2020 has been, verifiably, one of the weirdest years any of us has experienced in our lifetimes. Of course any personal wrap up about the previous year is going to be out of the ordinary and that’s completely okay.
Come with me as we take a look back at my 2020 and the expectations I have for 2021!
2020 wasn’t horrible for me, I actually accomplished a lot.
In terms of getting things done that I’ve wanted to get done, 2020 has been a great year for me. In my personal life I’ve started driving, which is truly an honorable mention outside of the book world. When it comes to books. I finished writing one and I started my services page, which has allowed me to actually begin making money for my book knowledge.
Finished drafting
Drafting can be difficult, especially during a pandemic. Right before 2020 ended, I also lost my mom, which put all my creative energy to a halt. But somehow, through the year, I finished drafting one of my most beloved books I’ve ever worked on. Now I’m cleaning it up and planning to begin querying it by spring 2021, because I really hope the world will get the chance to see it.
Started offering book services
I also started my services page where I’m offering editorial coaching and more. I love writing and reading so much, and it’s truly one of my biggest passions (clearly, I never shut up about it.) Because of that, I figured it was time to finally take the leap and make an area where I can offer assistance. I also have my pages available on Fiverr and Upwork, where I’ve gotten multiple orders that were definitely a blessing for me during the pandemic.
I’m looking forward to a lot in 2021!
I feel like I’m at the top of the world right now, despite how terrible things are going on the outside. There is this new energy inside me, bursting and waiting to be set free. I want nothing more than to show the world that I can truly accomplish anything that I’m setting my heart to.
I’ve started drafting another book
Writing never ends in my head. There’s always another story to be told, another world to be visited. There are character’s begging for their stories to be written (because characters have minds of their own, of course.) I’ve started drafting two different books, a novella, Ruined Dreams, which is a sequel of my steamy Wattpad story, Shattered Wishes. I’m also working on another novel, though I’ll be keeping the details of that one a secret!
I really want to help more writers
I’ve loved having the opportunity to help with the manuscripts I’ve seen so far through my services page, Fiverr, and Upwork. It’s been lots of fun, and I want to continue doing that. I love having the opportunity to help writers shape their works into bigger and better stories. It’s an amazing feeling to know that my insight is helping someone.
With this, I want to start making more blog content aimed toward writing advice. Not all writing advice is applicable to everyone. I know sometimes when I’m scouring Google or books, I can’t find anything that feels fitting for me. I hope by maybe telling my process, I may be able to help just one person.
I want to do a book club
I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile, and it’s something I launched at the very end of 2020, but I’m including it in my 2021 expectations instead. I want to start a book club, where each month we choose one published book and a book from a serial site to read together. I’ve already chose the first month’s book, which will be Skyhunter by Marie Lu. We’re discussing it on my Discord server, which is also the place I’ve set up for readers and writers alike to come and talk about books!
I’m leaving a lot of room to figure things out along the way
I understand who I am, and I am the person who makes tons of decisions and throws all of those decisions into a blender to jump onto the newest, shiniest thing. So while I’m making a few accomplishable goals, I’m leaving myself a lot of room to be able to figure things out along the way.
We still don’t know what’s going into happen throughout the next year (I mean, look at all the things that happened in 2020!) I think when setting goals for this year, it’s going to be important to give yourself some grace and wiggle room.
Makayla Sophia 