Looking Back: 2018

Here we are on the darkest day! I believe these posts are mandatory, at least the writing of; I won’t be offended if you skip this one. It has certainly been an exciting year, and one that often seems to have lasted three times as long as it ought to have.

Writing Achievements:

• Obviously the big one is that I self-published a novel. This was a stressful but interesting process, and I feel like I learned a lot. So far I’ve sold 28 copies and made $54. Kindle Unlimited page counts suggest that between five and ten people have read it that way as well.
• I did NaNoWriMo (again).
• After uncounted fits and starts, I went back to Fairy Hills with the goal of ending the year with a ready-to-query draft. 17k words to go!
• I started this blog! All writers ought to have one, or so I have been solemnly informed. I have managed to keep to a weekly posting schedule since setting it up.

Knitting Achievements:

•  2 baby blankets
• 1 hat
• 2 scarves

Miscellaneous:

• I read 11 books, most of which were very interesting.
• I lost three pounds, meaning that the upward creep of the past two years has been arrested.
• I volunteered at a conference related to my day job, which was a big endeavor and one from which I learned a lot. I’m doing it again for next year.
• According to my FitBit, I have walked the length of Italy since I got the thing in June.
• Husband and I celebrated 25 years since we first got together, which I have to admit blows my mind just a little.
• I’ve kept up with my bullet journal.

Earlier this month I participated in a “personal retrospective” exercise focused on the idea of “holding space.” We spent time thinking about the things we are passionate about and how to make space for those things in our lives, what needs to happen in order to realize that passion. So in addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the past year, I have been trying to think about what hasn’t happened, and how to clear the way for some things I still want to do.

Welcome, Yule!