Posts Tagged ‘words’
Looking Forward
Posted January 5, 2022
on:- In: Books | Dreams | Writing
- 85 Comments
It is four days into 2022 and so far so good. January is named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions in Roman mythology. So it is appropriate for me to look ahead and set some goals, maybe try something new. It is hard to plan right now but without goals, I find I am adrift. Goals help me stay grounded and not dwell on things I can’t do anything about.
So here they are, my goals for 2022
- Publish Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral
- Publish a collection of short stories
- Learn how to self-publish
- Start writing a new book
- Market my books in person and online
- Return to Canada and spend time with family and friends in BC and Alberta
- Travel to at least one new place
- Update my blog
- Buy a new computer
- Take an on-line course
- Read at least 48 books
- Keep up to date with technology
- Make new friends and stay in touch with old friends
- Keep calm and stay positive, no matter what

I have decided on three words for 2022
Learn
Calm
Flexible
And I’ll leave you with a quote I’ve always believed in.

I wish everyone an interesting year and would love to read about your goals for the coming year.
Words Matter
Posted February 27, 2021
on:- In: guest posts | Inspiration | Memories
- 47 Comments
A heartfelt post about the importance of words by my friend Sue Vincent. You may need a tissue close by.
Words matter to us. Those that are said, those that are not said. The precision of a phrase, the use of one word rather than another can make all the difference to how we feel about something or someone. Often they make even more difference to the way we feel about ourselves. Words can be a source of revelation or cause misunderstanding. They can give deep comfort and beauty and the lack of a word can cause just as great a pain as the wrong ones spoken. A thoughtless phrase thrown out in temper can stay with a child a lifetime, holding it back, just as the right words can inspire confidence. Yet most of the time we take them for granted and barely even notice them on a conscious level.
Yesterday a friend posted a story on Facebook. I have no idea whether or not it is true. I…
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2021 – A New Year, A New Page
Posted January 3, 2021
on:- In: Books | Dreams | quotes | Writing
- 78 Comments
For many years I have set goals for the coming year. They help to keep me focused and be productive. This year I was reluctant to set any goals because it is hard to make plans when things are still so uncertain. But then I decided the best thing is to just carry on as usual. Goals are not written in stone. They can always be adjusted or carried over to the next year. So before I went to bed on January 1st, I wrote down some goals. I also believe goals need to be shared in order to be effective. Here they are!
Goals for 2021
- Come up with innovative ideas to market Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady
- Plan a trip to Canada to launch Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady
- Visit family and friends in Canada as soon as it is safe to do so
- Finish writing Amanda in Spain: Fire in the Cathedral
- Read and review at least 40 good books
- Visit new places in Spain
- Continue to help other writers
- Organize computer files
- Attend conferences and workshops on line
- Do podcast and video interviews and presentations
- Visit schools digitally and in-person if possible
- Find markets for my short stories
- Adopt a buddy for Dot
- Stay safe and stay positive

In recent years, I have been encouraged by other bloggers to pick three words for the year. I really like this idea and usually pick the first three words that come to mind.
These are my words for 2021.
Strength
Love
Hope
My wish for everyone for 2021 is to be strong, share the love and never give up hope! And drink good tea and read good books.

2019 The Beginning!
Posted January 9, 2019
on:- In: Dreams | Travel | Writing
- 66 Comments
Time to write down and share my goals for this year. If I don’t write them down and share them, nothing will get done. It seems this is the only way it works for me.
I´m a bit late with this post but better late than never as my dad would say. So here they are…
- Publish and promote Amanda in Holland-Missing in Action
- Return to Canada in the fall of 2019 to launch Amanda in Holland, organize readings and signings at bookstores, libraries, and schools.
- Finish writing Amanda in Malta-The Sleeping Lady
- Start Amanda in France
- Do (at least) one thing every day to promote my writing.
- Publish an anthology of short stories about growing up in rural Alberta
- Try writing a picture book.
- Visit a part of Spain I haven’t been to before
- Attend a Moors and Christians Festival
- Go on a cruise, visiting Venice, Rome or Greece perhaps
- Read at least 30 books
- Take an online course
- Make new friends, online and in person, and stay in touch with longtime friends
- Celebrate my birthday in style.
I usually like to pick a word or three for the year. I decided on action, learn, listen for 2019
I´ve read some of your goals already and they are all doable! Wish me luck and share yours if you feel like it.
It’s That Time Again
Posted January 3, 2018
on:- In: Dreams | quotes
- 86 Comments
I hope 2018 has started out well for everyone! As is my habit, I sat on my terrace in the sun, took out a pen and paper and scribbled down my goals for the coming year. I feel I need to share them with you. So here they are
Darlene’s Goals for 2018
1. Finish Amanda in Holland -Missing in Action
2. Publish an anthology of short stories about growing up on the Canadian prairies
3. Go on a driving holiday to Paris with Paul and Dot
4. Attend a Writer’s Conference in the UK
5. Have the house painted
6. Take some mini get-aways
7. Visit places I haven’t been before
8. Start Amanda in Malta
9. Find new markets for my books
10. Promote other authors
11. Help my daughter with her pottery business
12. Create more girlfriend time (I miss this from my life in Canada)
13. Hold more dinner parties
14. Be with mom on her 90th birthday
There you have it. Wish me luck!
My three words for this year are
Create
Happiness
Friendship
I will leave you with a thought by Anne Lamott from her book “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”
“Oh my God, what if you wake up someday, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen.”
and from the amazing Neil Gaiman
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
Have a surprising 2018 and thanks for following my blog, inspiring me and being my friend!