2019 - Goodbye, So Long!
The general consensus seems to be that 2019 was the WORST. For me, it’s felt like one of the most challenging years I’ve had.
As I write this post, I’m staring at my MST3K calendar with relief. Only a few more days before the new year. I made it. And I’m ready for what the shiny new decade ahead of us will bring.
I had started January watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo; it set the mood for my 2019. Of course I learned how to fold my socks better after watching her show, but I also rolled up my sleeves in other areas of my life, determined to make some changes.
Yes, I did clean out my room. And yes, I did discover to my horror that A LOT of stuff sparks joy for me! But I also loved the idea of objects having their own journeys, and not to feel bad if I donate/throw away something I hadn’t gotten to use even once. Perhaps it was supposed to go to its One True Owner through me. Hahaha, okay, but that doesn’t apply to my books.
I have a huge To Be Read mountain of books. Most of this comes from me having a hard time turning down a pretty cover. Also, I haven’t made a dent in the suitcase-full of ARCs and books I had gotten a few years ago from ALA. I could see getting rid of a t-shirt I hadn’t worn, but a book? What if I was missing out on a delicious story? So I swore that I would focus on reading a lot in 2019 to try and minimize my TBR pile. And it shows now. I’ve read over 200 books this year. Most of it is from my TBR pile (and also ebooks from my library, because I also promised myself I’d use it more).
So how far did I get in making my TBR pile disappear? I started out with three book towers. Now I have two. YAY. I would have had a lot less books had I not have also found some new used bookstores that carried incredible selections of sci-fi and fantasy. I rediscovered by love of older fantasy and sci-fi titles, but a lot of these authors are either new to me or I’d only read one or two of their books back in junior high when I used to haunt the library shelves.
Two of my favorite authors I discovered this year are Patricia A. McKillip and F.L. Wallace. McKillip’s books are pretty accessible, thank goodness, though I’ve found some old editions in my travels with gorgeous covers. F.L. Wallace is harder to find. I mean, a lot of his books are on Project Gutenberg, but I’d like to find dead-tree versions. So far, I’ve found two short story anthologies that include him, and that feels like a victory.
In 2020, I need to keep staying out of the bookshops and demolish another one of my TBR piles. If this year proves anything, I can do it.
Writing
You know how I wrote and completed three new manuscripts last year? Guess how many I wrote this year.
…
Zero.
Ouch. It’s been a strange writing year. When I started in January, I honestly thought I’d get at least two new manuscripts done this year. I still had that fiery determination and set to work on writing a new MG. But then life happened, and I started to feel as if I was stuck in the mud, my wheels turning but only sinking deeper, going nowhere. Writing new material didn’t feel as important as changing my situation, so I turned my focus on what I needed to do. After a lot of soul-searching and deliberation, I parted ways with my agent mid-year. So a lot of my energy went into getting manuscripts ready for the querying process, and just mentally setting myself back on that track again. I did write a bit on different projects, but I’d say revision is where most of my writing happened this year.
The change inspired me to build some new writing habits while I was at it! I’m a Word and OneNote girl. I do most of my brainstorming and planning in OneNote. Then, I pick one of my favorite fonts and start drafting in Word.
I wanted to see if I could get used to writing more portably, though. I don’t really like lugging my laptop around, so what if I could teach myself to write on my iPad mini? I’m a pretty visual writer so it’s hard for me to get used to a new layout on the screen. But I think I’m getting used to Scrivener. Now, I don’t have the full-featured Scrivener. It’s the iOS version. But wow, I adore the freedom I have now to move between my iPad and phone when brainstorming. And that my notes are always at my fingertips, instead of in a file I can only see if I turn on my laptop. It’s also freeing not to be in the habit of emailing my drafts to myself. Ahhh. Wonderful. I have a new project I’m working on to help me adjust to Scrivener. So far it’s been a success with the planning. I’m hoping to be ready to start drafting in January and I think by then, I’ll be comfortable enough with Scrivener to be able to do it!
Also, props to Lisa Cron’s STORY GENIUS. I’m a reformed panster, always trying to learn better methods of plotting my novels, and this book has been amazing in helping me dig deeper and drag the heart of the story to the surface.
Life
In June, my miniature poodle Misty passed. Ugh, I can’t believe I’m writing this. I wish it wasn’t true. She had just made it to her 16th birthday, happily eating her birthday cupcake and luxuriating in the pink plush dog bed I got her. But in June, she suddenly got sick. Over the course of a weekend, her body just shut down - it was old age, and you can’t fight that with medication and sheer determination - so we had to say goodbye to her.
I really miss her. OF COURSE I miss her. She was my heart all these years. But I know she’s probably still around, sitting in my lap while I write and stealing food off my plate (in spirit, at least haha). There’s also a weird sense of relief too. She was 16 and had a lot of health issues, including seizures. For years we had a strict schedule of thrice daily medicine that she refused to take wrapped up in cheese or peanut butter!
I still catch myself planning my days around the old schedule when my mind drifts. I can sleep in a bit later now, to sleep earlier, and stay out in the afternoons instead of having to rush home for her 2:30pm meds. Misty is, I’m sure, happy and healthy where she is now, and I’m still getting used to a sudden abundance of time I didn’t have before. I would trade it in a heartbeat for another stinky kiss and her enthusiastic barking, but you know how it is. Time keeps marching forward.
Splitting my time again this year between Universal and Disney had been incredibly fun. And actually, Universal has felt like a bit of a haven since they’re not closing as many rides as Disney has been! I even worked up the courage to do Halloween Horror Nights for the first time. I thought for sure I would have been too terrified to ever do it again but… I had a great time? It was awesome? Especially the IP houses??? And I want to go again next year???? Wow. So fun. I love horror movies, especially old ones, so getting to walk through the Classic Universal Monsters house as a highlight. Also, Killer Klowns from Outer Space gave me life! I was star struck getting to meet my favorite killer klown, Shorty. MAGICAL MOMENT.
Watching Epcot over the course of 2019 lose so many rides and buildings for the sake of the future of the park has been tough. The Epcot I grew up in is slowly becoming nothing but memories and fuzzy home videos. While I’m excited to see what’s coming, it was also hard to say goodbye to the old memories tied to some of my favorite places, like Club Cool, Wonders of Life Pavilion, and Innoventions. Like, I can’t believe Innoventions has been demolished. WHAT. All that air conditioning is gone too (let’s be real), so the food festivals are going to be brutal once Florida’s hot weather comes back full force. Nowhere to hide.
On the bright side, I did fulfill some of the goals I set for this year, exploring new art festivals and speciality shows (like the Depression Era glass show I went to in February!), as well as Dinosaur World and a few pretty cool antique malls and shops. I also got to see Mystery Science Theater 3K live! The irony in it having happened this year - the year I had bought and displayed a MST3K calendar, is just perfection. I had no idea the MST3K was touring until late in the year, and that I’d be able to see Joel performing on stage during his last tour. Of course, they saved one of the better worst movies for the live show. I was in tears laughing.
Goals for 2020:
Here we go! New decade, a new set of goals to start accomplishing:
Finish Book 3 of my YA trilogy.
Write at least 1-2 more manuscripts
Find home(s) for my stories
Read another 200 books (or at least make another big dent in my TBR pile)
Have at least one relaxing vacation
Spend more time with friends
How did you do in 2019? What are your plans for 2020?