Song of the Week – “It’s About Time” by Young the Giant

As another year comes to a close, many of us are prompted to review our year and set goals for the new one. When I think of how many years I possibly have (if I’m lucky) versus what I’ve accomplished and what I intend to accomplish, I can become anxious, which hopefully will transform into motivation.

I did get a few things done, but as is such in the writing world, time seems to move too fast for what I want to accomplish. I knew the road to publication would be long and rocky, and it certainly has proven me a truth teller in that respect. But I’m holding out for the right book and the right situation before I move forward with publication.

So this year, I finished a contemporary romance that I started in 2013. I then rewrote the entire book based on some solid feedback. Unfortunately, I am told that book will need a third rewrite, but I’m willing to do it. Whatever it takes to make it good. This book is one that pushed me way out of my comfort zone and required oodles of research. It taught me that you really can write about whatever the hell you want as long as you are willing to put in the work.

I finally finished my first young adult romance. I channeled my inner sixteen-year-old girl for that one and adored it. I’m even more excited about writing the second one in that series featuring a hot mess of a heroine who will be sure not to disappoint. If all goes well, I’ll be penning this book in 2015.

I also finished my first new adult novel. This one has been trickier. After I finished it, I read it and hated it, so it’s ready for a rewrite. I’ve even got a plot for the rewrite thanks to an incredible workshop I attended in October with the fabulous Cherry Adair. But the words aren’t flowing. I adore this lead character, and she is what keeps me coming back to the manuscript. I vowed to finish this rewrite by year’s end, but I got sidetracked with another book. I know, I know. We’re not supposed to do that, but I figured I’m not on deadline, and I better manuscript hop now while I still have the luxury.

Which brings me to my final project for the year–the women’s fiction novel I’ve been wanting to write since I first started writing. Some of us writers don’t always write what we want to write. We write what we think is publishable, or what we are advised to write by industry professionals. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that as long as we love what we are writing–and if we are writing it, they are our characters from our screwy brains, so we are bound to. But we salivate for the day we can write that one book that is so outside the box or the last thing agents and editors are interested in, but is the book of our heart. In the midst of my writer’s block for the new adult book, I plunged into my tasty, self-indulgent women’s fiction book, and I’m wallowing in it like a pig in slop.

Goals for 2015? #1 – Get published. Just kidding. I will not publish until the time and book is right, and I really don’t care how long that takes. I do want to finish this women’s fiction book, rewrite the contemporary, finish the new adult book, and write the second in my YA series. I’d also like to self-publish a series of contemporary beach romances that are written but need intensive, time-consuming editing. But, as Woody Allen says, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”

Happy New Year to you and yours!