Another new year stretches ahead. Man, last year seemed to fly. Not sure why, but I remember hearing somewhere along the way that time seems to go faster as you get older. Or more scatterbrained.
In retrospect, last year was better than 2020, despite the tenacity of the pandemic. I was able to write again, much to my and my Muse’s relief. I got to see my Writing Sisters in person at our reunion! In-person family gatherings were back on the agenda. I even got to do a couple in-person events!
One of the things I’m thankful for (in hindsight, of course!) is being restructured out of my job. Weird, huh? It forced me to look for a new job, and that led me to my current job, which is so much better than my last one (at least than the last six months of my last one). So thankful! My new job is with a great company with awesome benefits and heck, I even got a nice raise compared to my old job.
Now, it’s look-ahead time. New Year’s resolutions? Eh, I’d rather call them intentions. Or items on my yearly to-do list:
Finish Book 2: Revise according to beta reader suggestions, one more beta round, and off to my agent. Can’t wait!
Finish revising my police procedural: After I sent Book 2 off to betas, I’ve been reworking my police procedural. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned since the last time I worked on it. And I’ve let it sit long enough that I have the perspective to see what I need to cut. Answer: More than I would have two years ago.
In-person events: Of course, this all depends on the pandemic, but I’m looking forward to Left Coast Crime (Albuquerque) in April, since the event in San Diego was canceled after the first day due to the pandemic. And Bouchercon will be in Minneapolis this year! As other events come up, I’m hoping to get back to seeing readers again.
Mini-writing retreat: I came close to doing it last year, except I had all that job-hunting to do. This year, I’m planning to head off to a local, erm, not really resort, and not really a BnB, but they have cabins in the woods a person can rent like hotel rooms. After my dad sold the house (I had been going there while he and my uncle went on their cruises), I realized I do need that valuable alone time to focus on writing rather than cleaning, or gardening, or grumbling about how I can’t find quiet with the TV on all day long.
Writerly groups: I’m now the official president of our local Sisters in Crime chapter, so that’ll be interesting. I’m also part of a new critique group for suspense writers, and a group of fellow Sisters in Crime members as an experiment in cross-marketing. Which reminds me, I have newsletters to write and a website to update.
Novellas: I wrote two novellas starring the main characters of my published book over NaNo last year. I need to revise those and maybe use them as a tool (bribe?) for my newsletter peeps. Or stuff them into a drawer. Hmm. Maybe during my mini-writing retreat I can revise them enough so they don’t read like a 5th grader wrote them.
Finish my rural MN mystery: It’s roughly half-finished. Of course, that might get elbowed out by Book 3. Who knows?
Okay, I think my list is long enough. Uff-da. How are you planning to use your new year? More writing? More nature-walks for brainstorming? Fewer hours in the rabbit holes and time-sucks of the internet?
Whatever you choose, may you enjoy good health and an abundance of creative inspiration!
Have a great new year!
January 8, 2022 at 7:26 am
I’m impressed with your planning, Julie. I think it really does help a lot to at least have some plans and goals. They can be vague and flexible, but if you have some idea where you’re going, you might get there…
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January 15, 2022 at 5:53 am
I’m hoping I can at least get somewhere in the vicinity of my goals! It’s weird, but I feel like I have a better (more realistic?) vision for the year than I have in the past.
Happy Writing, Margot!
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January 8, 2022 at 7:29 am
Looks like you have a busy year ahead. Hope it’s a great one.
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January 15, 2022 at 5:54 am
Thanks, Marial! May you have a great year this year as well!
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January 8, 2022 at 4:01 pm
I agree that last year was better than 2020. I did some traveling, visiting my family several times when Covid cases were low. Your goals and plans are wonderful. Congratulations on being a president of one critique group. Wishing you a wonderful New Year.
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January 15, 2022 at 5:55 am
Thanks, Miriam! It’s amazing how much we miss activities like travel and even visiting family when we can’t do it.
May your year be filled with fun and lots of writing!
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January 15, 2022 at 12:54 pm
Exactly, Julie, we don’t realize how much we have until we lost them like those precious times with family. Hope we’ll have a better year.
Wishing you a blessed year!
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January 9, 2022 at 6:32 pm
I know you posted that fluffy kitty belly on purpose for me. I am imagining rubbing my face in it and somehow, miraculously, Zoey doesn’t claw me to death for it. Then again, maybe she wouldn’t since I speak her language. š Mawr!
The two novellas as an incentive for your readers sounds like a great plan. You have many great plans on the horizon for this year. Boo on San Diego cancelling that conference. Still so bummed I missed seeing you when you were SO. Close! (Grr…)
Congrats on being Madame President of your SIC group, and hip hip hooray for an even better job than the previous one! God is good. š Keep on keeping on!
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January 15, 2022 at 5:57 am
Heh, heh. Yes, I did post it for you! I know, right? I was really looking forward to meeting with you since we were so close!
Have a wonderful new year, Betsy, filled with lots of fun, writing, and jujitsu stories š !
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