The writer's road is paved with
good intentions.
I'm ambivalent about New Year resolutions. Don't get me
wrong, I like the feeling of a fresh start that the dawn of each new year
brings. I like the feeling that positive life changes might just be possible,
and find hope in the optimistic perspective of a pristine set of twelve new
months spread before me. I like to think I will lose weight, get fitter, be a
better person. But I've also been through enough Januarys to know that
resolutions seldom last for even those first thirty-one days.
So, in this article I'm not concerned with the above
relatively lightweight use of resolution.
No, here I'm concerned with its use as the opposite of procrastination, that nemesis encountered by many aspiring and
experienced writers. Now, I should say that there are perhaps writers who don't
suffer from procrastination, for whom the passion and urge to write is
irresistible and who never doubt their role as authors. All I can say to those,
most likely, pencil-slim, marathon running, all-round nice guys is Happy New
Year. But for the rest of us, let's take a look at the type of resolution
that's required to produce a piece of writing.
Resolution is a slippery word. It has, according to my Concise Oxford English Dictionary, eight
definitions of meaning and, according to my Oxford
Thesaurus, over fifty alternative
words. So it's a multi-layered and complex word. But isn't that the joy of so
many words in the English language?
Amongst the dictionary definitions were determination,
formal expression of intention, and firm decision. But while I think all three
can be applied to beating procrastination, I was particularly drawn to the less
obvious (for writerly purposes) definitions. This was of course partly because,
as a writer, I liked their metaphorical applications.
Firstly, there is the definition of resolution as it applies
to music i.e. the passing of a discord
into a concord during the course of changing harmony. So for writers that
could mean moving from the negative voices in the head to the more positive,
discarding the defeatist self-talk that says you're not good enough, that the
task is too big, and having the courage and self-belief to go for it. Thereby
finding a pleasing harmony between effort, output and the satisfaction of
completion.
Secondly, there is the definition as it applies in medicine.
That is the disappearance of a symptom or
condition. So, goodbye to acute I-can't-do-this-itis
and/or chronic I'll-do-it-when-I've-got-the-time-
syndrome and hello to being cured and proclaiming proudly, "I'm a
writer."
And thirdly, the definition of resolution as it applies in
science, that is the smallest interval
observable by a telescope or other scientific instrument. This is both an
inspiring and comforting metaphorical definition for writers. We can break down
our novel, memoir, poem, short story or how-to book (or indeed one thousand word article) into
small steps. These can be microscopic - such as opening a new document on the
computer, buying a new notebook or researching local evening classes in writing. Or they can be small - such as writing the
first sentence or two, or attending that local course. Or there are the
slightly bigger steps of a competition deadline, or sharing our work with a
real world or online writing group. And so on.
As for the thesaurus alternatives to resolution, there's a
rich seam here that can apply to the required mindset for the productive
writer: perseverance, persistence,
steadfastness, courage, boldness, aspiration, aim, proposal, strength of will.
I was especially taken with the suggested alternatives of decree, declaration, working out, conclusion
and ending. I like the idea of proclaiming my writing
intentions (even if only to myself and my diary) and seeing them through to a
satisfying (for me and, I hope, my readers) conclusion. I also liked the
suggested antonyms to resolution these being, half-heartedness and prolongation.
Wouldn't you just want to kick both their rears?
The motto of Leith Academy, the high school which I attended,
was Persevere, so if forced to distil
all of the above as it applies to my own resolution to make 2016 a productive
writing year, then I'd go for perseverance as my one word resolute declaration of intent.
And I'd take settlement
as my back-up, thesaurus alternative to resolution
as that just happens to be the title of my work-in- progress. Now what's the dictionary definition of karma?
Do you have any writing resolutions? Do you find making
resolutions in any of the above senses to be effective when it comes to getting
those words written? Or do you not see the need to be resolute, as writing is
something you're so passionate about, it comes naturally?
Anne Stormont is an
author-publisher. She can be a subversive old bat but maintains a kind heart.
As well as writing for this fine organ, she writes contemporary fiction for
adults and has published two novels so far. She also writes for children, when
she goes by the name of her alter-ego, Anne McAlpine. She blogs at http://putitinwriting.me – where you can find out lots more about her.
Websites at:
annestormont.co.uk and
annemcalpine.co.uk
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