Welcome to my first Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) post for 2023. We have a fresh writing slate ahead of us. Oh, can the writer who threw a pandemic at us in 2020, switch genres please? I’m thinking happy family comedy. Think I’ll get my wish? Yeah, me either. Guess I’ll just get on with things today.
January 4th question: Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year? Control. There is a lot out of my control–the pandemic is just one enormous example, but there are many others. The publishing world is a small component of a very big out-of-my-control galaxy. So, I’m going to spend this year focusing on controlling those things I actually have control over, and everything else will get blasted away with loud music. I’m not going to keep trying to spin the wheels on someone else’s car.
Giving thanks is something in all of our control, so in that vein, join me in thanking my fellow co-hosts of this month’s post: Jemima Pett, Debs Carey, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, T. Powell Coltrin, and me.
And now for a bit of news.
This first story has the best understated line of any animal intruder story I’ve ever read. Her and her family “gathered atop the kitchen table…” I bet it was a bit more chaotic than a gathering. 🙂
In science news this week, theoretical messages from a wormhole. Please, please let scientists discover this is so much more than mathematically possible. Please.
I leave you with a song that embodies taking control for myself in the new year. Enjoy, and I’ll see you in seven.
kimlajevardi 
Thanks for co-hosting this month!
I like your WOTY. Yes, it’s important to focus on controlling things you actually have control over. Doing otherwise will bring frustration and headaches.
Thanks for dropping by. This post is actually from last month, though.
“everything else will get blasted away with loud music” I like that 🙂
Control is a great word. Not spinning my wheels anymore is a saying I have adopted as I mature. I see others spinning their wheels and want to tell them to stop! We cannot control what we cannot control. Very wise. Thanks for co-hosting!
It takes a lot of deep breaths to remember on certain days. Happy New Year!
Thank you for co-hosting! Focusing on the things we can control and letting go of everything else is a great way to start the new year!
I hope I am successful at letting go. That’s sometimes tough. Have a great new year!
Best of luck with your control! I find it too difficult to control even myself, let alone anything around me. I hope you identify many areas you can work to your liking, and that you regain all the footing the pandemic yanked out from under us.
Regaining my footing would be amazing. Happy New Year!
Very wise, both to concentrate on what you can control, and to blast the rest with loud music! I spent the last week of the year playing musicals all day, loudly enough that nobody could hear when I joined in. Did me the world of good!
Thanks for cohosting this week.
That sounds amazing. Happy New Year!
I like Control, as a word. I’m feeling pretty in control at the moment, although I’ll have to work hard to make it continue that way!
I’ve seen enough Star Trek episodes to be wary of wormholes…
It’s good to feel in control, as well as to be aware of what is in your control.
Yeah, worm holes can be scary, but the possibilities are also super exciting.
Thanks for co-hosting today, Kim! Great word and take on “control.” I tend to worry about things I can’t control like the Ukraine-Russia war ~ ridiculous, I know. I loved the story about the Tasmanian devil, and the wormhole piece was really interesting. Have a happy 2023.
War is a tough one. Empathy, indignation, and anger all come to mind in regard to the war, but not control.
Happy New Year!
If Farscape is accurate, I want to live on a ship like Moya! But seriously, wormholes are so fascinating!
Right? I love science!
Great word. There is so much out of our control in our lives, we need to seize control of what we could.
Agreed. Happy New Year!
Good choice! Control what we can, and let the rest go. I’ll pass on the loud music, but maybe a nice pair of blinders?
Blinders can be very effective sometimes. Thanks for stopping by!
The Tasmanian Devil is kinda cute.
We can control our attitude and that’s about it. Sometimes actions, but that can be limited.
Agreed about controlling attitude and actions. Happy New Year!
I love it. Control what’s possible, and no one takes our power away. Happy New Year! Here’s to learning more about worm holes.
Happy New Year!
Hi and Happy New Year!
Control a good choice. Sometimes you have to let loose and wait and see what happens. Wishing you all the best for 2023 and thanks for co-hosting.
Shalom aleichem
Happy New Year, Kim! Control is an excellent word for seeing all your plans to fruition 😉 Very best wishes. Thanks for co-hosting!
Thanks for dropping by. Happy New Year!
Great choice – control what you can and keep your focus there. It worked for me in 2020 and I hope it works for you as well in 2023. All the very best from one co-host to another!
Debs posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
Also found at Debs Despatches
I hope so too! Thanks for co-hosting!
Good choice for your word! It’s good to remember to focus on what we can actually influence. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
It really is. Thanks for dropping by!
I always have to remind myself to only worry about the things I can control. It makes life easier when I focus on those things.
It does make life easier, but it is a major challenge sometimes. Happy New a year!
Great choice for your word! Focusing on only what we can control makes life a whole lot easier and more pleasant!! Hope your 2023 is fabulous!
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you have a fabulous 2023 as well!
Great song. Em&Em reminds me of a younger Christopher Walken. Happy 4th New Day, Kim. Thanks for co-hosting.
I love Eminem! Happy 4th new day to you as well.
I bet many can’t say they’ve had a Tasmanian Devil in their house!
Control what you can control – good attitude.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
I bet you’re right, Alex. My pleasure.