One word for 2013

1 January 2013

Happy New Year!!! It’s finally January, or rather 2013, or should I just say… THE YEAR MY BOOK COMES OUT!!!

(That statement is both exciting and terrifying all at once.)

Last year, rather than making a traditional resolution I picked a single word to focus on throughout the year: balance.

I wanted to better juggle my work and personal life, to find time to step away from the computer/my writing and not feel guilty about it. I think, overall, I succeed in this. Leaving my day job certainly helped. Organizing a big trip to Europe and a few smaller getaway weekends with the Engineer were much needed (and wonderful) reprieves.

Above all, I started video chatting with writer friends Sarah Maas and Susan Dennard on a semi-regular basis. Sometimes we talked about publishing, other times anything but. I found these chats helped me forget about Writing-Erin, and just be Erin-Erin. Giving myself me-time was crucial to finding balance. Everyone has their own way of unwinding. This became mine. And I learned to not feel guilty about it. So yeah, success in my book.

I loved the Word of the Year approach to 2012 so much, that I’m going to do it again in 2013. This time with…

 

Present.

 

As in, being present. In a way, this springs off of last year’s “balance”.*

I have a feeling 2013 is going to be a bit crazy for me. A whirlwind. I don’t want to spend all my time stressing over things out of my control (sales, for instance). I want to try and enjoy this experience as much as possible.

There’s a line in Neil Gaiman’s commencement address at the University of the Arts where he recounts the advice he got from Stephen King regarding the launch of his career: “This is really great. You should enjoy it.” Gaiman claims this was the best advice he ever got, and yet he didn’t follow it. Instead, he worried over the next deadline, the next idea. He failed to relish the moment. The fun of it.

I don’t want to make the same mistake. So that’s my goal in 2013. To appreciate what’s happening, every step of the way. To enjoy it: TAKEN going out into the world, polishing the sequel, writing new stories. To remember that I love what I do and to savor those moments where I’m at my computer, enthralled in a world that exists solely in my head and anxious to capture it on paper.

When I think of what lies ahead in 2013 for me, April 16th is this fuzzy, looming mark on my calendar. And it really shouldn’t be. It should be exciting and wonderful and yes, I suppose maybe a little scary, but I just don’t want the fear to hold me back from enjoying it. The book launch or anything after.

So yeah. Present. I’m going to actively try to soak it all in in 2013. Especially the “scary” moments.

What are your goals this year? If you had to pick one word for all of 2013, what would it be?

*It also reminds me of a certain post I wrote back in February about perspective and how it seems like the grass is always greener elsewhere when really I needed to start appreciating the grass right beneath my feet.

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  • http://twitter.com/LizParkerWrites Liz Parker

    Sounds like this is going to be an awesome year for you. I pre-ordered Taken yesterday and am pretty excited. I’m still thinking through my goal this year and a word for it. I’ll have to give it some more thought. Happy New Year, Erin. :)

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      You pre-ordered?! THANK YOU! If I could hug you through the internet, I would!! Thanks again and Happy New Year to you, too!

  • http://twitter.com/lyssness Alyssa

    You have such an exciting year ahead of you! I’ve really enjoyed following along with you on your journey, and I can’t wait to read TAKEN. I think I’ll take the one-word approach for my resolution this year too, although I’ll need some time to think about what my word will be. Happy 2013! *throws confetti*

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Thank you so very much, Alyssa!! I love having all you guys following along with me. Truly. And good luck picking a word for the year. *throws confetti right back*

  • http://twitter.com/commutinggirl Elodie

    This is so exciting and I´m so happy for you! You´re right that PRESENT is such an important concept to keep in mind. It is maybe cliché but it´s true that time flies by…
    I chose two words for this year: Perseverance and Appreciate
    Balance would have also been a good one :P
    HAPPY NEW YEAR, Erin :D

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Appreciate was almost my pick this year. It’s a great word. And thank you so much for the kind words! Happy 2013!

  • Jessica Spotswood

    Yay! I think PRESENT is an amazing word, especially for a debut year. Mine is actually BALANCE this year!

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Good luck with “balance,” Jess. I’m going to try to keep it in mind this year too, even though it’s not my official word. It’s too healthy a mindset to just forget about ;)

  • http://twitter.com/sarahayoub Sarah Ayoub

    I hear you Erin! I am in the same situation with a forthcoming YA book to be released by harper in Australia. I have so much on my plate but I don’t want to get caught up in the madness and forget the joy of this first-time experience. All the best with your year!

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Sarah, congrats on the upcoming release, and yes–so easy to get caught up in the craziness and worry about things out of our control. Good luck enjoying the moments this year. Happy 2013!!

  • Krispy

    Ah, we’re of the same mind! I picked PRESENT as my word too, though we did so for different reasons. This year is going to be awesome for you, and you definitely should soak it up. You only truly debut once, right? ;) Excited for you!

    Happy New Year!

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Hey, lady! How cool that we have the same word picked out? (Even if for different reasons.) Happy New Year!! :)

  • http://www.alexayupangco.tumblr.com/ Alexa Y.

    I think it’s pretty darn cool that we have the same mindset – I chose a word for 2013 too! Mine is ADVENTURE. There are a lot of big life changes happening for me this year, and I want to embrace them wholeheartedly. Happy New Year!
    P.S. I’m excited for you and your debut year! I can’t wait to read Taken!

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Ooh, what a great word! Here’s to an adventure-filled 2013! (And thank you for the kind words about TAKEN! So excited for you to read!)

  • http://twitter.com/SarahEnni Sarah Enni

    Oh, so exciting! Present is a fantastic word for the year coming your way. I look forward to reading and hearing all about it—and especially reading TAKEN!

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      <333 Thanks, lady! I'd hug you if it weren't for the pesky problem of how far away you are right now!

  • Emy Shin

    2013 sounds like it’ll be such an exciting and amazing year for you, and PRESENT is a great word for it! :)

    I haven’t thought about which word I’d choose, but most likely it’s HABIT. I hope to build up a list of habits, of things I do most frequently, of what I am, what I hope to be. So it’s my goal to learn (or unlearn) a habit a month this year.

    • http://embowman.com/ Erin Bowman

      Love your approach to the word-of-the-year, Emy! Good luck identifying good habits and kicking the bad. Happy 2013! :)