Year Six -- Week 32 -- January 5, 2004


Absolution without leaving the car.

It's a New Year, the time to plan, set goals, declare resolutions. It's a time of hope and optimism where anything is possible. But the reality is far different. Only those with the fortitude to follow through will accomplish much in '04.

Take my health club as an example. It's now packed with well-intentioned, new faces. But by February you can be assured that ninety-nine percent of these newbies will have dropped out. The reason -- exercise is hard work, it isn't fun, results don't come fast.

We've been hoodwinked into believing we can lose weight and look good simply by using the latest diet or miracle pill. We all know better, but we still get caught up in the hype. Twenty years ago, frozen yogurt was all the craze. Then it was 'Fat Free' this and 'Fat Free' that, and now it's the Carbs. I don't know about you, but I'm already fucking sick of the Carbs.

And yet with all these great new food products and pills, we are heavier and more out of shape than ever. That in itself should tell us something, but we can't hear it because our ears are so clogged with all these scams.

At some point, someone will figure out how to package eating sensible and regular exercise; until then, we will continue to be suckered into thinking there's an easier way.

There is no quick, easy way to be a writer either.

There was no express program for me to take, no magic pill to swallow, or cool gizmo to buy. No miracle method got me through 2003, just the will and enjoyment of sitting down each day to write.

But on those days when the words just didn't come, I too wished there was some potion I could take. And yet if an elixir truly did exist, my writing interest would certainly not be as keen.

In regards to my 2004 outlook, I will stay the course. I look at my work compared to this time last year and see a vast improvement. That progress came from writing thousands of paragraphs, from reading lots of books, from attending conferences, and spending time with others who love the written word.

And so, if at this time next year, I look back at what I wrote and see yet again, this type of improvement, then I'll have had another winning year. Sure, I want to get published, but if it doesn't happen in '04, it won't matter, just as long as I keep writing.

Ultimately, it is the work that will speak for itself. And as it gets better, the louder its voice will become, until it reaches a point, where even the book industry will not be able to deny its worth. This is as inevitable as the yearly New Year resolution, or the avalanche of 'Low Carbed' products coming our way in the months to come.

Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by...

rsw