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Reflections

The approaching climax of 2012 brings a curious mixture of closures and beginnings. It’s hard to believe the year that just started is reaching its end. It’s even harder to fathom that the fears surrounding the beginning of the new millennium and potential ramifications for the world’s computers (which never happened) occurred thirteen years ago.

Now we see 2013 on the horizon. Some believe the world will end prior to its arrival. Others struggle with financial woes that have plagued the economy and seem destined to continue into the coming year. Still others are making plans to forge ahead with new ideas and new hope. As this year closes and we reflect on its gifts and ponder the tenuous peace in Gaza and lack thereof on the terrorist front, we find ourselves looking ahead even as we peer over our shoulders at what we are leaving behind.

Personally, I love working with writers, and I want to continue with Blood Red Pencil because of the wealth of information it brings to the writing community and the treasured quality and camaraderie of my fellow contributors. I’d also like to conduct some writing workshops to nurture fledgling authors in learning the skills that will help them create great books. However, I am retiring from full-time editing to pursue writing again. Several books in various stages of completion reside on my hard drive, patiently awaiting my return. Next year I’ll be seventy-five—I want to finish what I’ve started and, hopefully, leave behind a legacy of stories that offer a glimpse into the past, a hope for the future, and an example of good writing.

I’m also opening an online bookstore, a cozy writing community that welcomes writers to stop by and visit. You can ask questions, participate in discussions, follow the serialized books from which a new chapter will appear each week (and submit your own unpublished stories to be considered for future serialization), enter writing contests to win prizes, and, of course, buy books. Both hard copies and e-books will be available in most cases.
As the new year waxes and the old one wanes, reflections on the past segue into plans and hopes for the future. What are your goals for next year? Will you continue with your writing? Do you have a work in progress? What new projects are looming on your horizon?

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Retiring editor Linda Lane is opening a cozy, online bookstore that welcomes writers and readers from all over the world. Currently under construction, it is accessible and should be completed by the end of January 2013. Visit her at www.lindasbooknook.com. Or check out her professional editing team at www.denvereditor.com for top-notch editors to help you realize your dream of writing a great book.

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Comments

  1. "As the new year waxes and the old one wanes, reflections on the past segue into plans and hopes for the future. What are your goals for next year? Will you continue with your writing? Do you have a work in progress? What new projects are looming on your horizon?"

    My goal for next year is to take the plunge of self-publishing my MG fantasy novel, so I will be dealing with editors, illustrators, and book cover designers in the first half of the year. In terms of writing projects, I want to complete the final three short stories of my fairytale collection, and, if there's anything remaining of the year, start working on the second book in a fantasy trilogy.

    I love the sound of your Book Nook, Linda. Looking forward to seeing what other books will be featured there.

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  2. My goals for next year continue my goals for this year. I will publish two books in 2013 and hope for more. Good luck with your book store and enjoy your retirement!

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  3. I think this kind of reflection and redirection is so important to everyone, especially to those of us with more years behind us than ahead of us. Not that anyone is guaranteed time. (smile) My goals for this next year are to finish the third book in the Seasons Series and finish the history book.

    Linda, I think your new venture is going to be exciting and I can't wait to visit the Book Nook.

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  4. Linda, there's something about this age thing that triggers another round of rethinking our lives from top to bottom. I turned 70 in May, and recently my mom (age 93) had bunch of health crises...and all that made me realize I'd better figure out exactly what I want to do now and then get busy doing it.

    Your project with an online bookstore is really intriguing. I want to hear lots more about that.

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  5. Gee, I don't know, Linda ... I'm kinda counting on the Aztecs to come through with that 2012 thing ... if they don't, I'm going to feel mighty stupid to have run up those credit cards so cavalierly.

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  6. Elle, I always need a goal. It may get tweaked a bit on the way to fulfillment, but at least it provides me with a map for my ultimate destination.

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  7. Mary Jo, I'm looking forward to developing the book store and making it interactive for writers and other visitors. Retirement in my case means changing hats. I'll be just as busy as I have been with editing — maybe more so — but it will be with different things.

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  8. Maryann, I can't wait to get into the book store and interact with those who visit. I'm planning the first of the serialized novels right now and will be inviting others to serialize their books (older ones, perhaps, that were never published but just need a bit of polish to make them serialization-ready to get the writer's name out there and bring in a reading audience). This will be a LOT of fun! :-)

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  9. Ah, Patricia, age has a way of making us rethink a lot of things. The bucket list becomes the priority . . . after it's cleaned out and the less important things are discarded. I love to write and work with writers . . . this is just a different path to that end.

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  10. Christopher . . . so you're counting on the Aztecs, huh? Hope you got lots of goodies on those credit cards that will bring you great short-term pleasure. If they're right, doomsday is just around the corner — and we're almost at the end of the block.

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  11. My goals are to finish my books and sell them!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://www.morganmandel.com

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  12. Dani, you have a lot in the works! Can't wait to see it all come to fruition.

    I'm plunging ahead with my writing. My first fiction came out this year. I'll have another next year and possibly a third. Not positive on the third, though. After three non-fiction books, I really enjoying writing fiction.

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  13. Morgan and Helen, I look forward to reading books from both of you. I'll have time to read for pleasure now that I've "retired."

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  14. Well, I do have a lot in the works, Helen, but how did you know? ;) The Book Nook sounds like a fun idea, Linda. And I'm with you, Morgan. Finally want to finish and publish some of my OWN work!

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  15. Linda you always have so many great ideas. I sense that you won't be slowing down as much as ripping through a greater number of projects in the same amount of time that editing one novel takes! Writers are such a vivacious, curious bunch, and it sounds like your Book Nook will be a fun way for you to continue to interact. Have fun with it!

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  16. Dani and Kathryn, I plan to stay in touch with the writing community through Linda's Book Nook (as well as in BRP), and I think it will definitely be fun. I'll be including a writing tips column, and you'll all be invited to participate if you would like to. Also, I want to link with BRP and promote the blog -- with your permission, of course, Dani.

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  17. As I read your article, I felt a tug at my heart strings. I am so excited for you and your new ventures. The Book Nook sounds intriguing. But most of all, I am so glad to know your are off to explore your own creativity . . . to delve into you as a writer.

    My goals for the new year . . . to publish The ConDra’s Fire, Book 2 of The Unfolding Trilogy, as well as several companion short stories . . . and to write and write and write.

    Thank you, Linda, for your inspiration and your guidance. I can’t say enough about you as a coach and mentor. What a great day it was when you appeared in my life. Now . . . get out there and Have Fun!

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  18. Sharon, thank you for your kind words. You are a joy to work with and wonderful encouragement to me as I move on to this new adventure. Your enduring friendship has been one of the highlights of my editing career.

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  19. Happy new beginnings to you, Linda! I wish you the BEST!

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  20. Thank you, Heidi. I'm quite excited about finally writing again and about the various facets of my cozy Book Nook that I plan to implement over the next few months. :-)

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