I have to apologize because this post will probably be a bit longer than normal. I'm sorry!
With a new year upon us, it's given me some time to reflect. Here are some goals I've set for myself and some things I'm excited about.
Thoughts and Goals for 2016
LDStorymakers Conference in May—I've wanted to go for the past couple years, ever since I heard it existed, and I finally get to go this year! It's a little far from me (I live in NC and it's held in Utah), but I'm so excited to go back to where I attended college and met my husband. And I'm super excited to meet some writing friends I've connected with online. Who's going to LDStorymakers?? You have to tell me so we can connect! :)
Book Smugglers Publishing Year of the Superhero—On December 31st I wasn't partying with friends or playing games with family, I was revising a short story to send to Book Smugglers Publishing before midnight in hopes of it being chosen for their Year of the Superhero Anthology. I squeaked in just under the deadline (which is pretty good considering I didn't decide to do this story until only a few days before!) Nothing like putting loads of pressure on yourself!
Anyways, I'm excited to hear back from them in February, but even if they don't choose my story, I'll still be excited. Why? Because I finally got my mojo back!!
Do you remember me whining and complaining about having no inspiration or the desire to write? Well, I took some time off (like an entire month and a half) and it's back! I finally feel inspired again, so much in fact, that if Book Smugglers doesn't want to use my short story, I've decided to turn it into a novel. And I'm SO excited about it!!! Fingers crossed that they don't, er, I mean do, want my story! :)
Goals for this Year:
Publish a Book: My biggest goal is to get published (well, I guess a book publishing contract is more realistic, but whatever.) Even though I'd love to be represented by an agent, I think I'll focus on getting the stories I've currently written published through a publisher. I figure there's always time in my future to try for an agent. Who knows? Maybe the experience of publishing and having my work out there will help me in the future with the agent scene. One can hope, right?
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Spend More Quality Time with my Kids: I think the past couple of years I've let writing get in the way of me doing some fun things with my kids. Taking this time off from writing has really helped me see how much I'm missing and how much I want to make time for the simple things like playing games with my kids, going on school field trips, watching TV shows as a family, etc. I know it's all about finding that perfect balance, and lately for me, I feel as though the scales need to be tipped a little more towards the family side.
Be a Better Friend: I feel as though I've let some face-to-face friendships wane because I'm so busy writing or taking care of my family. I want to be a better friend. I want to be the person someone calls because they're sad or need advice. I used to be that person. Now? Not so much.
The same goes for all my writing friends. I want to reconnect with all of you. I've been a horrible blogger and while I can't promise that my blogging will improve, I at least want to make an effort to "check in" with many of you to see how things are going. And hopefully, everything is going great!
Well, that's a wrap for me. Did you set goals for 2016?
So glad you found the inspiration to write again! Will definitely keep my fingers crossed for you in regards to that story. Best of luck with all your goals for 2016, too! The ones about spending more time with your kids and being a better friend are especially sweet. (And I know what you mean about balance. That's always difficult for me to figure out, as well!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heather! Thanks for being so supportive these past couple of years—you're the best! :)
DeleteYay! for getting your mojo back. That is so important. I still haven't made it to a conference. Hopefully sometime soon... Family IS so important and it's so easy to let each day slip by without reflecting on that truth. Focusing on that is a great goal to have. All the best to you this year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sheri! This is going to be a big year for you—super excited for you!! :)
DeleteGetting that mojo back always feels amazing! Good luck with all of your goals, and have a blast at the conference!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And yes, it feels amazing! :)
DeleteHey, Kristen, I think those are excellent goals!
ReplyDeleteAnd totally achievable :)
Congrats on getting in your story by the deadline! And finally going to the conference! I went to one last year and it was one of the best times I've ever had.
Happy new year!
C.G.
Thanks, C.G.! I'm really excited about the conference—I know it'll be a blast! ;)
DeleteAwesome you get to go to the conference this year!
ReplyDeleteGetting your mojo back is a big deal. You have it, now run with it.
Run! Run like the wind! Thanks, Alex! :)
DeleteThose are awesome goals :) And yay for Storymakers! I'll be going too - it's my favorite conference. Hopefully I'll see you there!
ReplyDeleteYay! Can't wait to meet you in person! ;)
DeleteConferences are always great. I'm sure you'll have fun there.
ReplyDeleteMy goal is to finish my story this year!
That's a great goal! You can do it!!!!
DeleteWow, sounds like you've got lots of great stuff to look forward too! As for the empty nester stuff, I'm sure it's true, but right now with a baby waking me up in the night it's hard to picture it. I don't think I'll ever sleep again;)
ReplyDeleteAw, I remember those days too well! Seems like only yesterday... Don't worry, it'll pass before you know it! :)
DeleteI hope you meet your goals, Kristin! I don't have an agent either. I have a small press, though. Except they won't publish everything I write. I've had luck with publishers because all of the ones I like don't take unsolicited manuscripts...so an agent I must get. :)
ReplyDeleteI've also let some face-to-face friendships wane. I need to work on that too.
Happy 2016!!!
Yes, you must get an agent! And I think with all your novels under your belt you should be able to catch an agent's eye. Fingers crossed for you!
DeleteOh, the quote about the empty nest brought tears to my eyes- so true! Glad you're feeling inspired again! Breaks are definitely necessary, if not just for that end result.
ReplyDeleteAs you already know, I LOVED my writing break!!! I reveled in my writing break! Now it's back to the grind...
DeleteWoot for your mojo! That's great. I do hope they pick your story. And you are so right about the kids. I struck me the other night when my daughter said, "I know you're busy, but..." It made me wonder if I'm too busy for my kids.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the publishers!
When my son started saying that I'm always on my computer, I decided it was time for a break or a change. That's not how I want my kids to remember their mother. I want them to think of me as the fun mom who played board games and sang karaoke and watch movies with them.
DeleteThose are sweet and meaningful goals.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a chocolate fetish, too. But I was at a point in my life where I desperately needed to lose weight. So I just crossed it off my list. Yes, crazy. But it worked. I have no desire for it now. And that was 14 years ago.
Thank you! I probably need to cross off chocolate too (well, probably sweets in general).
DeleteAh, that ever elusive balance. I guess we need to get out of balance to remind ourselves of what is important. Good luck with your story. Or, er, not...
ReplyDeleteLol. Thanks! :)
DeleteIt sounds like you are prioritizing family and friends, which is the way to go. Have fun at the conference and happy 2016!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm learning that family does need to come first (even when all I want to do is sit at my laptop and write!) Thank you! :)
DeleteAwesome ambitions. This is going to be a "stay alive" year for me. Yesterday a friend asked who is a daytime writer and the responses were surprising. Most of them talked about writing from 9 to 3 or 9 to 5 every day. I'm managing a paltry 2 hours if I'm lucky, but I've noticed something. If I'm working to keep priority on the things that matter in life, those 2 hours are magnified and 100% productive. That's one of those little blessings that comes, eh?
ReplyDeleteI hope you have an epic time at Storymakers. If I could figure out how to get there (from Florida),I'd join you in a heartbeat.
I hope you enjoy the conference! I'm glad to hear that you got your mojo back and squeezed in that submission just before the deadline. I hope 2016 is a great year for you!
ReplyDeleteGreat goals! When I wrote romance, I found that Harlequin didn't require you to be agented...so I targeted them. It seemed like a great way to make a living! There really aren't any major children's publishers that accept unagented submissions, so I had to get an agent once I moved into that genre.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to Storymakers too! Let's meet up!
ReplyDelete