It’s the start of a new Feistner fiscal year! And as is tradition in these parts, I like to look over what I accomplished for the past twelve months. Because it’s too often that I get a panicky feeling that I am ‘not doing enough’ and so it’s nice to have a list of bullet points as a reminder that, oh yeah, I am definitely giving this writing thing my best go.

Writing accomplishments:

• Wrote my first query letter (for Creampuffs)+ workshopped it
• wrote and finished Blackout Odyssey (NaNoWriMo)
• edited Space Crazies
• Started the 100 Rejection Challenge (collect 100 rejections in a year, which I did in EIGHT MONTHS)
• wrote and workshopped a second query letter
• Began querying two novels at once (Creampuffs and Ashes)
• sold two stories (including my first semi-pro sale!)
• edited Blackout Odyssey
• did a challenge month of double submissions in June (25 in total!)
• finished 5 new short stories (the most in one year for many many years, likely since I was a teenager)
• readied Creampuffs for PitchWars (including writing a new query letter from scratch)

and of course

• wrote a bunch on this here blag, including a series on becoming your own project manager, and on soundtracks I love. (I kinda miss Thematic Thursdays.)

Along the way, I also:

• Typed up all my journals from Japan
• drew a map of Japan with all our destinations on it as a gift/memento for my father
• sewed a new dress and bathing suit
• dealt with family stuff of the “uh oh” variety
• decluttered the last and hardest category: sentimental items
• refinished two chairs
• painted the bathroom
• helped my partner renovate their office
• renewed my passport

I started a new productivity technique last year which was picking a Priority for the month (up to three if they were in different categories). It’s really increased my ability to focus on a singular project until completion, and I recommend it, especially in conjunction with a bullet journal or similar tool. It’s too easy to have many dangling projects competing for a scarce resource (my attention), especially when the projects in question are tiring and boring (looking at you query letters and editing).

36 was the year of setting a really good foundation for getting published. I feel a bit wiser and more prepared for the cycle of research-email-rejection-repeat that is querying. (Blackout Odyssey is next to be queried, hopefully in October.)

Here’s to hoping that 37 is the year of finally selling a book!