Monday, August 1, 2011

Birthday Resolutions



Unlike New Year's Resolutions that I constantly break, I treat my birthday month as a time of reflection of what I have accomplished so far this year and what I want to accomplish next.

This year saw me brave enough to submit to The Wild Rose Press and to see my first published book. This birthday's musing has really seen me digging deep for where I am and where I want to be. What kind of writer do I want to be?

For this coming year, starting now, I want to shop my paranormal romance to agents, self-publish at least two titles, and learn to promote more effectively. I want to use my time wisely and write at least three more books by the time the next birthday rolls around.

Do you use a specific day of the year as a time of reflection? New Year's? The end of the year? The Summer Solstice?

Jill James
Tempting Adam @ TWRP, Amazon, BN.com

14 comments:

Sheila Tenold said...

Bravo for having set your goals in detail!

I set mine at the beginning of each year. Since I'm a January baby then I guess, like you, I reflect on my writing career close to my birthday too.

Rolynn Anderson said...

Hi, Jill. I'm a July baby...got to celebrate my first published book this year (June), just like you! What an exciting year 2011 is! Yes, I do my reflecting around my birthday...my big goal was to be quite slim and multiple-published by 2005. Okay, I'm not there with either goal, but I'm closer than I was in 2005

Jill James said...

Sheila, my mom was a January baby too.

August just seems like a nice calm month to take time to reflect.

Jill James said...

Rolynn, I'm working on the slimmer, healthier me too. Congrats on your first book too. 2011 has been a very nice year.

Josie said...

Jill,
I have an August birthday coming up, too. For me, September is the beginning/reflection month--probably because I've taught piano lessons and always thought of a new year as September to coincide with the school schedule.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Happy Birthday, Jill. I'm hoping you have a great year ahead of you, full of writing success, good health and lots of hugs.

Jill James said...

Josie, my kids are bigger now and the grandson started school today but for many years September did seem like the beginning of the year.

Jill James said...

Vonnie, thank you so much for the wonderful birthday wishes. Makes turning 40-something not so bad.

Linda Warren said...

It's always New Years for me. Going to lose those extra pounds, be more organized so I can write guilt free. Reasonable goals that seem to fizzle by February. But it's always good to set goals. I keep telling myself that.

Happy Birthday!

Unknown said...

I love this idea and Happy Birthday. Wow...to do something so useful with the celebration of time given to us through birth is profound. Oddly enough my first book launches in the month of October and my birthday is in October. Sounds like an oppotunity to begin something useful instead of counting down the numbers. Thanks for sharing!

Jill James said...

Linda, I do the New Year's thing too. But, I always fizzle out and drop them. It's so sad when I do that.

Jill James said...

Karen, thanks for the birthday wishes. Hope you have a happy birthday too. And book release! Yeah!

Mona Risk said...

Happy Birthday, Jill. I reflect on the previous resolutions on Dec 31and set the new resolutions on Jan 1st.

Jill James said...

Mona, I think the most important thing is to be consistent. Easier to track progress that way. :)