Which means new goals and directions.  I always set New Year’s resolutions.  Some I don’t hit and really don’t focus on all year (like the ever elusive “meet someone” goals I occasionally set and then wonder why I did).  Some I knock out of the park almost as soon as the year has begun. (Like publishing Erelia.  Checked that one off this morning.)

Honestly, I use resolutions more as an assessment of what matters to me as opposed to anything else.  Like last year.  One of my resolutions was to buy a house.  I didn’t think it was possible anyone would give me a mortgage, but I wanted a nice yard for the pup.  So I put it down and I tried to make it happen.  And, surprisingly, I succeeded.  Funny what happens when you try…

Other goals, like write 20K words a week for 26 weeks out of the year I really didn’t come close to.  (But I did write 20K words in seven weeks out of the year which was better than none…)  And writing was clearly a focus of my goals for the year.  Still is.

So what are my goals this year?

Writing-wise I want to write and publish three novels plus edit and publish one that’s already written.  I also want to put at least two of my books out in audio, hopefully many more than that.

Life-wise I’d like to get healthier (one I rarely meet due to my inability to sacrifice Coke), finish a certification course I’m taking through Coursera, and take a week-long international trip somewhere.  Right now I’m thinking Norway.  But Malta, Peru, and the Swiss Alps are on the list, too.

I’d also like to make more money than I did last year.  That should be easy enough now that I’m not writing full-time anymore.  (The interesting thing about coming to writing later in life is that you walk away from a lot more than if you start in high school or college.  On the flip side, you have more resources and cushion to try and fail and still be okay.)

So, there you have it.  New year, new goals, but really one long continuum of change.