New Year - New Projects - Renewed Passion

So, here we are at the end of the old year, and as I write this, we are just hours away from leaping into the new year. But this year, there is a big difference for yours truly as we move into 2023. I am now semi-retired and have more time to write. I'm not going to belabor the semi-retired part of this since I've already written about that in previous posts. What I would like to say, however, is that this time, with this crossover to the fresh, new year, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. In the past, I felt like I always had good intentions when it came to what I wanted to accomplish in each new year. I would create this list of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, and the timeline I would get it done within. I would make promises and commit to self-imposed deadlines that turned out to be unrealistic for one reason or another. Like I said... good intentions. But like the saying, the road is paved with good intentions, I always seemed to fall short of my own expectations regarding what I wanted to accomplish.

I had a pretty good 4th quarter in 2022. I stopped working full-time and now only work part-time a couple of days and a few hours a week. I joined the Charlotte Writer's Club here in my hometown, I was asked to join the Underground Authors, which included an invitation to write a book in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series, I joined a writer's critique group, I've made tremendous progress on book 4 in my crime fiction/PI series, counting this one, I've written ten blog posts in 2022 which is one more written than in the previous three years combined, I finally had the courage to submit one of my books for an award and actually won an award in the crime fiction category, and last, but by no means, least, I've been able to ramp up my grandpa time with my three adorable grandkids. Overall, the last few months of 2022 was the most productive time period of my year and also turned out to be a time for me to begin to redesign some things. I've redesigned my schedule, my health habits, and my attitude. Quite frankly, I think I've become a nicer person. Something that happens when you are able to finally take time to breathe and work on yourself.

So here are some of the things I will aspire to accomplish in 2023: 

The tough stuff -

The biggest personal challenge I have to overcome in 2023 has to do with the mindset I've had about my own mortality since my dad passed away back in 1997. He was just 64 years old when he died. I have dreaded 2023 arriving for years as it is the year that I turn 64 years old. It might sound silly, but until I turn 65 years old in 2024, and am still breathing, it will more than likely continue to weigh on me. Of course, there are some key differences between my dad and me when it comes to our health and wellness. My father died of throat and mouth cancer related to the fact that he was a heavy smoker for almost his entire life and worked at a factory/foundry breathing in all the crap that kind of job had to offer in every eight hour shift he worked during his almost four decade run with them. He was also not one to consult his doctor for anything. Rather, he would try to self-diagnose with a medical dictionary spread out on the dining room table. He lived in an era where men would rather die than admit weakness by going to see a doctor. My family loves to remind me, by pointing out that I have had none of these same issues. I've never smoked and have never worked in a job that was possibly dangerous to my health. And, I suppose, because of what I witnessed with my father, I have regular yearly checkups and will consult a doctor anytime something is clearly off. Still, the closer I get to my birthday, the more it pops into my thoughts. But, I have supportive people around me, so I will get through it and beat my mindset into submission.

The good stuff -

I get to spend more time spoiling my grandkids than I did last year

I will have no less than two new books published in 2023. That's two more than in 2021 and one more than in 2022. 

I'm working on an idea for a serial on Kindle Vella (probably the second half of the year)

I'll be participating in some book readings throughout the year as part of the Charlotte Writer's Club

I will read and review more Indie Author books this year than last year

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All-in-all, I am looking forward to the new year. I am more passionate about my writing than I have been in years, I'm feeling better than I have in the last few years, and I can't wait to see all the good things (and a little of the not-so-good) things that 2023 has in store for me.😀

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I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog... And of course, thoughts and comments are always welcome!😎

You can find my books here: Joe Congel/Amazon

 

 Random thoughts on my writing life: Three words I live by ...

Never. Give. Up. These three words, when looked at separately, are really not that compelling. But when put together, they become one of the most powerful phrases this writer needs to hear. They become the first part of a sentence that, when I add the word ‘writing’, conveys a thought that reminds me of why I wanted to write in the first place. How many times have you had a great idea for a short story or a book only to let the evil thoughts inside your head cause you to procrastinate or, worse yet, totally give up on breathing life into that great idea? It’s happened to me many times. I have a huge file on my computer stuffed with unfinished great ideas. Ideas that I gave up on for one reason or another.

Recently, I took some time to visit that file just to see what was in there. It had been accumulating for so long I’d forgotten much of what was inside. As I read through the partially written stories and the pages that had just a germ of an idea typed on them, it reawakened me to the possibilities of what I truly had. Some thoughts squirreled away in this file weren’t half bad. Others needed some work before they would reach that status. All were ideas that, at one time, I believed could blossom into amazing works of art. So why didn’t they? The simple answer is that I gave up on them. When attempting to form those ideas into actual stories that someone or even I would want to read became hard, I let those aforementioned evil thoughts stop me from trying. The minute it became frustrating, I would put it away for another day. A day that never seemed to come. I allowed everything and anything to delay getting back to writing. Not because I didn't enjoy it. I did. I still do. Writing is one of the most cathartic things I do in my life. When I am writing and it’s going well, it cleanses my soul. But writing isn’t an easy process. If someone tells you it is, they’re lying to you. It takes careful thought to string the right words together to form a good story. And that takes time.

I hear other writers talk about all the stories trapped inside their heads that they have to get out through their writing. They say they have a strong need deep inside to write no matter what.  Honestly, that’s never been me. I came to this writing thing late in life. When I was younger, I thought I was going to be the next great cartoonist to hit the Sunday comic pages. The first time the thought of becoming a writer even crossed my mind, I was almost 40 years old. I didn’t really act on it until I was 58. But once I started, I have not been able to stop. That doesn’t mean that there haven't been times when I was ready to pack it all in and leave writing behind. But even though for me, the process of writing can be exasperating and sometimes aggravating, I enjoy the challenge. I’m also a slow writer. It seems to take me forever to get the words the way I want them on the page. And after everything is finally just the way I want it and I’ve put it out there for all the world to see, it can be extremely disappointing when it feels like the world doesn’t want to see my masterpiece. 

The last couple of months have been eye opening for me regarding my writing habits and my frustration level because of said habits. I’ve had a lot of things that legitimately got in my way over the last few years--medical issues, family issues--but that has all passed, and those things are no longer obstacles. And now that I’m semi-retired and have more time, I’ve tried to ensure that I have specific time carved out for writing. But I came to be a writer by choice. It was never a calling for me, so if I let it, that disappointment and frustration that occasionally hits all of us, would be an easy-peasy reason for me to quit. But I’ve realized that I don’t want to quit. That, dare I say it, can’t quit. Who knows? Maybe I just think that writing was a choice I made and perhaps it’s been my calling all along and it took me 63 years to recognize that fact.

I now have a sticky note taped to my computer that says Never give up! as a reminder for whenever I feel discouraged or frustrated. That little note can help keep me on track. Simple words. Strong words. Helpful words.  

I’m currently knee-deep in crafting my fourth Razzman Mystery Crime Files series book. It’s titled, Best Served Cold: A Tony Razzolito PI Story and is slated to be published in the first quarter of 2023. I have pretty much completed Top of the Third: A Trio of Tony Razzolito Short Stories but have it on the back burner to marinate for a while longer. I’ve also started writing a book for the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series. That book is to be released in September 2023. More on that later next year. I've also started to rework and combine a few of those filed away “great ideas” into a project as yet to be determined. I’m glad I didn’t just delete that file full of abandoned thoughts, unfinished stories, and ideas. I love being a writer. It feels good to not give up. 

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As always, thoughts and comments are welcome😎

You can find my books by clicking here: JoeCongelAuthor 

Until next time...