We’re writers. We’re all about words.

Writing a novella? You’re concentrating on producing around 25 thousand words.

Writing a novel? You’re focused on approximately 90 thousand words.

Words and more words. Yes, sometimes we have — GASP! — edit and rewrite … maybe delete a scene or a chapter. But it’s all about the words.

Today, I want you to consider focusing on one word.

There are 13 days until January 1, 2015.

A lot of us are thinking about the new year and what we want to accomplish. We’re setting goals, maybe mulling over New Year’s resolutions.

Consider this instead:

• Tear up the list of resolutions you’re writing out. If you’re like me, you’re going to lose track of it by the end of January, right?
• Pick one word for 2015. It’s simple to remember one word, right? Focus on that One Word for the entire year. Ask God to use that one word to change you through the year.
• Anchor your One Word to a Scripture verse. I also look for a “visual” of some sort: a photograph with a quote or a bracelet or necklace with my One Word on it. This year a writer-friend sent me a mug with my 2015 word on it.

This is my 10th year choosing one word. My previous One Words have been:

2006: gratitude – I kept a gratitude journal and found my “glass-half-empty” attitude revolutionized.
2007: simplify – A severe illness turned this word into survival. I embraced simpler things in ways I never imagined.
2008: content – as in “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5) I bought a lot less that year!
2009 & 2010: forgiveness – I had a lot to learn and unlearn about forgiveness.
2011: hope – A word I clung to when life hurt or when my heart ached for others who were hurting. There were times I could have asked “Why?” Instead, I asked myself, “Are you going to abandon hope?” My answer: No.
2012: trust – During a year of change, I faced doubting versus trusting — and chose to trust. I also began posting trust quotes on my Facebook page to encourage myself and others.
2013: confidence – I feel so much stronger emotionally after keeping my heart and mind set on “not throwing away my confidence.” (Hebrews 10:35-36) And yes, I continued the tradition of posting confidence quotes on my FB page.
2014: think – I tried to anchor my thinking to truth more and more, rather than letting my thoughts go wandering into comparisons and expectations and flat out lies.

This year my One Word is collaborate. Isn’t that a beautiful word? I’m specifically applying this word to my writing. I want to collaborate with God as I write.

Collaborate means to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something. Synonyms: co-operate, join forces, team up, band together, work together, participate, combine, ally.

As always, I’ve wanted a verse to anchor my word to, and my treasured friend, author Cynthia Ruchti, shared the perfect one with me while we were at a writers retreat in Monterey:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it (complete it) until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NASB)

What about you? Have you ever chosen One Word to focus on for the year? Are you considering One Word for 2015?