So long, 2017!
I had a good year. After two and a half years of work, I finished my middle grade fantasy novel and started querying it. I wrote the first draft of my next novel during NaNoWriMo. I got a poem and a short story accepted to a children’s magazine, and got several other short stories written and submitted. I set up my author website. I started blogging. And let’s not forget, I discovered Stranger Things—and got as excited as Joyce with a string of lights.
Not a bad year for me, considering I also planned a wedding, bought a house, and made various repairs to said house (SO MANY REPAIRS). But, being an ambitious writer, I’m hoping to make 2018 even more successful. These will probably evolve over the course of the year, but for now, here are my goals for 2018:
- Journal more. I used to journal several times a week, but the more time I devote to my creative writing projects, the less time I have for journaling. However, I’m a firm believer that journaling is a therapeutic practice, and I’ve enjoyed reading my past journal entries and looking back on earlier stages of my life. So, I’m going to try to journal at least once a month in 2018.
- Read more. I conquered my goal of 20 books last year (I read almost 40!), so I’m upping the goal to 50 for 2018. I’m also hoping to branch out and read more in a variety of genres. Middle grade and fantasy are my favorites, but this year I’m hoping to sample some sci-fi, historical fiction, mystery, and young adult.
- Finish planning this damn wedding. I always thought wedding planning would be a fun, magical time…and it was, for about the first month. Once I got my dress, I was ready to fast-forward to the DIY centerpiece stage—but unfortunately, there are a ton of other things you have to do in between. I’m planning to take a break from writing in January to get our vendors, invitations, bridesmaids, and groomsmen all set up.
- Plan a honeymoon!!! Is it weird that I’m way more excited about this than the actual wedding? We’ve already decided we’re going to Ireland (my favorite place on Earth), but we have absolutely ZERO planned.
- Work out five days a week. My fitness goals were derailed much of last year due to persistent hamstring injuries. But over the last two months, I’ve been getting back in the swing of it! I’m looking forward to getting in my best shape in 2018.
- Write more short stories. I’d like to produce at least 10 new ones in 2018, and I’d like to submit the stories in my “drawer” in the hopes of getting more acceptance letters this year. I’ve been writing short fiction regularly for about two years, and I’ve already seen huge improvements in my writing craft as a result.
- Revise my second novel, Daphne & the Whale, with the goal of being ready to query it by the start of 2019.
- Revise my query letter for my first novel and send it to 50 more agents. I’ve heard you shouldn’t give up until you’ve queried at least 100, and I only queried a dozen this year. I’m still waiting to hear back from a few.
- Blog here weekly, plus blog monthly for RMFW. I didn’t miss a single one of my RMFW posts last year, and I hope to continue that streak in 2018!
- Attend at least one conference and one writing retreat. These have been so valuable to my growth as a writer, and a great way to make new friends. I’ll definitely be at RMFW’s Colorado Gold in September (because that’s my tribe), but I would also like to go to my first SCBWI conference this year.
I love setting goals for the new year, because it forces me to stop and think about what I really want and how I can achieve it. That being said, goals aren’t everything. Things happen, plans change, and life gets in the way. Take some time to appreciate your 2017, the good and the bad. Celebrate the joys, and recognize that the sorrows have made you stronger. Then start 2018 off on the right foot. Here’s to the best year yet!