Courage: My Word of the Year

Each year, I choose an annual theme, an idea I originally got from Steve and Vicki Palmquist of Children’s Literature Network. My word for 2012 was Focus. I think I got better at focus last year. I learned to do better at blocking out my to-do list and focusing in on JUST whatever I was working on at the moment. So that was good. Yoga helped a lot. I don’t think I did very well on applying Focus to my freelance life in general. I still feel spread too thin, so I need to keep working on this.

But, I’m still choosing a new word for 2013, and it’s Courage! I’m going to try to find the courage to:

Stand up for my writing more often to editors. Editors are often right, and I’m very open to revising, so that’s no problem. Last year, though, I worked on a set of rhyming picture books for an educational publisher. In my opinion, the editing made the meter of the books?inconsistent and?hard (for me, anyway) to read aloud. We went back and forth and back and forth, but we got nowhere. Eventually, I found the courage to say that I wanted to use a pseudonym.?It was awkward. It was uncomfortable. But I recently got my author copies, and I’m so glad I did it. The books are adorable and teach content. But the meter, to me, is off. It is not a reflection of how I write rhyming manuscripts. So I know I did the right thing. I respect this publisher and hope to keep working with them. But if this did put an end to that working relationship, I’m still glad I found the courage to do what I did.

Get more involved with educators. I often feel intimidated by educators since I’m not in the classroom and don’t know all the current studies and practices. But I’m excited to be a Co-Chair on an NCTE Committee this year and can’t wait to go to the annual conference again. It took courage to say yes to the invitation, but I’m glad I did it. I need to jump into conversations more often and be willing to offer my perspective as a writer (not as a teacher) on subjects I’m passionate about.

Write things that might not be salable. I write plenty of things that turn out not to be salable (dang it!), which is an entirely different thing from purposely writing something you love, knowing it will likely never find a home. But I need to find the courage to write those things anyway, knowing they’ll make me a better writer even if they never find a home.

I’m sure there are plenty of other ways I can be more courageous, and I’ll be thinking about what those are. But these are a few to start with.

What’s your goal/theme for 2013?

22 Responses

  1. Hi Laura
    I’m proud of you for asserting yourself after discernment, especially with rhythm!
    For 2013, my theme is LISTEN!
    So I need to stop talking, first.
    Jeanne Poland

    1. Thanks, Jeanne–it was tough. I’m bad at that stuff. Wow, listen is a great theme. I’m intrigued and second-guessing my own word.Listen is really something all of us should probably do more. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Hi Laura
    I’m proud of you for asserting yourself after discernment, especially with rhythm!
    For 2013, my theme is LISTEN!
    So I need to stop talking, first.
    Jeanne Poland

    1. Thanks, Jeanne–it was tough. I’m bad at that stuff. Wow, listen is a great theme. I’m intrigued and second-guessing my own word.Listen is really something all of us should probably do more. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Laura, you are are truly an inspiration. My word this year is DEDICATION. I want to be dedicated to my goals, staying on track with my art and writing. I often get side-tracked. I also want to be dedicated to spending more hours in my studio where I paint and write. Thanks so much for sharing. Your energy level makes me motivated.

    1. That’s an awesome word, Diana. I think you’re very dedicated to your art and writing, but I know what you mean about putting in the time, the “practical” side of dedication, so to speak. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing updates!

  4. Laura, you are are truly an inspiration. My word this year is DEDICATION. I want to be dedicated to my goals, staying on track with my art and writing. I often get side-tracked. I also want to be dedicated to spending more hours in my studio where I paint and write. Thanks so much for sharing. Your energy level makes me motivated.

    1. That’s an awesome word, Diana. I think you’re very dedicated to your art and writing, but I know what you mean about putting in the time, the “practical” side of dedication, so to speak. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing updates!

  5. Good for you for standing up for yourself! That is soooo hard, I know. My word for last year was ‘Live’ because I needed to step back fully into life after the stillbirth of my son. I truly ended the year feeling free to live once again, though I’ll be forever changed. This year my word is ‘Intentionality’ because I need to work on focusing on the task at hand, whether it’s homeschooling my children or writing books or articles or just relaxing, otherwise each part of my life spills into the others and I’m constantly thinking about the next thing instead of giving my full focus to the present.

    1. I am so sorry to hear what you went through–but glad that feel ready to move forward again. Intentionality is a great word. My focus improved last year, but I do need to continue working on it. Being IN the moment is so hard, but so rewarding. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Good for you for standing up for yourself! That is soooo hard, I know. My word for last year was ‘Live’ because I needed to step back fully into life after the stillbirth of my son. I truly ended the year feeling free to live once again, though I’ll be forever changed. This year my word is ‘Intentionality’ because I need to work on focusing on the task at hand, whether it’s homeschooling my children or writing books or articles or just relaxing, otherwise each part of my life spills into the others and I’m constantly thinking about the next thing instead of giving my full focus to the present.

    1. I am so sorry to hear what you went through–but glad that feel ready to move forward again. Intentionality is a great word. My focus improved last year, but I do need to continue working on it. Being IN the moment is so hard, but so rewarding. Thanks for sharing!

  7. Thank-you. I really needed your advice to have the courage to write something for which there is no market. I am in the midst of a piece that wants to be written, but I am here at the computer because I was discouraged it has no niche. Thank-you so much.

    1. Aw, Joanne–you’re welcome. I am so glad this advice touched you. I’m often sharing stuff and thinking, Nobody cares about this but me. So it means a lot if I know even just one writer could relate to it and feel encouraged by it. Good luck with your piece! Put all your passion into it and it will be great–whether it ever sells or not.

  8. Thank-you. I really needed your advice to have the courage to write something for which there is no market. I am in the midst of a piece that wants to be written, but I am here at the computer because I was discouraged it has no niche. Thank-you so much.

    1. Aw, Joanne–you’re welcome. I am so glad this advice touched you. I’m often sharing stuff and thinking, Nobody cares about this but me. So it means a lot if I know even just one writer could relate to it and feel encouraged by it. Good luck with your piece! Put all your passion into it and it will be great–whether it ever sells or not.

  9. My word for last year was comfort & because I had much happen to me that was so challenging, I needed all the comfort I can find. This year, I am in the midst of big changes in my life, but I am more settled so I chose the word “possibilities”, that actually I connect to “courage”, Laura, because it will nudge me to get out there & do things that perhaps I wouldn’t ordinarily do. I loved hearing about your year, & hope you’re very proud of yourself & those accomplishments. It’s not easy to stand up for your ideals or to step into new territory & you have. That’s great. Thanks for the words today!

    1. Thanks, Linda. I love your word “comfort” for last year. It’s so important to realize what we need more of in our life–and sometimes it’s just to take good care of ourselves…to comfort ourselves. Brilliant. And “possibilities” is wonderful, too. Gives me a feelnig of hope just hearing it!

  10. My word for last year was comfort & because I had much happen to me that was so challenging, I needed all the comfort I can find. This year, I am in the midst of big changes in my life, but I am more settled so I chose the word “possibilities”, that actually I connect to “courage”, Laura, because it will nudge me to get out there & do things that perhaps I wouldn’t ordinarily do. I loved hearing about your year, & hope you’re very proud of yourself & those accomplishments. It’s not easy to stand up for your ideals or to step into new territory & you have. That’s great. Thanks for the words today!

    1. Thanks, Linda. I love your word “comfort” for last year. It’s so important to realize what we need more of in our life–and sometimes it’s just to take good care of ourselves…to comfort ourselves. Brilliant. And “possibilities” is wonderful, too. Gives me a feelnig of hope just hearing it!

  11. Courage is a good word. Mine is “own.” Own it — own my writing career, make time for it because no one is just going to “gift” me time, take specific steps to learn more.

  12. Courage is a good word. Mine is “own.” Own it — own my writing career, make time for it because no one is just going to “gift” me time, take specific steps to learn more.

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