Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a stress-free festive season, and you're suitably rested and getting stuck into a productive 2015.
2014 got off to a slow start. We had just lost Andrew the previous November and I was drifting aimlessly, not sure what to do with myself. I did write one short story to try to make sense of the situation, but it was the A-Z Challenge and reconnecting with some of you wonderful writers that made me realise doing what I love was the only thing that would get me through. Nothing is certain, so I redoubled my commitment to give my writing career everything I've got. I made a start on Part 2 of my YA dystopian fantasy, writing 38,024 words from May to August. I also made a submission to Write Club. However, I then seemed to hit another slump with the story, although I was honoured to contribute to some excellent anthologies during this time. When NaNoWriMo rolled around, it was a great opportunity to power through the story without listening to the inner editor too much, and I'm pleased to say I accomplished this, finishing Part 2 and writing the majority of a prequel novella which I had the idea for during November. I only wrote about 2000 words in December, but it was enough to finish my novella, so from going from not even knowing if I would do any more writing I eventually drafted two books and wrote over 90,000 words. I hope to do much better this year.
So, to those goals. I aim to write Part 3 of my trilogy and get all three plus the novella edited and polished for release starting in 2016. Maybe this will come sooner, but for now I'm giving myself plenty of time to get everything right. In the meantime I have another project I'm very excited about - a novella I wrote a couple of years ago, tentatively titled "A Change of Mind", which I intend to publish in May, together with some previously published stories. My novella is a speculative science fiction piece, quite dark in tone, and the other stories have a similar feel so I think they'll go quite well together. Looking forward to sharing more details on this once they're firmed up!
Other goals - read and review more fellow bloggers' books. I read some excellent ones in 2014, but I've been quite remiss on reviewing them. I need to address that!
Spend more quality time with the kids.
What are your goals for 2015?
I'll be back on Wednesday for this year's first installment of the IWSG. Got your copy of the IWSG book yet? I've been loving soaking up all the great nuggets of wisdom and inspiration!
27 comments:
Those are some quality achievements, Nick. 2014 certainly ended better than how it started. It looks like you've got a good plan for the coming year, I hope for a good year for you.
Congrats on 90,000 words. Take your time with editing and polishing and do it right.
Welcome back, Nick! This past NaNo was a good one for me, too. Good luck with all your writing goals in 2015! :)
It sounds like you have some good goals. I am trying to read more blogger friends this year, too--the formal goal is one a month.
You focused on writing and that's good!
There were so many amazing tips in the IWSG book.
So glad the writing helped you cope with your loss and you rocked your word count. Congrats!
Those are some awesome accomplishments! I hope 2015 turns out to be a great year for you and your writing!
Your accomplishments for last year were awesome! Way to go! This year I also plan to read and review more books by authors I know.
I hope you have a successful 2015! :)
Congrats on all the writing achievements - especially working past the slump.
Good luck with your 2015 goals. I'm hoping to get a first draft written by the Easter holidays, but I've slumped already!
Congratulations on your achievements. You have a lot on your plate for this year and I hope you achieve them all too!
Congrats! And great goals for 2015. I have a huge TBR list of blogger friends' books. I need more time! Here's to a wonderful 2015 for all of us.
You did the wise thing in the face of heart break- immerse yourself in the things that bring you joy.Here's to hoping 2015 is a year of b
blessings...premature post
You really accomplished a lot and have a lot planned for this year. I have faith you'll do it.
Good luck with all of your goals! I'm planning on reading and reviewing some more books as well.
It sounds like you've been being very productive, I hope you achieve all your goals for 2015 too :)
Nick, Happy New years to you and yours! Me, no goals in particular. But I plan to publish one book currently in the editing stage and finish two more.
Hi Nick - you had a difficult year last year and the family will have had to adjust too - Andrew's loss was so sudden and so unexpected .. I think about you all often - Andrew was inspirational.
Good luck with this year and those writing goals - it's great you are still writing and have lots of ideas - cheers and all the best for a happier and easier 2015 - Hilary
Thanks for stopping by GirlZombieAuthors. I do A to Z too! Great way to keep blogging! Here's to a productive 2015! (We hope!)
Hi, Nick. Happy New Year!
Writing is a great thing indeed. Glad you are getting words on the page and good luck with publishing your stories in 2015!
Writing can be healing... Sounds like you're off to a good start for 2015!
You got a lot done, Nick! Good for you for motoring on. It's what we need to do, even when we don't want to. Good luck and Happy New Year!
Not shabby there for 2014. Not shabby at all. Your 2015 goals sound wonderful. Wishing you the very best for this year.
Very best of luck Nick with the new book. Sounds like you had a tough year so to get your second book done must have felt like quite an achievement. I too am part way through a novel which I intend to finish by mid year! Good luck with your other new projects too!!
Those are some great goals Nick! I know you can do it! I have goals to finish a few things this year, but I'm really hoping to "make it" this year as a writer and really feel proud of whatever accomplishments I make. :)
Great goals. I'm sure you'll carry them through. I'm also reading a ton of bloggers' books.
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