On New Year’s Day of 2012, I created the Sacred Writing Time Pledge. The Pledge was born in response to a writing group colleague who bemoaned her lack of organization, willpower, family cooperation, and other reasons (aka excuses) that prevented her from being the steady, daily, productive writer she wanted to be.

Writers write. Writers who get published complete work and submit that work to agents and editors, or they choose to self-publish. That’s how it works. The way to write for publication is to commit to it. That means nothing–and no one–stands in the way of your writing goals.

Don’t allow reasons (aka excuses) to gain power over you and undermine your goals. I’d like to invite my writing friends and colleagues to take the Sacred Writing Time Pledge for the first time, or renew from last year.

Note: In the past, the Sacred Writing Time Pledge included place for the writer to ask his/her family to sign, too, and back up the writer’s commitment. This year, I’ve simplified the form because you do not permission, approval, or backup to pursue your writing goals. Just do it.

The Sacred Writing Time Pledge, 2017

 I ____________ do solemnly swear to devote time each day to Sacred Writing Time. That means no one and nothing disturbs this time, including myself. I will work toward my writing goals and will accept nothing less than the best I expect of myself.

Signature _______________________________ (date) _______

Best of luck to all of you in your writing endeavors for 2017!

Ramona