Welcome to 2015! (Goodbye 2014!)

Okay, so I've been the worst blogger on the planet since about July. Maybe I made it to August. Ha! Anyway, I've decided to try to make a bit of a comeback in 2015. Sometimes I have things to say, and sometimes I don't.

I'm not really sure what the protocol is for goals and such, because I don't really make new goals in January. I constantly evaluate where I'm spending my time, and if it's the best use of it.

I also teach elementary school, and a lot of my goals begin in August. My "year" runs from August to June, and then I pretty much live a completely different life for the summer. Oh my heck! That's why I completely fell off the blogging bandwagon. *lightbulb moment*

But I do have some goals this year for my writing. I'll admit 2014 was a rough year for me. Heck, a lot of 2013 was too. Not personally. We're healthy for the most part. I have a teenager now, so that about sums that up.

But as far as my writing goes, I didn't write a single new word in any manuscript until October of last year. So for 10 months (TEN months!), I didn't do much. I was doing some self-publishing, which I love, so I rationalize that I was still working toward my goals.

And I think I was.

But I wasn't writing. And the writing is what I love.

So I started a new book in October. It was a project I liked, but I'm not super-passionate about. I've semi-abandoned it, but I think it might be something I come back to later.

In November, I began a new book, and it really took hold of me. In November and December, I wrote two books. Two whole books! Just over 100,000 words. In two months.

I found the love of writing again, and I realized that sometimes publishing sucks, but writing is always great.

So I've deviated from the whole goals portion of this. Anyway, I do have some self-publishing plans. I have some submission plans. But mostly I have writing plans, because those are the things I can actually control.

I have plans to write another novel-in-verse this year. Probably in February.

I have plans to write two more books that go with the two I wrote at the end of last year. I just started one a couple of days ago, and I'm going to write another in March.

I have plans to revise and edit in April.

I have plans to complete a "30 ideas in 30 days" challenge. This is where I write down a new idea for a new book everyday for 30 days. Sometimes they're terrible. But sometimes they're not (My self-published book SOMETHING ABOUT LOVE came from my 30 days file).

I think those plans will help me move forward in 2015. I know plans get derailed sometimes, but that's what I've got right now.

What plans do you have this year?

My 2014 Goals, Inspired by Ali Cross

Okay, so it's the beginning of a new year. A new calendar year. I've decided to write a few goals down (mostly because I read this post by my good friend Ali Cross, spent at least 30 minutes feeling like a loser, and then decided to make my own--much less impressive--list), and I also decided to share them with all of you. Lucky ducks!

(I actually do a lot of goal-setting in August, when the new school year begins. I live my life from August - July most of the time.)

But anyway, here are some of my publishing and life goals for 2014:
Life: Continue my physical wellness pursuits. I've lost 20 pounds, which is a direct result of my healthy eating and gym attendance. I'm going to continue doing that.

Publishing: Successfully finish edits on RIFT, a YA time travel I'm currently revising for my agent.

Life: Renew my teaching certificate. I kinda have to if I want to keep my job, so...

Publishing: Draft 2 new books. I have one started, but the second? I think I'm going to have to pull up my 30-ideas-in-30-days file and see what I've got in there...

Life: Master 10 recipes for my pressure cooker. I've made a few things now--pot roast and pulled pork--and I think I've got the pulled pork down. It was delicious. The pot roast... not so much. Needs some more work there.

Publishing: Edit/polish 4 already-written novels and prepare them for either submission or self-publishing. Don't be impressed. All 4 novels have been through quite a bit of revision already. Maybe one more round? Maybe two...

So those are the goals. I think they're pretty do-able. I also have a couple of marketing strategies. I've been sort of, I don't know, burned out (?) on marketing in the past several months. I'm honestly just not sure what works and what doesn't, and I'd rather spend my time writing. Thus--

Marketing Strategy #1: Write and publish more books. 

That's it. I'm not worried about posting on Facebook or twitter or tumblr a certain amount of time or every day. I'm looking to be more spontaneous and authentic.

So I'm going to spend my time writing, polishing, and publishing more books. Right now, I only have one scheduled (ELEVATED, February 18), but I may put out another one in the fall.

Marketing Strategy #2: Post entire works and excerpts on Wattpad.

Possession is already there, and I'm going to be uploading part of both SURRENDER and ELEVATED, as well as a new fantasy.

Marketing Strategy #3: Use my established newsletter.

I checked, and yeah. Not a good year in 2013. I think I sent 4 newsletters--the last one in June. So I'm going to try to be better about doing the newsletter thing, but I'm not going to go crazy. I'm thinking quarterly is a good start. I've already done the redesign, and the first newsletter went out yesterday.

And that's it. I hope to have a couple of books out this year, maybe some news of a deal (fingers crossed!), and most of all, a renewed enthusiasm to be an author in 2014!

Did you post goals for 2014? I'd love to go visit your blog and see them, so link me up in the comments!

A Very Bookanista Farewell...Sort Of

Okay, so I've spent the better part of the last year and a half talking about books I love each Thursday. I've rarely missed a post. The Bookanista group has been a great resource and friendship for me.

But today, it's time to say good-bye. Others have left the group, and many remain. Some come and go, participating sometimes and sometimes not. I wish I could be like them and stay in the group but not participate.

Unfortunately, my OCD/pitbull personality/whatever will not allow me to do things like this. When I chomp down on something, there is no letting go.

Until it's time to let go. And then I do. Fully and completely.

...

Until today. That's right -- this goes against the very fiber of my being. But I'm going to do it (change is good, right?).

I'm still going to be a Bookanista; it's just one of the things I'm scaling back on. I've also been a big part of the League of Extraordinary Writers this past year, and I'll be down to blogging over there only once a month from now on (did you see our new shiny members?! They're awesome).

Both of these scale-backs have freed up some breathing space in my life. I'm eternally grateful for the groups and my role in them, and I hope to be able to count those people as friends for a long time.

I still love to read, and I will still talk about books. Don't worry about that. I just won't be doing it as often, and my blog schedule will adjust to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with the occasional Bookanista post on Thursdays.

I have big goals for my newly found "free time." I have taken stock of my life the past several months and have made some discoveries.

One that startled me: Before I sold Possession (in Feb. 2010), I'd written 12 books. Since then (Feb. 2010), I've written 1. ONE.

That is not okay with me. In 2012, I have plans to write 3 books. THREE. In one year. That will be triple my production rate over the past two years. So what's that in a year? Sextuple? Something like that.

One that saddens me: Before Possession came out (June 2011), I read 50-100 blogs each day. I realize this is an insane number, but still. Since Possession came out (June 2011), I usually read 0. ZERO.

This is not okay with me. I miss being an active participant in the blogosphere. I'm going to start small--after all I have to write three books this year. My blog-reading goal for 2012 is to read 10 blogs each day, Monday - Friday. I think I can do it.

One that I've always known but ignored: My family needs me. They need me more than my manuscript and more than the blogosphere and more than my critique partners. I am tired of the saying, "My real life got in the way."

That is not okay with me. My real life is what's REAL. It is not a nuisance or something horrible that gets in the way of something wonderful (writing). At least it shouldn't be. So 2012 will find me cultivating the real life relationships that need cultivating.

So anyway. This turned into a goal post when really I just wanted to say what a wonderful time I've had--and hope to have again in the future--with the super-cali-fragilistic-expial-i-docious Bookanistas. *mwah*

But... do you have goals for this year?

An Interview with ElanaJ

Blog chain time again. This time Abi started the party and I'm up next. It's hard to go so soon in the chain, I have to admit. I need a lot of stewage time for things I'm "putting out there."

Luckily, this didn't require too many brain cells. Abi presented some questions for this round.

1. What writing related things have you done in the past?
2. What WiP's (work in progress) are you working on now?
3. Do you have anything brewing for the future?
4. Are you setting any writing goals or resolutions for 2009?

I think I'm gonna tackle all of them. I mean, it's the new year, I gotta be an overachiever for once. By the time February hits, I'll be back to taking the easy way out, trust me.

And just to spice it up, I'm gonna pretend like it's an interview between me and some fabulously good-looking male writer at Entertainment Weekly. Hey, it's good practice for when I get published, right? Yeah, let's go with that.

EW: What writing related things have you done in the past?
EJ: Well, I've not really done anything. In fact, I hated English in high school and college. I took AP English in hs just to get out of taking it later. No joke. I started writing in November 2007 as an escape from something traumatic that happened to me. With words, I stopped living in a black-and-white world.

EW: What are you working on now?
EJ: What aren't I working on now? Ha ha! No, seriously, I'm currently revising a novel about ghosts. If they weren't already dead, I would kill them. They aren't really cooperating right now, but I'm typing them into submission. That's my January project. In February, I've already slated my writing time to finishing my NaNo novel. I need an ending. And a climax. It's too bad there isn't like a "Stellar Plots R Us" in my neighborhood.

EW: Do you have anything brewing for the future?
EJ: I always have something brewing, baby. Right now, I'm focusing on finishing up revisions and finding an ending for my novel. But I did start a straight YA novel in December. Shocking, I know. No super powers. No cool technology. Nothing. Just high school. But that can be the most dangerous place in the universe, so we'll see.

EW: What are your goals or resolutions for 2009?
EJ: Write everyday. In fact, I already blogged on this. I'm going to add one thing to that list. I'm going to take on PJ Hoover's challenge to read 50 books in 2009. Oh, and HL Dyer posted this on the QT blog, and it pretty much summed up my goals for 2009.

EW: Thanks ElanaJ, for spending time with us today. We look forward to reading your novels in print one day.
EJ: I had such a lovely time with the guy from EW. We ate Drake's coffee cake in a sunny lounge in downtown San Diego. Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful, success-filled year! Check out Terri's post, the next link in the blog chain.

My Dream Lives Into the New Year

I have self-diagnosed myself with mailbox-induced palpitations. Every time I check the mail, my heart thuds painfully in my chest. This is because I have two full submissions out--both sent through snail mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. I don't want to see that envelope. Not now. Not ever.

And now that it's the new year, my dream lives. I know I won't get one more rejection in 2008. Now, 2009, that's another story. I'm planning to get rejected over and over this year. But at least my dream for the novel I have out is not dead--yet.

Inspired by a friend's post, I decided to write down some goals for myself this year.

1. Finish my NaNo novel. I have about 75,000 words, but no ending. I'm going to devote my writing time to this project in February. January's already full up.

2. Query for a new project beginning in March. That is, if my novel dreams aren't shattered by the mailbox before then.

3. Sign up for the tennis tournament this summer. (Easy)

4. Be ready to play in the tennis tournament this summer. (Slightly harder)

5. Believe in myself and persevere through whatever 2009 brings.

I could put that I'm going to get an agent this year, but the fact is, that may or may not happen. It's something I don't really have ultimate control over--and believe me that's the most frustrating thing on the planet for a complete control-freak like me. I can only set goals that I can work on. I can query my project, thus, that's one of my goals. I can't force someone to like the project, request the project or offer representation on it. Thus, that's not one of my goals. I've learned to be realistic about this whole publishing thing. And realisticly, it takes time. And patience. I will do everything I can to write the best book I know how, then I'll throw myself to the query wolves.