LOOKING BACK MOVING FORWARD

Stuck? Perhaps, a plan, a to-do list, or a road map could help.

Stephen King said,

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”

Don't remember the exact date that I selected the graphic picture and wrote a title. Then, my writing stopped. By the way, that's something I have in common with Stephen King, and the only thing we have in common.

Reviewing Vocal's #200 challenge, the hours are slowly dwindling just like a New Year's Eve countdown. Googling New Year's, the first two choices are ball drop and resolutions. Resolutions aren't scary. However, resolutions can set us up for disappointment.

For this challenge, instead of resolutions, Vocal's prompt is aspirations as a creator. An aspiration is a hope of achieving something. So, when I think of aspirations, my to-do lists come to mind. A to-do list keeps me focused on achieving things. Crossing off the item virtually or physically from my lists on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis is a positive activity.

While there are negatives in our lives, we can't avoid them. Wish we could. It's best not to wallow or stay in the negativity. Why? Because our minds tend to believe everything that we tell them. If you tell yourself, you can't. Guess what? You are correct! It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you tell yourself, you can do it. Magic happens! You can do it!

Looking back in my rearview mirror, I published 91 stories last year. Except for January 2023, I had one or two Top Stories each month. Was humbled and grateful for the validation.

Unfortunately, having a Top Story caused me to experience epic expectations for winning that challenge. Each time, the Top Story didn't make the winner's list, disappointment raised its ugly head. It was heartbreaking and crushing.

My aspiration for 2024 is to dial down my expectations allowing the validation of a Top Story and the comments from other creators to be enough. Why? Because I am so grateful to all the talented Vocal creators who read and comment on my stories. It is enough!

At the beginning, I entered every challenge. It was last year that I became more selective in writing stories for the challenges of my choosing and completed all that was on my to-do list. I am proud of that accomplishment. My aspiration for 2024 is to continue being selective and to take my time editing stories.

Admittedly, the encouragement and support from creators is one of many Vocal Media attributes. Honestly, it's one of the best. Bolstering and cheering each other on, my only hope is that my hearts and comments make a creator's day special as much as theirs makes mine. My aspiration for 2024 is to continue to read and support other creators.

Dan Pink said,

“Writing is an act of discovering what you think and what you believe.”

Sitting down with paper and pen does nothing for me, but, give me a computer and something magical happens. For example, in 2023, I wrote my first Limerick. The Limerick made the Top Story. If that isn't magic, I don't know what is. I believe in friendship. Friendship was a theme in my top-read stories and poems last year. In addition, Several poem formats were attempted too. As they say, if you think you can, you can.

Last year, reading Vocal creators' stories, led to monetary rewards for being most supportive on the weekly Leaderboard. Besides most supportive, received rewards for the most discussed stories and most liked stories. Vocal's Leaderboard is another way to recognize creators. Grateful for it!

Overall last year was a good year for me on Vocal.

In April, purchased new glasses, and eight months later, saw the optometrist. My left eye is to a point that the inevitable can't be delayed any longer. While cataract surgery hasn't been scheduled yet, it will happen this Summer. I am sure that the surgery will cut into my writing and reading on Vocal. My aspiration for 2024 is to write as often as I'm able which will include trying a new community or two and reading as often as I can. Reading and writing will depend on my vision.

David Foster Wallace said,

Reading good nonfiction is an opportunity “to watch somebody reasonably bright, but also reasonably average, pay far closer attention and think at far more length about all sorts of different stuff than most of us have a chance to in our daily lifes.”

Reading other creators' stories is the best way to support Vocal members. I have learned so much from other creators and continue to grow from their insights, informative articles, and stories.

Lastly, I aspire to paint better stories with words, to show more than tell, and to keep it simple. Cheers to 2024!

Author's notes: Thank you for reading. You are appreciated.

Quotes from the link below:

https://bobbypowers.net/16-quotes-that-capture-the-essence-of-writing/