Looking back on the year of writing, I find a real transition point came when I started scheduling myself time to write. At the end of 2014, I sat down to make a series of goals – NOT RESOLUTIONS – that I wanted to achieve in order to become the person I hope to be. I’ll be the first to admit that I totally boffed my physical goal (unless we’re in opposite land), but I DID succeed in my writing goal. I took a half finished book that I’d been working on for 18+ months and more than doubled its content in seven months. Because I scheduled my time for it, I have a polished and publishable book looking for an agent and a breakthrough home. Not. Too. Shabby.

As I look forward to 2016, I find myself casting about for my new set of goals. Should I put a temporary hold on my speculative writing and go straight for the paid stuff, or should I push through on the second The Devil and Casari book?  I WILL finish my first draft of The Twenty Three Cities (T3C), but after that?  Focus on short stories?  Edit/rewrite my epic fantasy novel?  Work up that computer game I’m dreaming about and try to find a partner to publish?  Finish my zombie novel?  Poetry?  Go pro at StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void? 

Whatever I do, I’ve discovered my own personal secret to success: schedule the time, make the time, use the time.  Remember that success is how you define it, not how others do. For me, success is getting something past the idea stage, through the midpoint, and actually finishing a project. Maybe next year I’ll define success as being picked up by an agent or selling X copies of a book.  Whatever it is, I’ll schedule it or it won’t happen.

Additionally, another not-so-secret secret I use is having someone to back you up when you feel like backing out (thanks Kim!) and someone to cheer you on when it’s good and burst your bubble when
it’s bad (thanks John!).  These alpha/beta/cheerleader people are terrific for calling me out on my garbage and lifting me up when it rocks. Not everyone needs them; in fact, some established authors refuse to let anyone read their stuff until it’s done.  Something tells me I’ll always need that feedback, and I’m fine with that.

So yeah, that’s probably a wrap for this year, barring awesome of exceedingly depressing news. Been a great year. Still writing, just not posting about it.  See everyone on the flip side!