Looking Back and Hoping Forward

For several years, I set personal goals for the New Year. Things I wanted to accomplish or work on over the course of the year.

After every single resolution failed every year, I quit doing it. A couple of years ago, I did make the resolution to complete one manuscript that year, and I did. It was the very first time I succeeded at a goal made at this time.

I would like to make the same goal this year. I have a specific manuscript in mind and think it's likely to happen, but unexpected things happen all the time.

Each year on Goodreads, I set a goal of how many books I want to read that year. For 2020, I set a goal of reading thirty books and wound up reading more than eighty. My exploration of the romance and erotic romance genres was fruitful, and I began to explore adult paranormal romance as well. All of it was a delight. I read some fantastic books, some good books, and some okay books. I read one bad book, but it was the only one this year. I've become more objective in my evaluation of books and have begun to analyze them for what works or doesn't about the story and characters.

This has helped me in my writing as I work hard to learn the skills I need to write engaging novels. My discovery earlier this year that I don't write engaging novels was hard, but I was proud of my determination to learn from my mistakes instead of wallowing in my failures. Though I did wallow for a short time, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and dove into writing advice to discover how to write better.

I also discovered a huge source of my stress which was in fact the website I was using for critiques. I didn't like the way the site operated and wished for something different, especially since it was getting so stressful for me. Fortunately, I found a different website that works exactly the way I wished the other one did. So I've dived into working with different critique partners on it. I've been ghosted a few times, but overall the experience has been positive. I've even had a friendship bud from one partnership. It's been a lovely experience, and I hope to be able to work on this website for a long while.

Then my resurgence in blogging back in August that was due to a comment on a post on my Facebook page. It reminded me how much I enjoy this blog and encouraged me to dive back in. I've loved it so far.

COVID-19 has thrown everyone's year I think, and it has caused me to hole up in my apartment, sometimes for weeks at a time. My psychiatrist does telemed appointments, and I can't afford the copays for my therapist so I haven't been attending her in-person appointments. It's rare that I need to go anywhere, and since it's not safe to do so, I'm okay with that.

The Black Lives Matter protests and all the shared stories about racial profiling, prejudice, and hate from police and civilians were eye opening. I discovered more about myself as relates to racism and have worked to show my support. It was an insane time where I discovered ugliness in friends and family I didn't know existed. Between response to the protests and political statements regarding the 2020 presidential election, many people showed their true colors. I removed people from my social media, though some are family members I can't really do that to. Nevertheless, I know who to watch out for and who to keep an eye on now.

I'm hoping this year will be more positive. Now that the US Presidential election is over, COVID-19 vaccines are hitting the market, I've reduced stress, I've increased skills in writing through reading, and delved into a rewrite I haven't attempted in a long while, I have hope for a better year than 2020.

Happy New Year everyone, and may 2021 be positive and bountiful.

Photo Credit dan via freedigitalphotos.net