In bed last night, I thought about my writing for today. I wrote a few sentences. At ten I put my laptop in airplane mode and slept.

I was up at 5 – not to an alarm but to ideas swimming in my subconscious. This mailer drafted itself in my cozy quilted brain. A thick jacket later, I deleted everything from last night, and wrote afresh.

I spent the next few minutes writing, and two hours editing.

I was happy. I was writing. I wasn’t talking about writing. I wasn’t worrying about the outcome. I was immersed in doing something I love, that I’ve become good at.

Psychologists call this state flow. I want to be in flow every single day of 2023.

Writers should write for the writing itself. For the love of the craft. Because we love soaking ourselves in words. Because there is a giddy happiness in giving ideas and stories the shape of literature. Writers write for the sensuality of curvaceous language and scintillating metaphors.

Fame, awards and book deals are all outcomes. Don’t write for those reasons. Write because you have something vehement to say. Or something frivolous. Practice the craft so that you say it with clarity and brilliance.

That is my wish for you. In 2023, I hope you find joy in writing. I hope you revel in the craft.

Happy New Year.