The Excitement of a Clean Slate
by Paty Jager
January 6, 2022
There is always something rejuvenating about January and the start of a new year. It’s like stepping out in the white world of new-fallen snow. A pure white smooth canvas. No blemishes or marks.
Starting the year is like making the first trail through the snow. You know what you want to accomplish but sooner or later it has tracks and wind-blown snow scarring the surface and you can only hope you find the pristine peace of mind later in the year that you had that first month.
I usually purchase new pages for my datebook in June and put in any events that are happening in the following year. But in December and January, I start filling it with plans or goals. This year, I actually purchased a larger planning book. One where I not only see the whole month in a glance but turn the page and write in specific “jobs” I want to accomplish each day.
One might be “check Amazon for also boughts.” These are books by other authors that readers who buy my books have also purchased. I write down the author’s names and use them for advertising.
Another thing I’ve written down is to make memes for advertising or to actually put a certain book or audiobook on sale. In the past, I would do it willy-nilly when I thought about it. I’m trying to be more business-like and methodical this year to see if it makes a difference.
A new year also means I can once again, try and post more often to my personal blog. I know I should post more, but it is the one blog that I put off when I feel squeezed for time. My goal is to post there twice a month. This has also been added to my planner.
January is full of hope. I have all the books I plan to write for the year planned out. Along with hopefully some fun short stories along the way. This year I’m excited about a mystery anthology that Windtree Press will be releasing in October. We have 13 authors from the press who will be writing a mystery, thriller, or suspense short story for the anthology. I know each story will be wonderful and I can’t wait to read them.
Another thing I’ve added to my planner is updating older books and covers. Not to mention getting narrations for the rest of my Shandra Higheagle books and the two mystery series that are ongoing.
My goal with this planner and all that I am filling out in it from the beginning of the year, that I’ll be more updated on all of my series and books and feel like I have a handle on advertising.
But what excites me the most about the coming year are the first three books I have planned out to write. The next two Gabriel Hawke books will be set in the outdoors more than the last few have been. Which is what a number of the readers have wanted. The only problem with that is being able to draw the book out for the word length I like. But I do believe I’ve figured that out.
The next Spotted Pony Casino book, Double Down, will be fun to write. My main character Dela Alvaro will be a murder suspect and she’ll see just which man in her life believes in her and which one believes she could have murdered someone.
2022 is looking to be an exciting year for me and my writing. Are you looking forward to the new year? Do you have specific things you like to do in January to prepare for the next twelve months?
Award-winning author Paty Jager and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. On her road to publication she wrote freelance articles for two local newspapers and enjoyed her job with the County Extension service as a 4-H Program Assistant. Raising hay and cattle, riding horses, and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually turn into yet another story. Learn more about her at her website.
