As the final days of the year tick away, many of us take a moment to reflect on the chapters we’ve written in our lives—the victories, the lessons, the heartbreaks, and the triumphs. For authors like myself, this reflection often takes on a dual meaning. We measure time not just in months and days, but in words and pages, in stories that have come to life and those that linger, still waiting to be told.
This year, as I sat down to craft my New Year’s promises, I found myself revisiting a story that shaped me not only as a writer but as a person. It wasn’t a bestseller or a plot twist in one of my books; it was the journey of creating the sequel to The Wrong Side of the Glass, the first book in the Gwin Series.
The Gwin Series was born from an unexpected spark of inspiration—a "what if" question that refused to leave me alone. What if someone could manipulate their way through life so deftly that even the keenest minds couldn’t pin them down? What would that person look like, and what might drive them? Those questions led me to Gwin, a master of deception, and Paxton, her autistic accomplice. Their story became a reflection of themes we all wrestle with: trust, betrayal, and the lengths we’ll go to for survival.
I’ll admit, Gwin’s story didn’t come easily. There were nights I stared at a blank page, questioning whether her character’s cunning schemes and deeply flawed humanity could truly resonate with readers. The self-doubt was real. Yet, it was in those moments that I made an unspoken promise to myself—one that I carry into this New Year and every one that follows.
The promise? To keep turning pages, no matter how challenging the story becomes.
In many ways, this promise mirrors the resolutions we all make as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. We vow to lose weight, to save money, to repair relationships, or to chase dreams long put on hold. But life, like a good novel, rarely unfolds the way we expect. Plot twists appear—unexpected layoffs, broken hearts, or even global pandemics. The real test isn’t whether we keep every resolution perfectly; it’s whether we have the courage to adapt, to rewrite the next chapter when necessary.
This brings me back to the lesson I learned from Gwin and her relentless, if not always admirable, drive. Gwin is a character who doesn’t wait for the world to hand her a better deal. She creates it, often by sheer force of will. While her methods are far from exemplary, her tenacity offers a powerful reminder: the story is never over until we decide it is.
As a writer, I’ve also learned the value of flexibility. Just as I let my characters take unexpected turns—like Paxton, whose complexity grew beyond anything I initially imagined—I’ve come to see New Year’s promises not as rigid contracts but as guiding stars. They’re there to inspire us, to nudge us toward growth, but they’re not meant to shackle us.
This year, my own promises are shaped by the lessons of the past but remain open to the surprises the future holds. I promise to finish the screenplay adaptations of the Gwin Series, a project that has pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me new ways to tell a story. I promise to embrace the unpredictable—to see every critique as an opportunity, every plot hole as a challenge, and every blank page as a world waiting to be created.
And finally, I promise to make time for the people who inspire my stories, including readers like you. Because at its heart, writing isn’t just about the words on a page; it’s about the connections we forge through those words, the shared laughter, tears, and gasps of surprise that remind us we’re all part of a larger story.
As you set your own New Year’s promises, I encourage you to think not just about the goals you want to achieve but about the stories you want to tell. What chapters will you write in the year ahead? What promises will you make to yourself, and how will you keep turning pages even when the going gets tough?
Remember, every great story has its challenges. But it’s those challenges that make the triumphs all the sweeter. So here’s to 2025—a year of bold beginnings, unexpected twists, and the courage to write the stories we were meant to tell.
Happy New Year, and may your next chapter be your best one yet.
Find out more at www.authorrickincorvia.com.
Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - January 2025.
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