2020 – how do I explain 2020 in words?

Frustrating. Disappointing. Heartbreaking. Failure. Scary.

I felt all those and more.  My goals at the beginning of 2020 were (goes to check):

• Write 400,000 words. – boy did I fail. I didn’t break 300k and had one month with zero – but reasons.
• Publish 4 novels – I made 3 and failed at that last one because of the above.
• Publish book 2 in Blood War – Hey this was done, woot!
• Attend 4 conventions – laughs – they all canceled – starts to cry
• Get better at networking – meh, maybe? I still suck and the lack of conventions made it so I couldn’t even practice.
• Improve my social media presence – meh? You tell me. How did I do?

I lost too many people this year. Realized how much I depend on my conventions to keep my sanity. And I really need to see my friends more often than I got to. And this coming from an introvert.

I need 2020 to be in the rearview mirror, but it wasn’t all bad and I’m going to remain positive about the future because to do anything else leads to depression and other bad things. Here is what I did accomplish in 2020:

• Made new personal connections with two authors.
• Started getting better at advertising.
• Lost 20 lbs
• Got to work from home when my father was dying to support him and my mother. (The amount of sheer relief on this one isn’t funny)
• Published 4 books.
• Worked on long term plans for conventions and who I want to be.
• Got my website revamped.
• Helped some friends.
• Set up a new computer for writing.

So I made it out the other side with a few tears, a few more scars, but I made it.

Which leads me to my 2021 goals. I’m almost scared to have them, but at the same time they help to drive me. Here is what I am going to accomplish in 2021:

• Write 400,000 words
• Publish 3 books
• Increase my ad spend to $2000 for the year.
• Submit 3 short stories
• Work on networking and my brand

Not horribly different from last year, but I am working on it.  If nothing else you will have more stories to read, because I have SO MANY to write. 

My word for 2021 is Confidence. I am going to have confidence in my stories, myself, and my path forward. Here’s to Confidence and 2021.

May 2021 bring more laughter, less tears, more joy, less sorrow, and most of all hope and peace. I’m ready to walk through the portal to get to it.

Fuck off 2020

Mel