Flannery O'Conner: How she impacted my life...

 

I have this quote on my work desk!

The writer is only free when he can tell the reader to go jump in the lake. You want, of course, to get what you want to show across to him, but whether he likes it or not is no concern of the writer.

~ Flannery O’Connor

It has been years since I first laid my eyes on this life-changing quote. Flannery O’Connor was a writer and a darn good one in her time.

I was browsing online one-day several years ago, and read this gem. It jumped out at me, resonated within me and changed my life for the better immediately after I read it.

As writers, this is exactly our job. She nailed it. We are to write the story we have in our hearts…do what we are called to do. We are to write it the best we can. After that, it is not our concern. Of course, we want to write a best seller and in order for that to happen, people have to like what we wrote. But, this quote goes even deeper. We will always have people who do NOT like our stories, writing style, genre, etc. It is those people that this quote is referring to, (At least in my opinion it is.)

•     Write your story
•     Write the best you can
•     Have it published
•     Do not worry about the naysayers
•     Create your own success and keep writing 

 More from Author Deanna Martinez:

 To the lady who handed me her dirty tissue

 Easy book writing tips

 How to stay accountable to writing


 

Resolutions Vs. Goals: Let's make 2020 our year!

It's time for my annual "Resolutions vs. Goals" post. Because I appreciate when encouragement is offered to me, I enjoy offering encouragement to others..which is why I choose to share this post every year. 

 

Let's make 2020 the year we move forward with creating the life we truly desire.  Let's leave the past were it belongs...in the past, and create for ourselves a joyful, prosperous, healthy new year!

Resolution: A promise we make to ourselves and declare to others that we are going to make a positive change for the new year.

Goals: A plan we put into place to move forward towards a better life.

Do you see the difference? A resolution is a promise, but a goal is a plan. Let’s set goals for ourselves this year. Make a plan, write a list of steps to get you to where you want to be: financially, physically, emotionally, relationally. Set reasonable goals. Take baby steps towards your new future, your new life.

Let’s turn our dreams into reality for 2020! 

Meditate on your goals and the changes you want to make, see yourself living the life that you desire. Talk about your dreams and goals with people who will build you up and encourage you. Make your plan and work towards it each day, little by little, taking baby steps. Don't give up!

They say, "Rome wasn't built in a day". How true that is! Let's make the changes within ourselves to become the people we want to be this year. It can be done and WE are the only ones who can make it happen; join a gym, write a book, start a business, change the things we don't like about ourselves/our lives. Let's make this our year!