December Butt-Kicking & Hope for the New Year

December kicks my butt. Every year.

Because for me, Decembers aren't just about Christmas. Both my children were born days before Christmas. Separate years. Same month.

So between class birthday parties, class Christmas parties, school recitals, and friend's parties, life gets more than hectic on an annual basis. This year, throw in a puppy and a surgery, and you've got the makings of a woman who'd rather hide under the evergreen than chop it down and decorate it.

But when Christmas comes the craziness stops. Like the crazy train hit a brick wall and poofed into torn wrapping paper and left-overs. It's a day of peace and quiet with my hubby and kids and yummy already-made food. And then there's those days of lull, making up one of my favorite weeks of the year. That week between Christmas and New Years. When you've spent time off bonding with loved ones. And you have a fresh new year to look forward to. When the knowledge that anything is possible is like a twinkling fairy urging you in a new direction. Bright, magical, and exciting. Full of hope.

So, I've got my new hour-by-hour planner. New colorful pens. And new hopes. Well, same hopes, but a new sense that they are within grasp. *I also got a bunch of new bottles of wine, but that's beside the point.* 

What are your hopes for 2013?  

Contest Participants?

So, I don't know about you, but I'm hearing a bunch of chatter about the contests going on this month. Bakers Dozen just finished. Pitch Wars is going on. And PitchMas is kicking off.

Have you entered any of them? How is it going for you?

Puppies and Butt Kicking

My puppy, Katana, is doing great and blending well with my family.

Of-course, I'm exhausted. Man, puppies are work! I mean, I knew...but I didn't really KNOW the amount of cleaning, and watching, and sleepless nights. We've had puppy poop-tastrophies, and puke-tastrophies and squat patrol and night watch.

And...I adore her more everyday. It must be the curled tail, the pointed ears, and the fluffy fur. Or it's just her. Yeah. It's her. :)

But I have more to talk about than puppy love. I may need you to kick my butt, actually. It's about my writing. I'm not. And I want to. But I just can't make myself do it. After the conference at the end of October I took a break from everything writing related. But, it's been over a month now. I am a third of the way through my newest ms, Shattered Choices, but I haven't even looked at it in a long while.

It's my only novel, so far, that was inspired by a dream. (A melatonin dream, which if you've taken the natural supplement before, you know it gives you wacky dreams.) It's my only novel from two POV's, a male and a female. And it's my only manuscript that I've completely plotted before writing.

Is that why I'm dragging my feet? Because I'm going about this one so differently? I mean, IT'S PLOTTED OUT! The hard stuff is done. I just need to fill in the blanks. Connect the dots. And it's not that I'm not passionate about this story. I can't wait to read the thing! I have CP's and betas and friends who are bugging me to finish so they can read it.

So I'm asking you. Have you experienced this before? Am I dragging because I'm a panster at heart and this plotted out stuff is out of my comfort zone? Or maybe it's just the pressure and stress of the holidays bogging me down. That and a poopy puppy.

What are your thoughts?