have to stop writing for happy family events. Looking forward to hearing how your children’s course is going.
Hi Michael, it does sound good, doesn’t it? I’ll look out for your small stones.
Hi Catherine, I’m sure that something like the small stones task will trigger lots of ideas and it promises to be fun too.
I'm in the UK Rosalind and will definitley look up the #ukwriters hashtag and join in with this.
ReplyDeleteI think your New Years resolutions are brilliant in that they involve others and tackling a task in the company of others is always easier to achieve I find.
Great idea! I'm not in the UK but close, and my novel is set there, so I'm definitely interested. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on getting your longer manuscripts finished and submitted. I have also said that your stories will not get published hiding on your computer. Publishers will not come to you, you need to go to them. My plans for January and 2012 is to retrieve my manuscripts from the computer and send them out.
ReplyDeleteHi Ros .. excellent the pop up box and it works and I don't have to change browsers to comment - whay hay?!
ReplyDeleteI might join the UK #UKwriters - when I get to twitter .. and perhaps do small stones another year or next time ...
For the time being - I must sort my dizzy life out - the blog, and some new work I want to do from home, as well as helping up at the Nursing Centre - where I'm developing a few activities for the non-dementia residents ... conversations and discussion groups; also offering a similar personal service.
But I can comment and now will continue to do so - without having to gently blaspheme under my breath as I had to go back to IE (from chrome) ..... so now it will be with pleasure!!
Excellent .. cheers and sounds as though there'll be a few other writers joining you .. Happy New Year and a happier 2012 .. Hilary
I love the Small Stones idea. I'm not on Twitter, even though there's so much for writers on it.
ReplyDeletePlans for January - erm, plans...?
Good plans! I'm hoping to edit and polish 2 stories over the next while. Maybe get to the querying stage at some point! :)
ReplyDeleteSo apparently my plans come January now involve small stones...
ReplyDeleteWriting small stones does sound wonderful. And I wish you much success with your manuscripts, and a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAnn Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
Small stones sounds like a great idea, but I don't think the timing is right for me. Good luck with all of your projects, and I'll be cheering you on along the way! Ros, Happy and healthy New Year to you and Mr. A! Julie
ReplyDeleteI'll be cracking on with my novel in January, which has been sitting in a folder doing not too much of late!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very happy new year. (by the way, I don't believe in new year's resolutions either! If you want to do something, do it now, don't wait for the new year!)
Pop-up boxes are very good!!
Rosalind, do you mind if I do a blog post advertising #ukwriters?
ReplyDeletePopping over from WOWH- I started finding small stones in January this year- and never stopped. Wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca, thanks and it would be a great idea for you to do a blog post about #UKwriters.
ReplyDeleteHi KC, you’re very welcome.
Hi Janet, we’re both working on the same task in 2012, I see. We’ll have to compare notes in a few months’ time.
Hi Hilary, so glad you’re able to comment more easily and will no longer have to ‘gently blaspheme’! You have Duncan to thank for that as he prompted me to have another go and strangely the pop up box option was there this time! Glad to hear that you’re getting involved at the Nursing Centre. It must be very rewarding work.
Hi Annalisa, you can do small stones anywhere. It doesn’t have to be on Twitter.
Hi Jemi, good luck with the querying.
Hi Jenny, I look forward to comparing small stones.
Hi Ann, thank you and happy new year to you too.
Hi Julie, I know what you mean. The time wasn’t right for me to do small stones last year even though I put my name down to do it but hopefully this year will be easier. Happy new year to you all.
Hi Duncan, good luck with your novel and thanks for getting me to have another go at changing my comments set up.
Hi teri, I shall pop over and have a look at some of your small stones. I need all the help I can get with this project as I’ve never done it before. Thanks for popping over to mine.
Can a transatlantic hopping Irish sometimes writer join?
ReplyDeleteThe small stones sounds great. I am going to pop over and have a look. I need to get myself back on track....no resolutions for me this year though....fed-up disappointing myself!
Have a wonderful New Years Rosalind, and may your year be filled with finished manuscripts!
I loved your post. I an not planning anything for the New Year. Just taking one day at a time and be thankful if I have one.
ReplyDeleteI participated in small stones last year and am signed up for this year too. I have also asked to join #UKWriters. Looking forward to tweeting with you all in 2012.
ReplyDeleteRosalind - Many thanks for an interesting blog, may there be many more posts in 2012. Wishing you a happy new year xx
ReplyDeleteRosalind,
ReplyDeleteNot had time to comment here, been totally overwhelmed with the amazing response to #UKwriters!
Good luck with your plans. Small stones sounds fun, but I need to crack on with my novel. ;-)
Maria
Happy New Year Rosalind.I would like to do "small stones" too and as I've been given a journal as a gift it's an ideal time to start.
ReplyDelete