Monday, December 1, 2008

To the Eleventh Month I Say 'Goodbye'

November was a tough month. I don't know that I've ever had so many separate occurances and emotions join together to create such turmoil. But it's over.


Today I welcome December with flourish. And maybe fanfare. Seriously, I may break out the sparkling grape juice; I've never been so glad to see the calendar page turn.

While I know I can't see what this month may hold, I'm determined to make it as amazing as I can. I'm going to love my family and friends with my whole heart, make my home a warm and welcoming place, offer smiles to strangers, help whomever I can, and fling myself head first into writing.

A good springboard from which I'll jump into my writing was news of acceptance for one of my flash fiction pieces. Surprise at the Salon will be published at The Chicklit Review this week or next. It feels really great. I'll post more details and the link when the time is write. Erm, right.

And I've made a big decision. Life After Death, my WIP, is going to be scrapped. Put in a file, is more like it, for another time maybe. And after giving myself permission to make such an executive decision, to change my mind, I feel good. Instead, I'm going to start something totally new. A new month, a new space, a new WIP. It's an novel idea (har, har) that came to me a couple weeks ago, and I'm just gonna let it fly, see where it takes me.

I'm looking so forward to it.


What will you do this December?

19 comments:

Angie Ledbetter said...

Janna, what a lot of great beginnings and plans. And congrats on your acceptance. Hope you'll post a link when it's up.

Drop by and take my Christmas quiz and check out the contest if you get a sec. http://angie-ledbetter.blogspot.com/

Terri Tiffany said...

Congrats on the acceptance! What a great way to kick off the month! I know all of us are going to have a good writing month in December and your enthusiasm really starts us off right! Thank you:)

Joanne said...

Janna, a lot of strong decisions here, and I'm glad to see you're "owning" them! Congrats on your acceptance, and all your choices. I'm staying quietly on course this month, working on my writing around the holiday festivities.

Joshua said...

December,,,,,I will eat, drink, work, and sleep.....then repeat lol

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your book! Can't wait to read it. Sounds like your gearing up for a spectacular December. December is always a good month. I'm going to start my month off right by cleaning my house today...it's a mess!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Janna, that's wonderful your piece was accepted! Yay!

You sound so upbeat, I really hope things turn around for you this month. I'm tempted to put my wip on hold and write a short story idea I have, but I haven't decided yet. I do want to start on the edits for my other novel. :)

I'm glad it's December too!

Anonymous said...

Janna, I am just now catching up on blogspot posts.

I love your post here. I am so glad things are looking up for you. Happy December!

Ang

Janna Leadbetter said...

Angie - I will, thanks for the support! And that was a great quiz you posted, too.

Terri - Thanks! I have to say you've been an inspiration.

Joanne - I love that. I'm going to starting "owning" it more often.

Josh - Leave it to you. ;)

Fringegirl - Good luck with the chores! Will you do them while decked in your Dare to Wear ensemble? ;)

Melanie - Whoo! I hope this month goes as great as I'd like!

Thanks, Ang! You, too. *hugs*

Melissa Amateis said...

Good for you, Janna, to make that decision to work on something else. Sometimes I think we feel so obligated to finish what we started, even when we know that we're not supposed to. Some projects were just not meant to be.

Congrats on the acceptance of your short story - I hope your December is glorious!

WendyCinNYC said...

Congrats on your acceptance! Feels good, right?

My November stunk, too, though probably not as much as yours.

Here's to new beginnings, my friend!

Janet said...

Here's to a marvellous December! It sounds like it's starting out well.

I'm terrorizing Pennsylvania and determined to spend any spare moments editing. Once I work out that one problem of military feasibility that has been tripping me up...

Janna Leadbetter said...

Melissa - Thanks. I agree, though this story may need to be told in the future. It's just not right for now.

Wendy - I'm thumbing my nose at November for both of us!

Janet - PA won't know what to do with you! :P jk

colbymarshall said...

I agree...December gets a fanfare! I cannot wait to see what it brings! What am I doing this December? Well, my show opens this Friday night :-)

Jen said...

Congrats on the acceptance, Janna, that's wonderful news! What a great way to start a brand new month.

I hope that it will be as wonderful as you could possibly wish for. *hugs*

Spy Scribbler said...

I want to start a proposal on something targeted for NY. Other than that, just finish old stuff, make room for the new.

I hope December is amazing for you!

Rachel Burton said...

Have a fabulous december. And congrats on your novel decision - it's always exciting to start something new!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the story! That is wonderful news! I'd also love to read it, the title sounds very interesting. :)

This month I will probably just stick to random blog entries and get some more reading done. I have too many holiday obligations that are very distracting. So I will be turning up the Dean Martin Christmas songs while dancing around the Christmas tree. :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Colby - Break a leg!

Jen - Thanks so much!

Spy - Good luck with your proposal. Keep us posted!

Rachel - I haven't felt this excitement in awhile; it's great!

Turkey - Thank you, thank you. And I do think the holidays are a worthwhile distraction, so I'll let you off the hook. ;)

Anonymous said...

It's all good to 'box' a story and let it sit for another time, whenever that may be. Best of luck with the new WIP!

As for me, December is my month to get some actual writing done and look into new projects to accompany my writing adventures.