I always have the urge to sing the line from the Waitresses’ one claim
to fame, Christmas Wrapping: Now the calendar’s just one page.
During this in-between week, it’s always a good time to take a
breather, and ponder the year. Hmmm. *taps chin* Did I accomplish what I set
out to do? Yes and no. It was a busy year for sure. Eight releases with
Decadent Publishing, and one with Sunbury Press under my mainstream pen name of
C.A. Masterson.
It sounds like a lot, but considering most of these were short stories
or novellas, they probably collectively add up to two full-length novels. Still
not too shabby, I guess. :)
But I still feel unsettled. Not where I want to be. Or writing at the
level I want to be writing at. I love my stories, of course, but I’m not
satisfied. Like this week between major holidays, I feel like I’m in some space
in between. Neither here nor there. No matter, I'll forge ahead.Because - and I may say this too often, but honestly you can't say it enough - I have to go with my gut, and hang in there. The more you write, the better a writer you become, so any story you may deem a failure is doing the important work of making you the writer you want to ultimately be.
I’m really excited for 2014. I’m
signed up for the Dara Marks workshop in May, Engaging the Feminine Heroic. I
cannot wait! Four days of intensive learning/writing. H-E-A-V-E-N. I’d love to
be able to go to some other conferences, but maybe next year.
The Feminine Heroic workshop should play in nicely with my Goddess
Connection series, for which I intend to finish another in time to take a draft along. I'd started it oh-so-long-ago (two more, in fact) but they’ve fallen to the
wayside as other stories have taken precedence.
As it stands now, I have two Decadent releases coming up – The Ex
Factor, a contemporary 1Night Stand short, and the second Blue Moon novella, A
Wedding at the Blue Moon Cafe. I’m still finishing up the third in the series,
Twice in a Blue Moon, and should have it ready to sub in January/February.
About another two dozen WIPs are in various stages. Some are in genres I've never attempted before, but they are calling to me. Some are singing in a raucous punk-rock, do-it-or-regret-it-forever-you-wimp kind of way. I'm thinking I'll soon jump into that mosh pit.
About another two dozen WIPs are in various stages. Some are in genres I've never attempted before, but they are calling to me. Some are singing in a raucous punk-rock, do-it-or-regret-it-forever-you-wimp kind of way. I'm thinking I'll soon jump into that mosh pit.
I want to make more time for reading too. I keep buying books, and
getting excited about new-to-me authors, but usually give in to the urge to write
when I have spare time. My Kindle’s about to explode.
What about you – how has your year shaped up? Was it what you expected?
Do you outline specific goals for the year ahead?
Tomorrow begins the New Year's blog hop, with lots of giveaways and a grand prize - pop on by anytime from tomorrow through Jan. 2 to enter :)
