Reflecting on 2013: My Reading & Writing Intentions

When it comes down to hopes and dreams for 2013, I'm thinking in terms of my intentions for the New Year rather than challenges and resolutions. I appreciate and enjoy reading about other book bloggers' plans and goals immensely, but I'm too wary of letting myself down by not "getting there."

Yet with that said, I know what I want. I made one vow, which is my plea for sanity in the coming year. I will not teach three courses per semester. For some reason, I'm not pleased with the results when I do. I hope to stick with two for the Winter/Spring semester and one for what we call the Summer I session.

1. I want to read for pleasure daily. I will read in the early mornings, and before dinner for at least 30 minutes.
2. My intention is to improve my blog by posting more frequently and with greater time and effort spent.
3. I have one bona fide goal--to dedicate myself to at least one writing project. The problem is, I'm not in agreement with myself as to which project is most worthy of my time. I have a novel to revise, yes. (I have never published any fiction.) Yet if I were willing to dedicate the hours, I could write a children's nonfiction book (history and/or nature subjects) as I have many times before. I have not published a book since moving to the Adirondacks in 2005. If a writer spends hours and hours outdoors, she does not accomplish much at a desk. She comes home overly weary and satisfied with life, which is not the formula this writer needs to be productive. Because I have no plans to limit my outdoor time, it will be very interesting to see what I do with my 2013 writing goal. 
4. In November 2013, I will try, try again to fully participate in Lizzy's and Caroline's German Literature Challenge, from start to finish. I wanted to do this so much in 2011 and 2012 but could not.
5. Because so many book bloggers are starting the year digging out from under their TBR piles, I'll read at least one 2013 title each month. (Oh, yes, I'll be drawing on my TBR stacks, too!)
6. I'd like to find some book bloggers who read a great deal of nonfiction. If you know of any you think I'd like and you don't mind leaving me a link or a name, please do. I will do a search as well. I'll be writing about the good ones I find.
7. My last intention: I would like to do a regular Saturday morning meme. It would be ideal to post the weekly entry early Saturday morning. The Saturday Book Shop (I need a much better title.) will be about a number of the books I've gathered during the past week--from online shopping, the libraries I frequent, my bookshelves, friends' bookshelves, and book sales.)