2021 Recap and Setting Goals

A Look Behind

2021 is coming to an end, and looking back, this year was a rough one. Completely grazing over the condition of the world, this year felt like a year of burnout (probably for a lot of people). I personally had a lot of difficulty focusing on things, completing anything, or feeling any sort of inspiration. It was a difficult year for writing, but that being said, I kept doing it. Maybe not as much as I would have liked, or with any sort of regularity, but I am still writing going into 2022 and I am calling that a win.

I submitted a few pieces to different places: a body horror piece to Ghost Orchid Press, a seance fiction piece to Air and Nothingness Press, and submitted to two quarters of Writer’s of the Future. Nothing was accepted (I did get an honorable mention from Writer’s of the Future!), but I put my writing out there, which was something I would never think to do. I’ve kept up this website (again, not regularly) and have set a monthly goal to have at least one post. And just at the end of the year I signed up for NYC Midnight 250 word microfiction challenge. This was highly out of my comfort zone (I tend to go a little overboard on words), and I made it to the second round, which was just submitted last night (with a category of romance, so, all new things). While it was insanely stressful, and extremely difficult, I am still glad that I signed up and pushed myself.

This year I also signed up for an Epic Novel Writing workshop with David Farland, and completed the “reading” section of it this year. I am excited to take what we’ve learned from classic epics and apply it to the “writing” portion of the class. I worked on outlining and chipping away at one novel, learned that I might have been taking on too much for a first time novel (as someone who struggles to complete things, this is important for me to recognize), and outlined a new idea for a one person POV middle grade epic fantasy that I am very excited to focus on in the new year.

I had a pretty stressful end of the year at work because my boss was on maternity leave. This led to a lot more work for me, which took away from some of my motivation to write after. I learned a lot about my own mental health and learned that I am someone who needs to have a routine and a schedule if writing is something I hope to accomplish. I am inspired and ready to focus on the new year!

A Look Ahead

I want to approach the new year a lot more organized than I did the previous year. I learned a lot about my own mindset when it comes to writing, and learned a few things that worked for me and a few things that didn’t. That being said, I am ready to start off the new year on the right foot with some extremely lofty goals:

1.) Continue to post to the website at least once a month (alternate with short stories, craft pieces, and book recommendations).
2.) Finish the first draft of my MG fantasy by the end of March.
3.) Do the first round of edits by the end of June.
4.) Complete the second round of edits by the end of September.
5.) Work on a query package and send out the novel to at least ten agents by the end of the year.
6.) Submit to every quarter of Writer’s of the Future.
7.) Enter at least two additional contests for literary magazines.
8.) Submit to an additional two literary magazines.
9.) Read three books a month.
10.) Have a monthly focus on a part of writing craft.

It is going to be a busy year, and I want to take the time to focus on my physical and mental health as well by going to the gym and spending some time journaling. I want to set a writing routine, where I write every single day, even if that is only for 15 minutes. I want to learn to forgive myself when I do not meet every goal, and learn to not let one failure spiral into major setbacks. I am feeling inspired and refreshed, and am looking forward to some more normalcy in the new year. Let’s get it 2022!