Here we stand, dear reader, edging out over the precipice of a new year, not knowing whether we face a climb or descent, having made it through everything the last year has thrown at us, and all the more strong for it. Most people will be making their resolutions, drink less coffee, give up smoking, less alcohol, more time with friends, finishing that project, learning that skill/language. The next 365 days are yours to do with as you please but if you take the humble advice of this writer, don't follow the crowd and make cliched resolutions. Make resolutions which make you a better person, a better human. If you can't be stronger yourself, help someone else to be stronger. If you are not lonely, help someone else not to be alone. If you have money, donate to those less fortunate. If you have time, volunteer to help those who need it. Donate blood if you want, platelets if you can. I truly believe the secret to happiness is creating happiness in others and, in turn, allowing them to create happiness within you. OK, the soppy bit is over, the geeky bit's about to begin! If you walk 2.4 miles per day, by this time next year you will have walked the equivalent of Lands End to John O'Groats. It takes 21 days to cement an action into a new habit. That's 17 new things you can start this year which will be 17 new habits by this time next year If you write 275 words a day, by this time next year, you would have an entire novel. Don't while away the next year binge watching programs on the TV. I'm not saying don't watch TV, instead, don't use the TV as something to fill the void of time between getting home from work and going to sleep. Try something new at least once a month; you may find something which inspires you, creates joy or warms your heart. I don't like the statement "Happy New Year" as happiness is relative, and I wish you so much more than just happiness, so, my friendly reader, I leave you with this:- I wish you a year you can be proud of, filled with more smiles, more hugs, more laughter and most importantly more love.
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So you want to be an author? Then an author blog is a must, they said.
I've got to admit; I did have a website set up from way-back-when which, if you've visited the site before, you will note was pretty damn terrible. Now it's all nice and shiny-new! With real pages for my book Overlord of Time (shameless plug!) and upcoming work The Infiltrator (another shameless plug!) and a direct link to my themed blog Codename: Marshal (best to start with Log 1 on that one and work your way through) OK, so on with the blogging. I've had an eBook on Amazon for a couple of years now (Overlord of Time) and, after some serious Olympic level procrastination, have just about gotten around to realising that writing is my dream job and not so out of reach. So after a severe re-edit, a new cover and a refinement of those pesky keywords, the eBook is updated, the paperback is out for sale, and I'm back writing again. I'm about a third of the way through the next one, of which the first draft Chapter One is available on the Infiltrator page, hoping to have it out as soon as it's ready. I've set myself a goal of the end of April, so we will see how we go with that, its about six thousand words a week and a month to edit and proofread, so as long as life doesn't get in the way too much, it should be achievable. Gotta love those SMART targets! To that end, this blog and Twitter. I joined Twitter at the end of October after having a deep dislike of social media in the past. I can see now why people get addicted to it (he types while updating the feed) I'm managing to garner a few followers and have found a wealth of insight and knowledge from the general writing community out there, from people on every spoke of the success wheel. Anyway, I digress. Please treat this first post as your welcome mat to my personality. I'm planning on including insights into my writing process, updates towards my April Goal as well as reviews of books I'm reading, movies I've seen and TV programs. Might even throw in a few of my own money saving tips, Martin Lewis or Mr Money Moustache style. Feel free to read the blog, peruse the book pages, maybe even purchase a book. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I know you're probably thinking "Hmm, new author. Few, if any reviews. Shameless plugging of books. I'll give it a miss" but stick around. You might like what you read. If you do, maybe thank me by buying a book, leaving a review, posting a comment, following me on Twitter or maybe even just doing a double thumbs up to the screen (although you might have to tell me you did that last one) or even all of the above. So, onward and upwards. See you in the next post |
Craig BoldyBorn in South Yorkshire, he lives there with his wife and Labrador. Working a normal 9-5 while filling his nights with writing. Categories
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