Saturday 2 January 2010

Into the Future

I love this day. The first new day in another new year that stretches ahead of us; a tabula rasa waiting for us to make our mark on it. The possibilities and adventures that await are infinite, and infinitely exciting. Good or bad. Ups or downs. Whatever the new year brings, at the end of it we will not be exactly the same person as we are in this particular moment in time. It's up to us to fill that blank tablet with our own unique words and deeds: a high adventure indeed!


Let me begin to inscribe my mark on this year...


My main focus for 2010 is writing my new novel (refer Project C). I am a slow starter with my writing and, in the early stages of a new novel, I easily loose focus if I am distracted. I'm an incompetent multi-tasker, because I work best when my focus is narrow and specific.


One of my two main life goals is to be a traditionally published author. Diving into the blog-o-sphere has been exquisite fun. But it's stolen my focus from making sure that, one day, I hold the paper pages of my own novel in my hands. That the dream becomes a reality as I walk into a bookstore and see, smell and touch the cover of my story.


I’ve tried a variety of ways to limit or manage the time consumed by blogging (not replying to people who comment on my blog; limiting my comments on other people’s blogs; cutting down my posting schedule to twice a month; changing the content of my blog from personal to more formal etc etc). In the end, blogging is still a time-thief. And so, in the interests of efficient time-management, I am going to follow the good example set by those two bloggers extraordinaire, Lady Glamis and Gottawritegirl.


With great sadness, I will be UNPLUGGING from the blog-o-sphere so that I can concentrate on completing the first draft of Project C.


I'd like to thank all of you who have enriched my knowledge and my writing, and who made me so welcome in Blogland. I started this blog at the worst of times in my writing life; because of the people I have met, it became the best of times.


Davin, Judith, Kelly, Lois, Marilyn, Michelle, Moonrat, Nancy, Robyn, and far too many others to mention, have so generously offered friendship and support over the nearly two years I've been blogging and, in so doing, have restored my faith in writing and in my dream of being A Published Author.


For that, I thank you all. And I wish you a 2010 enriched by both prosperity and joy for you and yours. Hamba kahle! And, lest auld acquaintance be forgot...

17 comments:

moonrat said...

good luck, Ann! hope you'll keep in touch. xxx

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Sala Kahle, Friend. Write well. We'll be here when you get back. You can do this!

Anita said...

Good luck, Ann! I can't wait to see your book in MY hands (and I'll see you at a booksigning, too)!

Nancy J. Parra said...

Good luck, Ann!

Will miss your lovely posts, but you are so right-the actual dream of paper book in hand should come first. Thank you for sharing your journey, your stories and your wisdom with us. I know I'm more enriched because of it.

Do keep us posted on progress! hugs, Nance

lotusgirl said...

I'll miss you around here, but I understand completely. It can be time consuming and distracting to blog on a regular basis. Keep us posted on how things are going. I'll keep you listed on the blogs I follow and look forward to updates. Good luck with all your endeavors.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

So sorry to see you leave after just meeting you, but you must do what is best for you.
I'm working on my novel before reading blogs each day, and I will see how that works. I only post two or three times a week and could cut that if necessary. I'm going to try to keep both going for now. Best wishes to you.

Leonie said...

Good luck with your Project C: may all your writing goals come to fruition this year!! Thanks for enriching our lives with your insightful posts and sunny personality!! Hugs, Leonie. xox

SarahAnn said...

Good for you. I need to be disciplined enough to remove distractions.

Good luck!

www.sarahnoelsmusings.blogspot.com

Judith Mercado said...

Ann,
Though I understand completely and am weighing similar options myself, I still will miss you and hope this is only so long and not a definite good-bye. In the meantime, I strengthen my connection to you and your country as I wind my way through Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom book.
Hasta luego,
Judy

septembermom said...

I wish you all the luck in the world Ann! You're such a talented, genuine, thoughtful person. I know that the world of words is a greater place because you share your creativity on the page.

Happy New Year Ann!!!!!! I'll miss you.

Judy Sheldon-Walker said...

Good luck, not good by but see you later.

Anonymous said...

Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.

Romy said...

I'll miss your blog posts, Ann, but we are all 100% behind you. We'd rather see you create the ultimate South African break-out novel than amuse us blog-followers. You go girl!

Amanda Holly said...

Au revoir! I love the way the French say it - it just rings so true!

Best of luck with Project C! Not that you'll need it. It sounds to me like you're planning for success. It's only a matter of time ...

Love & hugs,
Mandy

jdcoughlin said...

Ann,

I am sorry to hear you are going. Truly. Yours is the first site I visited this morning. I love to hear your insights, your words, the language. But I am also so with you about the time suck. It can be a big one and your writing, your real writing, must come first. I wish you the best and look forward to the day we all get to enjoy your work.
Happy New Year & Happy Writing

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Best of luck! Keep us all posted. I know you'll be greatly missed. :-)

Weronika Janczuk said...

Well, hello, Judy! :)

I wish you the best of luck with these endeavors, and I know that you will go far with your project.