Maintaining the Mojo

 by Maureen Bonatch

I have way too many story drafts that I’ve started, but not finished.

These characters remain suspended in time, waiting for their story to end, or the saggy middle to be crunched away, so the story can be released into the world. There’s not much better feeling for a writer than seeing their story out in the world.

So why hasn’t my mojo kept me in that story until it’s finished before I move onto something new?

New seems better. It seems more fun and exciting. It’s an adventure rather than…well…work. Because the fun was jumping into that story (Panster here) meeting those new characters, envisioning that new world—it’s so exciting. Rather than looking at the old story that needs extensive edits and rewrites. That’s not always as fun. I already know those characters, I know how that story ends. I know there’s a lot of work involved in that process.

Finish What You Started

The same thing seems to happen to many this time of year when it’s already half-way through January. Many New Year’s resolutions and goals are already long forgotten, or perhaps left in the dust before the confetti cleared. It’s fun to see the results, but sometimes it’s no fun to do all the work to reach that finish line, not when It’s much easier to start something new.

A week into that diet and you might think that new shiny diet would work better if you just try that  other diet instead, or a different exercise regime than the one you’d committed to. That clutter you’ve accumulated isn’t going anywhere, so you put it off. 

If you could just find that magic easy button, it would all come together perfectly.

Maintaining Motivation

For many years, I got up before the sun even thought about getting up and made time to write. It was an ingrained habit. Then, life happens, habits change, other demands take over your time. So how do we maintain the mojo that so many of us get at the start of a new year? To change bad habits, and master new ones for this year? 

Something motivates us to make that new goal, start that new adventure, but then what happens to that motivation? How can we keep that fire burning?

A few ways to include:

• Know your high energy times and take advantage of them
• Ride that mojo when you hit a wave- you might be flying high one day and unwilling to get off the couch the next day
• Remember past victories- have you done it before, if so, how did you succeed?
• Take baby steps and reward your efforts
• Revaluate to ensure your goals are realistic
• Remember your ‘why’ for the reason you made these goals in the first place

Your Goals are Your Own

Most importantly, know what works for you. What works for one person, may not work for someone else. You may be struggling with those goals and resolutions that seemed possible at the start of the year but now seem impossible. Don’t shove them aside to plod through the rest of the year and then wonder where the time went, and make the same resolutions for next year.

Why not work to ignite your motivation now and finish what you started?

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter

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I Hope to Go 3 for 3 in 2019, and I Need Your Suggestions!

In 2017 and 2018, I made it a personal goal for me as an author. During those years I hoped to A) begin a new series, B) continue a series, and C) end a series. I was able to accomplish it both years. In particular, last year, I began The D'Jacques Dynasty with Lucien, Book 1. I continued with Miracle Beyond Measure, Miracle Book 2. And I ended the Subwoofers series with Specter of the Marsh, Book 5.

This coming year, I hope to go 3 for 3, and do the same thing - begin, continue, and end. And also maybe add another Carolyn Gregg or Gail Smith book in there somewhere.

For those of you who follow me and read my books, is there a particular series you'd like for me to continue or end? Better yet, is there a genre/entity you've got a hankering to read more about?

Let me know! I'm always on the lookout for fresh ideas!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~~~~~~

Now Available as an Audio Book!

MIRACLE 
Beyond Measure, Book 2 
Paranormal/Supernatural/Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Word Count: 43.1K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p / $14.95 a

Narrated bySusan Marlowe
Length: 4 hrs, 27 min
Hear a Sample

Life on the run is hard. Food is limited, and clothes are difficult to come by, but I’ll keep going. We’ll keep going. We have to. The world is depending on us.

My name is Casi Clarity, and there’s a prophecy that says I will be the one to save the world, along with my protector, Coheed. But we don’t know how, or when, or why. We just will.

Our travels have taken us to New Orleans, where the demons are getting stronger, smarter, and harder to evade. With new allies and enemies alike, who can I trust? Is my protector even who he says he is?

I’m in the fight of my life, with or without Coheed, but fighting without the help of my love is impossible to fathom. I’d rather die myself. But if I did, would I stay dead this time?

My name is Casi.

The undead call me Little Mouse.

Coheed calls me his Miracle.

Warning! Contains a special tea, a trailer in the swamp, deception, bitter cold, a lost testament, a new revelation, and the loss of a loved one that tears the heart apart.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Happy New Year!

The champagne is finished as well as the party food. I watched the ball drop at Times Square, via television, and welcomed in the new year with those I love. I’ve thought about the past year, what I accomplished and what has been left undone and even ignored. It’s time to look ahead and for me, plan what I want to accomplish for myself and my writing. It’s time for New Year’s resolutions.

New Year’s resolutions, we’ve all made them. While they’re most common in the Western Hemisphere, resolutions, the promise to yourself to do something nice for yourself or others, are made world-wide. Since the resolution implies a new beginning, what better time to make them than the beginning of the year.

Who started this ritual? At the start of each year, the ancient Babylonians promised their gods they would return borrowed items and pay their debts. Romans made promises to the god Janus, yes that Janus, for whom January is named. Janus is the god of beginnings and traditions. Knight in the medieval era took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry. Christian prepared for the new year at the watchnight services by praying and making resolutions.

Other religious groups have parallels to this tradition: Jewish people reflect upon their wrongdoings during their High Holiday season and resolve to be better. The concept, regardless of your background, is to examine ways to improve yourself.

The ten most popular resolutions include:

1. Spend more time with family and friends
2. Get fit
3. Lose weight
4. Get organized
5. Help other people
6. Quit smoking
7. Enjoy life more
8. Quit drinking
9. Get out of debt
10. Learn something new

These are wonderful resolutions and the top five are definitely on my list but I also have my writing resolutions.

1. I will write everyday
2. I will write everyday even when I don’t feel like it
3. I will write from the heart and dig deep so my readers will feel it
4. I will read widely
5. I will focus on writing rather than social media
6. I will experiment with my writing style and voice
7. I will create and stick to a timetable
8. I will write two novels and two short stories this year
9. I will learn how to market my work
10. I will give something back to other writers – they have supported me in all I do and I will pay it forward

That is an aggressive list, but I can make it all happen. Do you make resolutions at the beginning of the year? If so, what are yours?

Have a wonderful happy and healthy year!

Resolutions & New Beginnings—Looking for a Do-Over?

 By Maureen L. Bonatch

It’s January 29^th. Wow, how did that happen? Remember the New Year’s Resolutions we all started with excitement at the beginning of the month? Or have those resolutions faded faster than the glow of the holiday season?

o   Diets are put off until the next Monday rolls around. (Ack—poor Monday! That’s probably how Monday got the bad reputation. “Let’s start the diet on Friday—” …said no one ever.)

o   Resolutions are failed or forgotten

o   Writing and word count goals are pushed to the backburner as life interferes.

Embrace the Day

No worries, there’s no reason why each day can’t be an opportunity for change and positive improvement. But it doesn’t take a special month, or a special day of the week to start a new beginning, or resolve to make a change.

It’s your mindset. Or, like our stories, it might takes an inciting incident/black moment/point of no return to force you to change your ways.

Do-Over Tip: 21/90: It takes 21 days to create a habit & 90 days to create a lifestyle

A New Beginning

Speaking of new beginnings, I’m thrilled to be the new witch—err, blogger on the block at Here Be Magic.

 A little about me.

•          I like to have control over my own life. Unfortunately, I, like most, have very little of it. It almost makes me think sorcery is going on, although that’s just how my mind works.
•         Despite my meticulous plans, my day-job career isn’t what I envisioned as a child, and when the hubs and I decided to have children we hadn’t considered that we might get a two for one deal until the five-month sonogram revealed twins. (Plot Twist!)

So much of life is out of the hands of our control, and often that’s a good thing. It just might be the direction you were meant to go. We can work on what we can control. Things such as a positive attitude, mindset, or habits.

•         Another thing about me is that I love to laugh. The sound of other’s laughter is music to my ears.
•        Therefore, it comes as no surprise that my stories are filled with magic, laughter and love (okay, and maybe a little sarcasm sprinkled in—not that there’s anything wrong with that.) 

Forget the Do-Over—Turn the Page 

Sometimes, there are no do-over’s, but we become a better person because of the change, or the path we hadn’t initially chosen. Almost every story begins with a change or a new beginning. Just like each day offers a chance to turn the page or start a new chapter.

So Tell Me, How's Your New Year Shaping Up? 

About Maureen:

Maureen Bonatch dreamt of becoming a Solid Gold Dancer. When the show ended, she followed other paths. Surviving motherhood to twins (so far) gave her the confidence to learn belly dancing, declare herself a tequila connoisseur and biker babe with her alpha hubby. 

Maureen grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—biking, sweat pants, hockey and hibernation—kept her there. While immersed in paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line.

Find Me:

Writing on my Website

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