Whether you are someone who begins your writing new year with the school calendar each August, or you follow the calendar that begins each January, most of us begin a new year in some fashion.
When our daughter was at home, our plans and calendars ran with the school year. We rang in the new school year with a few new clothes and always an ice cream cone after the first day of school. Dates on the calendar would be filled in with events for that first semester. Even though we started our new year in August, we’d always have fun on December 31st as we celebrated and watched with anticipation as the ball dropped in Times Square announcing a new year with friends and family.
As the daughter grew up and moved out, the new school year calendar became less and less important. January 1st became our marker for a new year. I’d purchase calendars that matched that system.
Since it’s January, I’ve begun a new calendar again. I’ve put important dates on the proper pages and written reminders to make appointments at the appropriate time. I’ve even decorated my pages to make me smile when I look at the work to be done. It’s worth a shot to make chores look more fun, right?
But as this year started, covid had swept through our family as it had through many of our friends’ families. This kept hubby and I quarantined until we were sure we didn’t pick up the virus ourselves. Stuck in the house, again. This allowed some dedicated thinking time—also called, total uninterrupted time with God. I’ve been thinking more intentionally about the newness that comes with the opening of a calendar to the New Year. What changes do I need to make and how? With that question on my mind, I read this verse and wondered if my answer was within those words:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB
As I read it, I wondered how this could apply to my writing—our writing. After all, each piece we write is new to someone, right? Mulling it over, I came up with something that I hope is helpful for you as well.
Three Things For the New Year and For Writing
1) I’m a new creation—so write like one. Make the words that I write be a testimony of the One who made me new. Whether I write fiction or non-fiction, make sure my message points back to God so that others will want to know more of Him, not me.
2) Let the things of 2021 go. HA—and 2020, for that matter. That time has passed—leave it there. Don’t keep thinking about writing pieces, pitches or the like that didn’t fair so well. Or that didn’t get done. It’s a new year and a new you, use the lessons learned from them and write from a fresh attitude. If you didn’t finish them, look on the bright side, you’re ahead for 2022 already, am I right?
3) The New Year is here—the new you has come. Sit up tall and take in a deep breath. Write with a new sense of purpose. God has called you to write His story through your life experiences, so think of a new way to share God’s love through something you write this year.
That’s my top goal for 2022—to make the gospel shine through my words. After all, He game them to me anyway. What about you?
TWEETABLE
Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out!
She’s the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC, Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. She’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, and MBT Monday Devotions and others. Her work was published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. When not writing Women’s Fiction and Rom-Com, she’s The Launch Team Geek helping authors launch their books and a Virtual Assistant for authors.
Connect with Tammy at https://www.tammykarasek.com.
Always such an encouragement Ms. Tammy. Thank you ma'am.
ReplyDeleteAmen. I pray I will use the words He gives me to shine His love and light to everyone. Have a blessed and "tickled pink" day! Looking forward to seeing you in March.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tammy. You do great writing. I learn a great deal from you.
ReplyDeleteEncouragement for our writing and for our life. Useful and helpful strategies. Thank you, Tammy and Edie.
ReplyDeleteEncouraging-especially on a snow day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great reminder of new beginnings!
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