Dear Joe,
Did you think 2016 was crazy? Get ready, because 2017 will be even crazier. It’s going to be awesome.
Fortunately, things here in the States are going to get better before they get worse. And Utah is generally better off to begin with, so things aren’t going to get really bad until… well, let’s just say that when it comes, you’ll see it coming.
Keep building your writing career. Work hard at it. It’s not going to take off until you do. Cultivate the discipline to write consistently, even (or especially) when you don’t feel like it. You have so many stories in your head, and that’s the only way to make sure that they all get written down.
Don’t be afraid to branch out into other genres. Read widely, and you’ll have some ideas that will take you in a surprising direction. But don’t use that as an excuse to abandon your current WIPs. An important part of self-discipline is finishing what you start. Learn how to manage your excitement, and this won’t be a problem.
It’s important to cultivate discipline in every aspect of your life. We always start out with the best of intentions, but that’s rarely enough to see us through. At the same time, no battle plan survives contact with the enemy. Take frequent personal inventories to revisit your long-term goals, and you’ll find come December that the year was not wasted.
There’s more that I could tell you, but I think this is enough. Don’t let the craziness happening in the world distract you from your writing. You’ll have plenty of time and warning, so there’s no need to make a hobby of watching the world burn.
Work hard, stay the course, and I’ll see you on the other side.
Joe
