I was deleting emails from the overflowing inbox and happened to click a link from one of the too-many newsletters I subscribe to but don't always have time to enjoy when they arrive.
In other words, this email was dated December 27, 2011. (Insert feeble smiley face here, attempting to persuade you that my schedule is jam-packed so I didn't have time to read it 386 days ago.)
Instant inspiration.
An article titled "What's Your Theme" caught my attention. When you typically think about the word 'theme,' your mind may think about the dreaded five-paragraph theme required by your high school English teacher or it may contemplate an underlying message from the latest novel you're writing or reading.
Instead, the article talks about developing a personal theme for the year. Heck, sometimes we need a personal theme just to survive a day or week or month! A theme isn't a mirror image of your goals or resolutions. It goes a deeper.
It got me thinking: What's my theme when it comes to writing?
Since 2013 is still fresh, I glanced at the Post-It note listing my goals for the year and decided to toss it into File 13. Now, I'm considering how I want my writing life to look a month from now, by the time my birthday rolls around in July, and definitely when the clock strikes midnight next January 1.
I know what I want. I know what I must do to get there. The climb may be difficult, but I will survive and the words I place on paper and my writing career will be stronger in 365 days.
by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of her work at her website.
3 comments:
LuAnn:
Are you going to tell us your theme? Or give us an example of a theme? I am interested in this!
Margo
I was wondering the same thing! What's your theme?
There is a scene in the movie City Slickers where Curly (Jack Parlance) looks at Mitch (Billy Crystal) and holds up his index finger. He tells Mitch life is about one thing. Figure out what that is and nothing else matters. My theme this year is to find my one thing: who I am as a writer.
Right now, my life is incredibly swamped with responsibilities ranging from caring for my grandkids to teaching three classes every day to coaching two award-winning speech and drama programs to dealing with family medical issues. Where do I find time to write and advance my career?
My theme is simple: Survival of the strongest. I know the direction I want to take and where I want to end up next December 31. The path isn't going to be easy; time constraints will always be an issue. But you handle the pressures and daily stresses and your ultimate goal will be attainable.
I want to reach certain markets this year and if I am handed a rejection slip, I refuse to let it stop me. Instead, I'm going to keep pitching good ideas. Strongest ideas win. :)
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