David Meigs is a novelist with a background in youth outreach, specializing in ministry to at-risk youth and their families. Though his writing is enjoyed by all ages, his novels provide a unique, life-changing quality, critical for the youth of today. David and his family lives in Seabeck, Washington, where he serves his church as youth pastor.

Happy New Year!

January first holds a special uniqueness unlike any other day of the year. It carries the promise of hope and a fresh start. It is a day for making resolutions and starting new beginnings. It is also a great day for watching football on the television. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

So what is your New Year’s resolution? Do you intend to go on a diet and lose a bunch of weight? Are you going to suck it up and start regular workouts at the gym? Since most of the readers of this humble column are aspiring novelists, perhaps your resolution would be to write that life-transforming, breakout novel that takes the world by storm?

But let’s face it. If simply wishing could make it true, every book would be a best seller. What does it take? Hard work? Unfortunately, hard work can only take you partway there. After all, most of us could have built the Taj Mahal with the effort we’ve put into our writing. If hard work alone is not enough, then what more is needed? Love? Guess again. The phrase “a face only a mother could love” about says it all.

I know what you’re thinking. You expect me to point to a superior knowledge of the craft as the key. Nada. If knowledge alone were enough, the best-seller roles would be overrun by creative writing professors. Is it belonging to a great critique group, or attending a writer’s conference, or being represented by a world-class agent? No, nope, wrong again.

So what does it take to write that breakout novel? All the above. In other words, it takes hard work; love; great writing that comes from careful attention to the craft, the objective input of colleagues and editors; rubbing elbows with others in the publishing industry at writer’s conferences and in membership to groups like the ACFW and ChristianWriters.com. Oh, and let’s not forget lots of prayer, and representation by a world-class agent. In my case, we would also need to add losing a bunch of weight and making regular trips to the gym.

I am not saying that this list is exhaustive by any means. I am simply saying that New Year’s is a fresh, new beginning. I can’t think of a better resolution than to pour our hearts into creating the best fiction we are capable of. But before we make that resolution, let’s take stock of all that is required. May this be your year to make it big.

Oh, but first, would you please pass the pork rinds. The game is about to begin.