2017 Goals

Personally, my 2016 was pretty amazing.

I got to meet 2 of my favourite authors (Jodi Picoult and Rainbow Rowell); saw plenty of concerts and musicals; got to meet 2 of my favourite musical artists of all time (Carrie Underwood and Delta Goodrem, who made the year pretty amazing on her own tbh); my sister got married, so I got the big brother I've always wanted; and I got a permanent teaching job, which means job security and is everything that is amazing.

So, other than losing some of my favourite actors in the celebrity massacre that was 2016, I don't have a lot to complain about from last year.

Even my mental health is the most stable its been in a few years. I still struggle with depression, but I haven't had any major anxiety attacks in a year and I was really proud of how I handled the stressful times last year that in 2015, would have sent me into a spiralling meltdown.

But if my 2016 had a flaw, it was the lack of writing time I did.

I feel there was a massive decrease from how much I wrote last year as I've done previously. I'm not really sure why.

Some of it was absolutely due to work. I had more responsibility this year, plus I was putting extra work in for my application to get the permanency, which meant there were many times I was just too exhausted to even think about typing.

There were also a few minor health issues I feel may have contributed too- nothing serious, but I have been dealing with some crazy headaches in the past year, which also doesn't help with motivation to write.

The fact that my current WIP After Forever isn't an easy one to write either.... yeah, ok. That's a factor.

I write because I have all these stories in my head. And it keeps me calm and stimulated to work on something for fun. Writing is, and always has been, strictly a passion project for me.

And the passion wasn't lacking in 2016. I have so many stories in my 'to write' list. Many of them were planned and developed last year. I spent so much of the year wanting to write, wanting to work on the new chapter of whatever I was working on, but just lacking the physical and mental energy to do so.

I hate that. Because not writing makes me uncomfortable. I don't feel good- mentally or emotionally- when I don't write.

I'm about to post a oneshot on ff.net What's in a Name? that is my 95th fanfiction on the site. I don't really do New Year's resolutions- because I'm horrible at keeping them.

But my 2017 wishlist is to make writing a priority again. To figure out a way to be more motivated and physically inspired to write, without making it feel like a chore or something that is forced.

Because the idea of reaching my 100th published fanfiction in 2017 is something that sounds kinda amazing.

If you have any ideas/suggestions/recommendations on how I can make this a thing, please let me know!