The new moon in China occurs on Sunday, January 22, 2023 making this day the start of the new lunar year. The Lunar New Year celebration season is January 21st (NYE) until February 5th, 2023.
This year, it is the Year of the Water Rabbit (and Cat for Vietnam). The year 2023 comes with the promise of hope, luck, and prosperity! For many, it will be a more restful year with less anxiety. It is a time for reflection as the Water Rabbit is a symbol of gentleness and serenity. This will be the year to work on inner balance and make plans for the future.
The Year of the Rabbit symbolizes patience and luck—very good traits for writers!
Note from Kiffer Brown: Chanticleer believes that we each make our own destiny by being optimistic and positive, by being kind and loving, by dreaming and inspiring, by being bold and doing, by helping and enriching others, by appreciating and being grateful, and by expanding our awareness of the Universe. Enjoy and have fun! Happy 2023!
Use the handy table below to find your birth year and Chinese Zodiac Sign:
If your sign is a Rabbit
(Trustworthiness, empathy, modesty, diplomacy, sincerity, and sociability are what Rabbits are known for along with being friendly and possessing great common sense)
Rabbits have keen observation traits and attention to detail, which is good for authors. Just be sure not bore your readers with too many details. This is where a good editor can come in handy to give advice and tactics. Beta readers will help to reassure you that your work is on the correct path. Your social network will help your works to become known and widely read. As for your health, try to eat a more balanced diet. Keep an upbeat and positive attitude. This is a great year for practicing yoga and meditation. It is going to be a fulfilling year especially if you join happy events, gatherings, and keep an optimistic outlook. There will be opportunities for growth and change.
If your sign is a Dragon
(They are known to be passionate and quick-witted along with having the following traits: Luckiness, flexibility, eccentricity, imagination, artistry, spirituality, and charisma.)
Determination and sincerity will help you achieve long-term success in your writing goals. If you are feeling writer’s block, consider joining or forming a brainstorming group to discuss story ideas and what is needed to move the story/character forward. When writing, sometimes Dragons are great on plot points but turn up short with creating atmosphere and memorable characters. Think of your writing challenges as opportunities to shine. Remember to respect and honor low-key relationships as some of these will be long-lasting and fruitful. As you treat others, so shall you be treated. Be sure to exercise in nature to balance your nature to overwork and not take care of yourself. Attaining your dreams and aspirations will happen if you keep your eyes on the prize.
If your sign is a Snake
(The wise and almost mystical Snake is philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, and decisive.)
In a chaotic environment, Snakes are the eye in the storm. Some may mistake your hesitancy to speak as a weakness, but actually, it covers up the Snake’s alertness and keen observation skills. Be supportive and congratulatory to other writers who are achieving success. Do not be jealous, but learn from them. Listen to the lessons that they may share with you if you ask. Snakes are best at writing fast. Do not antagonize over that first sentence. You will get it right after your story is unspooled from your mind. This may be your year to feel that divine inspiration from your writing muse that will be a masterpiece if you don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by petty issues. Remember to slow down and smell the roses this year and smile. Short naps, healthy snacks, and exercise to keep you healthy and effective.
If your sign is a Horse
(Independent and high-spirited, the Horse is adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, and strong.)
When you are at author events, reader events, and conferences, Horses should wear colorful clothing with memorable accents of orange, pink, or sunny yellow. This is the year when Horses will need mentors who will help guide them. Satisfaction and accomplishment are what motivate Horses rather than wealth and fame. Be sure to have your works proofread and copy-edited as it is hard for Horses to see their own errors. Also, it is okay to change genres. Horses are always on the move. However, Horses must be open to suggestions and to their mistakes. Continue your hardworking and seat-in-chair writing life, but make sure that you also exercise and get proper rest. Nurture your love of writing.
If your sign is a Goat
(The artistic and compassionate Goat is tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive, sensitive, and calm.)
This is going to be a busy year which can be exhausting for Goats. Remember, as a Goat, you are always too hard on yourself. You will discover opportunities for new story ideas, readers, and selling platforms for your books this year. Be sure to network and then share your connections as this will put you in the field of vision of people who can be of benefit to your author career. If you receive an invitation to present, teach, or mentor, and you accept you will be rewarded. This is the year for you to do yoga, go on walks, and learn pickleball. Try to balance your work and leisure which will re-energize you. Take on new writing challenges and subjects with your renewed energy.
If your sign is a Monkey
(Confident and innovative, the Monkey is quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright, versatile, lively, and smart.)
Monkeys view everyone as teachers. They are said to be willing to listen to critique and learn from their mistakes, which is why they are considered to be intelligent. They are willing to bide their time to achieve their goals. However, when it comes to writing, they can be distracted and will easily put aside one writing project for a new one because they like to problem solve and are multi-faceted. But if they can figure out how to work with these tendencies, they will come out on top. Keep your goals in mind to navigate this year, especially in group projects.
Monkeys are easily bored so they are always looking for new challenges.
If your sign is a Rooster
(Roosters are progressive thinkers and doers and are unafraid to be different. They are known to be honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, and confident. Roosters are known for their fierce loyalty – Chanticleer’s sign.)
This is a good year for travel for Roosters! At work and at writing, consider the challenges as opportunities to grow and to learn – even if you feel as if your writing muse has abandoned you. That is where the travel comes in. Perhaps your muse needs a change of scenery also! This is the year to be nimble and flexible. Make time to stay in contact with friends and associates. This is the year not to work harder, but smarter. While writing, remain focused and don’t spread yourself too thin on different projects. Ask for help, take time to take care of yourself, and find balance in your life. Practice moderation and temperance in your life for this year – get rest instead of doing all-nighters, eat sensibly, go for walks, exercise, meditate, do yoga – all of this will help prevent undo stress and anxiety. Take that trip or trips that you’ve been wanting to do but have put off. Positivity and flexibility. The year of the Rabbit is the year for Roosters to let their feathers shine and share your optimism and camaraderie and goodwill to others.
If your sign is a Dog
(The honest and hardworking Dog is loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, and smart. They have a sense of justice and are very easy to get along with.)
You will have strong support for your writing this year. Don’t be overwhelmed at the prospect of re-writing and editing, but use these projects to learn and improve. Overall, the Year of the Rabbit will be a laid-back one. Don’t let bones of contention get you side-tracked. Shrug off little irritants while writing and forge ahead. You can circle back and deal with them later with a clearer head. This is the year to work on your story ideas, and perhaps lay out the series that you have had in the back of your mind. This is the year to try experimenting with genres and to shake things loose.
If your sign is a Pig
(Kind, friendly, and curious, the PIG is honorable, philanthropic, determined, optimistic, sincere, and sociable.)
Pigs are all action and no talk. While others may talk about writing, Pigs write. Gaining readers and reaching your audience motivates you. Pigs don’t have time for squabbles or to worry about critiques and recommended edits. They realize that is how they will move forward to their goals. Pigs are also good at being Beta readers for other writers. They are gentle and do not dwell or harp on issues. They just want everyone’s work to be the best that it can be. They are very patient and make good critique partners. Other writers will trust your opinion and advice. Pigs may have new writing opportunities coming their way in 2023 that will expand their readership. This is the year to put yourself out there and meet your readers, find your readers, and expand your readership. All you have to do is be yourself and move forward in the present.
If your sign is a Rat
(Along with being amiable and creative, Rats are known for their intelligence, adaptability, quick-wit, charm, artistry, and gregariousness.)
This is the year to make connections and make writing friends of a lifetime. Rats are optimistic and energetic. Rats can also be known as book hoarding, but there are worse things. You are able to work independently and have imagination. Rats also like paying attention to details which shows in their writing. Rats must remember to stop and take breaks and take care of themselves. Be sure to eat a good breakfast and get some exercise in. When it comes to writing, find your inner resolve. Move forward with your work-in-progress with conviction. Stay open to learning and to new perspectives.
If your sign is an Ox
(Oxen are known to be leaders and loyal friends. They are also known for their reliability, thoroughness, strength, reasonability, steadiness, and determination.)
The Year of the Rabbit is the year for Oxen to be patient. Diligence, persistence, kindness, and compromise will help you reach your publishing goals. The Ox prefers to hide their works and not want to share them, but your works will be well received. This is the year when you will find many places to showcase your work and expand your readership. You must write about only what you are truly interested in – not what you think you should be writing. Stick with your writing and your work-in-progress even if you feel like giving up. It will be worth it! Stay your humble and hard-working self. Take it one step at a time and you may just discover a breakthrough for your writing career. Remember to stretch, do moderate exercise, and take breaks away from work (writing).
Did you know?
The Lunar New Year is celebrated all around the world! In some places, there’s even a Year of the Cat, which is what this year would be considered. You can read more about the Lunar New Year, and find out just what the year of the Rabbit (or Cat) will bring here!
We hope that you enjoyed this fun blog post that is meant as a way of thinking about new perspectives for your writing life.
Chanticleer believes that we each make our own destiny by being optimistic and positive, kind and loving, dreaming and inspiring, being bold and doing, appreciating and being grateful, and by expanding our awareness of the Universe.
Happy Chinese New Year 2023! – Year of the Rabbit!
We wish you an AWESOME New Year of Good Fortune, Good Health, and Many Book Sales and Increased Readership!
May the 2023 New Lunar Year bring you peace, joy, prosperity, and health!
The Chanticleer Team
From the first paragraph of Lies in Bone, Natalie Symons’ debut novel delves into human darkness.
