Looking back at 2019 and writing goals for 2020

 

Like for many of us, the beginning of a new year is a time to look back at the past year for me—and a time to make plans and goals for the new year. Goal setting has helped me a lot as a full-time writer.

So, let’s see how I did on my goals for 2019:

 

Write and publish two English novels. 

I did achieve that goal.

Not the Marrying Kind , book 2 of the Fair Oaks series, was published in May.
The Roommate Arrangement , a romance novel about a feisty comedian and a brooding former cop, was published in October.

 

Translate and publish two German novels. 

That’s another checkmark on my list of goals.

I translated and published not only the German versions of Not the Marrying Kind and Hidden Truths, but also my short story collection Beyond the Trail in 2019. You can find all my German books on my German website.

 

Write two short stories. 

I did manage to write two short stories—one was a sexy mini sequel to Just Physical titled “Worth the Wait,” which is available in the erotica anthology Laid Bare.

The other is a short story titled “Partners.” It features Dee and Austen from Under a Falling Star and will be published in the new Ylva Publishing anthology, out in spring 2020.

 

On the High Line, New York City

Attend the GCLS conference in Pittsburgh in July and the book fair in Frankfurt in October. 

Check and check! I did attend the GLCS conference in Pittsburgh, and while I was in the US, I also visited New York City and saw some of the places I described in Just for Show.

I also attended the book fair in Frankfurt, and I had events in LGBT bookstores in Bern, Switzerland, and in Berlin.

 

Continue to give back to the community of LGBT readers and writers. 

I think I can consider that goal accomplished too. I mentored another new writer for the Writing Academy of the GCLS (Golden Crown Literary Society), and I hosted a series of author interviews to help fellow authors of lesbian fiction get the word about their books out.

 

Become a more healthy writer. 

Ummm… well… I had planned to work out three times a week. Some weeks, I did. Other weeks, I didn’t. To be honest, there were more weeks when I failed than weeks I succeeded. I guess I’ll have to think of a better motivation for myself in 2020!

 

Read more books for fun. 

That one was only a partial success too. Since most of my time is spent writing, editing, and promoting my books, I didn’t find a lot of time to read. My newly established Facebook Reader Group did inspire me to read more, though. Not only do they share great book recommendation, but I’m also hosting a couple of authors for a themed chat every month, so I did read five books for the Ace Characters Chat, for example.

 

Other accomplishments in 2019:

There were also some accomplishments and highlights in 2019 that I hadn’t actually planned:

As I just mentioned, I established my own Facebook Reader Group, and I’m having a lot of fun discussing WLW & lesbian fiction with the now 800 members of the group every day.
Eight of my novels were published as an audiobook: Backwards to Oregon and its sequel, Hidden Truths ; Conflict of Interest and its sequel, Next of Kin ; Falling Hard ; Not the Marrying Kind ; Heart Trouble , and Damage Control .
Two of my series were published as a box set: the Oregon series box set and the Hollywood series box set, which save readers 30% compared to buying each book individually.
Departure from the Script was translated into Italian and is available under the title Non eri nel copione .
My books won a total of eight awards in 2019: Just for Show won a GCLS Award for contemporary romance – long novels, an eLit Award (gold) in the LGBT Fiction category, a Rainbow Award in the best lesbian contemporary romance category, and an IPPY Award (silver) in the best romance ebook category. Paper Love won an eLit Award (silver) in the LGBT Fiction category and a Rainbow Award in the best lesbian contemporary romance category. Perfect Rhythm won a Rainbow Award in the best asexual book category, and Not the Marrying Kind won a Rainbow Award in the best lesbian book category.

So political situations worldwide aside, 2019 was a pretty good year for me.

 

My goals for 2020

Jeez, 2020. It’s really weird to type that. Anyway, here are the goals I set for myself for 2020:

 

Write and publish two English books. 

My first book for 2020 is supposed to be a novella titled Wrong Number, Right Woman, but knowing me, it might end up being a novel.

My second book for 2020 will probably be book 3 for the Portland Police Bureau series. But my muse might change its mind and decide to write a novel for Dr. Lucy Hamilton Sharpe from Shaken to the Core first, or a contemporary romance about a woman with a very unusual job…

 

Translate and publish two German novels. 

Book 2 of Hidden Truths is already scheduled to be published in a couple of days, and I’m also hoping to translate The Roommate Arrangement and maybe one other of my novels in 2020.

 

Publish a new writers’ guide. 

I’m also planning to publish a new writers’ guide under my real name in 2020. This one will be on how to write a great beginning, and it’ll hopefully be out in March 2020.

 

Attend at least two book-related events in 2020

I’m planning to attend the GCLS conference for writers and readers of lesbian fiction in July. This time, it’ll be in Albuquerque, so I’m hoping to also visit Santa Fe.

In March, I’m planning on attending the book fair in Leipzig, which is more of a reader-focused fair compared to the more publisher-focused Frankfurt book fair.

 

Continue to give back to the community of LGBT readers and writers. 

Like every year, I’d like to find a way to give back to the community of LGBTQ readers and writers. I will probably mentor another writer for the GCLS.

I also have something fun planned for readers in 2020: The F/F Fiction Crossword Challenge is a year-long event for readers of WLW & lesbian fiction. Each month, I’ll post two themed crossword puzzles, and readers who send in the solution will have a chance to win ebooks. Check back tomorrow, when I’ll post the rules, or subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss any of the crosswords!

 

Become a more healthy writer. 

Since I earn my living sitting at my desk, I definitely need to work harder to stay healthy. My goal for 2020 is to work out three times a week and/or take long walks—maybe with an audiobook, to combine it with the next goal.

 

Read more books for fun. 

I’d really like to find more time to read for pleasure in 2020. I think I’m off to a good start because I’ll be going on a three-week vacation in January, where I’m hoping to get a good start on my to-be-read list.

 

 

How did you do with your goals for 2019? And what are your goals, plans, and hopes for 2020?

Please leave a comment and let us know.

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