It’s that time of year when everyone with an opinion shares their thoughts about habits and resolutions and how this is the year they’re finally going to do the big thing they’ve always dreamed of doing. As I’ve never claimed to be a unique individual, here are my two cents.

On New Year’s Eve, I chatted with newer friends and one of them asked if I’ve published three or four novels. “Nine?” I responded sheepishly, like this isn’t a huge accomplishment. It IS, and I know that, but I’m so close to my own work that I sometimes don’t realize how much I’ve achieved.

I’m sure a lot of people are the same way.

Another friend said to me earlier this week, “I need to channel your work ethic and bravery.” A lot of people comment on my work ethic (or discipline, or organization, etc.) and I usually brush the complement away by explaining that I don’t have kids, I work from home, etc etc. Implying that since I don’t have the same restrictions on my time as so many others, of course I should be productive with my free time.

But this was the first time I recall anyone called me brave. And it really resonated with me.

While I don’t necessarily view myself as brave, I think there are worse characteristics to try to channel. Especially when I’m trying new things (that I’m not yet ready to talk about). As I tell new writers, no one else is going to do this for you — you have to believe you can. And then you have to do it.

On that note, here’s what I accomplished this year:

• edited and continued querying The Other Me (I’m still trying to find a home for that book).
• finished writing and published Chasing the Moon, finishing the Campfire series (including designing the covers and marketing materials, and formatting the book).
• published the third version of my gratitude journal, The Book of Good: Pride. (including designing the covers and marketing materials, and formatting the book.) $1 of all sales go to Out on the Lakeshore, a nonprofit near me that supports LGBTW+ folks.
• designed new covers and reformatted the entire Flicker Effect series, then launched those to the world.
• outlined and started writing my 13th novel.

I look at that list and yes, it represents things I wanted to accomplish, but there are things I didn’t get to, including writing and publishing a short story that goes with the Campfire series. I’ve talked before about how I focus too much on what I view as failures and don’t spend enough time celebrating my wins, and that’s something I’m going to continue working on.

For the new year, I’m going to let the word brave guide me. I’m currently writing a new book, something brand new with new characters and a new setting. Right now I’m not planning to publish anything new in 2023 (I’m sorry!) — instead I plan to spend more time focusing on marketing my existing books, and looking at new channels for two in particular.

There’s still more I want. I’m nowhere near finished with this author thing.

I hope you’ll continue to join me as I try.