I’ve no problem making a “to-do list.” I can plan and organise up a storm if I put my mind to it. I itemise it. I break it down into reasonable chunks. I work out what I want to do each day, week, or month. I’m just not good at forward forecasting, planning my projects years in advance. I’d lose focus, I think. A five-year plan I could manage in vague terms, but it does my head in.

See what I did there? I went from talking about focusing on the small steps, to thinking about the broader plans. I do this all the time, spinning from one idea to the other. The voices in my head are such a distraction it is difficult to focus.

That may have been a joke, but it illustrates my problem. I do get easily distracted each day. There are things I want to do but work and life in general means it’s difficult to achieve my goals.

Focus. It’s a small word. “To pay attention to,” “to see clearly” or “to concentrate.” Determination, single-minded, absorbed, immersed, or intent are other words to describe the passion which is needed to succeed with any plans we have.  

We must put the time and effort into our plans to see the results. I can plan to publish a book by the end of the month, but if I don’t spend the time writing, editing, formatting, etc that won’t happen. I can say I want ARC readers, reviews, pre-orders… but I need to put the work in to see the results.

The word I chose for the beginning of the year is ALIGN. Put simply – having my ducks in a row.

If I reflect on the last eleven months, I haven’t done too badly. I’ve written and published a few books. Not as many as I’d planned, but paid work has to take precedence. Adulting means paying bills and not spending all day writing the words.

I’ve got my garden into a state where it just needs maintenance. I may re-work parts of it, and take cuttings, or add more plants, but it’s not a priority. My craft is something I play around with, in my spare time. It’s an interest, and something that makes me smile, (or scream in frustration). I like some of the items I’ve created.

I don’t have to write books. I choose to. I like to, for a few reasons. It keeps me occupied, it’s challenging, it’s creative, and it’s a way to work through ideas. Because I’m determined and competitive I want to keep writing, to see improvement. I like to challenge myself. Of course, if readers like the words I write, the stories I weave and the characters, that makes what I do even better.  

Getting back into focus – my plans, my ideas, my list of things I want to achieve. Where to start? Oh yes that’s right, these two books won’t publish themselves.