New Year, New Direction?

As my friends’ blogs fill with reflections and goals for the year 2012, I’ve questioned whether I should jump in and ditto the comments of one of them (see Connecting Now). I’ve prostituted of my writing and called it good business; I’ve battled with God over whether I could or should be writing a novel that scrapes at the heart of my characters until they bleed and then try to patch them back together in such a way that readers will cheer the characters on. Maybe even find they are praying for said characters because they’re situations are so heartbreaking, or irritating.

Or I could make grand plans for the year, hoping beyond hope that I’ll manage to accomplish something. At this time, realism wars with romanticism; so, I’ll begin with a look in the rearview mirror. 

One year ago, I laid out a list of goals. Some were accomplished. The following is the list taken from my 2011 Goals page:

Post to my blog at least 2-3 times each week.
Develop a healthier lifestyle.
Enter the Faith Writer's Challenge at least 2 times each quarter this year.
Complete at least one of my WIPs and continue editing and preparing them all to present to an agent.
Enter the Genesis contest. Done.
Enter the Faith Writer's Page Turner contest. Done
Find publications that will accept my work. Done

·         3 stories accepted by Christian Fiction Online Magazine (Thanks to my friend/critique partner who pushed me out of the safety of my nest and insisted I email Bonnie Calhoun.)-- woohoo!

• "Fireworks" => August
• "Fireflies" => September
• "The Quilt => November

o    And this month, another accepted last year by Bonnie, is appearing on CFOM: Until Then…

o    Early in the year, a paper written on parenting was published as part of the English 135 curriculum at Grand Canyon University (GCU).

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And now, for my 2012 wish goals list:   

1. Pursue God. 
2. Continue to seek God about whether the direction I’ve chosen for writing is His or my own.As another friend mentioned, "We need that affirmation," (see Roar of a Lioness).
3. Work at handing this passion/desire (writer/novel author/editor) back to Him and trust Him with the details, inspiration, while obediently writing what He guides me to write.
4. Finish my third of four years strong as I continue studies with GCU (English Literature/Communications)
5. Consider compiling, and then edit and prepare, short stories for an anthology to be published later this year. (I would love your thoughts on this, whether it’s a plausible idea, or if I should just scrap the thought.)
6. Live for today, let tomorrow worry about itself.
7. Cultivate friendships.

    

Expecting Great Things in 2012,

Karlene A. Jacobsen
(Anna-Karls)

Sufficient Grace Writing & Editing Services
anna_karls_j@yahoo.com
http://kannjacobsen.blogspot.com
http://anna-karlene-jeffrey.blogspot.com

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