At various times this past year I’ve asked myself the question ‘what’s next?’ I confess to being a dedicated planner, someone who always has several lists on the go to keep me organized and directed. Someone who derives great pleasure from checking things off the list and later reflecting on the year, the month, or the week’s accomplishments.
But hang on! Is that still necessary or even desirable? Am I putting too much pressure on myself to get out the next blog post, the next novel, the next whatever? Am I letting life slip by with tasks rather than living?
Now there’s a question!
A few days ago, I looked at the novels I’ve written – 6 adult novels, 1 children’s book for our grandsons – and thought “Wow. Look at what you’ve done, Mary Tod. Who would have imagined such an outcome fifteen years ago?”
A psychiatrist friend of mine shared a technique with me a few years ago called the Wheel of Life, a technique to examine where you are in life and where you want to focus going forward. The idea is to assess each dimension on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 means not at all satisfied and 10 means completely satisfied. It was created by The Coaches Training Institute (CTI).
I filled it out and then reflected on the results. At the time, I had already had a successful business career and chose to look at the career segment of the wheel in terms of my writing efforts. The rating I gave myself was a 5. Why? Because despite many hours of dedication – and three different agents – I had only one ‘traditionally published’ novel.
Perspectives change slowly. What if, I told myself recently, I were to look at my writing differently? What if I were to look at my writing as personal growth, as learning, as part of being a healthy individual, as stories to leave behind for future generations, as fun and recreation. What then?
I’ll leave you with that question because I don’t have an answer yet, just a hint of one – and by the way, there may not be an answer, in the binary sense of that word.
Thoughts welcome as always.
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M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel THAT WAS THEN is a contemporary thriller. Mary’s other novels, THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.
12 Responses
Interesting post, Mary. Especially since we’re on a similar timeline, and I also have six novels under my belt. So my answer to the question is: I’m now writing a screenplay. It’s a whole different ballgame! Think about it…
What a wonderful idea, Harald. I wish you lots of success. Did I read that someone optioned your first novel??
Yes, indeed. “New York 1609” is optioned in Hollywood. Have no idea if it will ever hit a small or large screen, but hey, it’s nice to be acknowledged. And you saw it take form early on! For which, I’m always grateful.
Wow, Mary! Very good post. I’m waffling about my decisions as well. And I like this wheel. My husband and I used to spend every Jan 1 going over this “list” and asking ourselves: what could we improve? Where have we done well and improved? But I’m also in flux–working, but not very focused. I wish you luck on this journey of discovery, on finding your next steps!
Many thanks, Chrystyna. I so admire what you and your husband are doing with your new son. What a gift for all of you. I plan to do more thinking … in fact, even writing this post has clarified some things for me 🙂 Sending best wishes.
Had to laugh a bit at your post. I am 80 and just doing a final edit on my first novel (the first of three in my Ann Lynch series). Know what my next book will be, and have dozens of ideas running around in my head for after that. Oh, to be young and time to write them all. Going to have to be writing at 100. Wish me luck.
Your first novel!! How exciting, Cheryl. I hope you have found the writing process as satisfying and liberating as I have – even though I’m uncertain as to the next steps! Do keep in touch.
Do what you love, Mary, and take time to smell the roses.
This is a really good tool for self-assessment. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve changed my attitude, Mary. Prior to the Covid years, I was all about write, write, new book, sell! But the joy of sharing life with my little grandson and experiencing the loss of freedoms with Lockdown, taught me that life is for living. Not so much sitting at the keyboard or researching. I still write books (13 to date, plus anthologies) because writing to me is like painting to a watercolourist, but I don’t aim to get out one a year, or do massive sales campaigns any more. I just publish a book to the best of my abilities and when I feel like it. In between times, I’m doing all the things that add to the dimensions of a good life. I’ve discovered so many new things that I want to do and being a full-time novel writer would have prevented that. (More gardening, cooking, new embroidery techniques, ballet, writing a column for Substack)
Mind you, my approach is not for everyone.
Thanks for this post, something I am wrestling with too.
Hi Katherine – I suspect there are many of us in this particular situation. Prue Batten offered her perspective which I appreciated – perhaps it will resonate with you as well. Best wishes … Mary