2022 Writing Review
Earlier this month, a beloved colleague and fellow writer offered me Nicole Gulotta’s 2022 Workbook Writing Annual Review. It was so validating and inspiring to work through the document, to see how far I’ve come and how my dreams have grown and started to solidify. As 2022 winds down, I offer the questions and my responses to hopefully inspire your own introspective reflection on your writing life. Share your responses in the comments and let’s share our writing victories and dreams!
2022 ReflectionsSorting Out the Main Projects or Focus Areas from the Last Year PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Earning my MATHOUGHTS/FEELINGS/REFLECTIONS: Excited, grateful, guilty, creative, inspired, graduating in January 2023
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Lightning Strikes (work-in-progress)THOUGHTS/FEELINGS/REFLECTIONS: Productive, proud, creative, inspired; goal is to finish first full draft by the end of December
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Weekly blog
THOUGHTS/FEELINGS/REFLECTIONS: I know that regularly updating my blog is important for developing my “brand” and possibly gaining new readers
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Reading like a writer
THOUGHTS/FEELINGS/REFLECTIONS: Stephen King’s number one rule for writers is that they MUST read and write a lot, and I honestly think I’m doing better with that
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Living a literary life
THOUGHTS/FEELINGS/REFLECTIONS: I’ve become more open about my writing in the sense that I’m more willing to talk about it and take myself seriously
What hopes and dreams did you have for your writing life?
Thinking back to the time last year, I dreamed of finishing a first full draft of my manuscript for Lightning Strikes. I worked consistently but was unable to finish the manuscript according to my original timeline.
What lit you up?
Being in Ireland and earning my MA definitely lit me up. I was leading a full literary life, reading and writing every day, and being surrounded by like-minded, talented individuals.
What was draining?
I regret saying “yes” to more work at the high school. Time that should be spent maintaining and enhancing the literary habits I built is now being spent elsewhere. I’m breaking a promise I made to myself.
How did you spend your time?
My writing sessions were consistent when I was in school in Ireland, but now that I’m back in the States, they’re more sporadic, like I’m just taking time wherever I can get it. The pandemic was a non-issue for me.
What worked?
Listening to music and following an outline really worked. I’d skip around on the outline, writing scenes that I really wanted to first, and I’d let them wax or wane as I was writing. That’s remaining my approach.
Favorite creative moments from the past year:
– earning praise from Donal Ryan
– publishing Moody Blue
– continuing Write Club
– writing Lightning Strikes with passion and fluidity
Challenges from the past year:
– not making my writing clean and smooth for my first workshop leaders
– erasing scenes (I should know by now to save EVERYTHING)
How did you support your creativity?
I finished studying for my MA in Ireland and I maintain the writing group I joined there. I get solid feedback and get to read other writing that further shapes my voice (I imitate what I like).
Describe your reading life this year.
I read for comfort, pleasure AND research 
I didn’t read as much as I hoped as being back at work really slowed and impeded my progress. I want to read whatever I want, and I want to start working through the list I cultivated during the MA. And I want to annotate more with the specific intention of analyzing craft.
What did you gravitate towards?
I want to read more Palahniuk and King. I find a lot of recommendations on Instagram, which has helped me explore more genres (Sort of). I ended up reading more books that inspired movies after having seen the movie.
In a media-driven world, it’s easy to feel behind and start comparing our progress to others.
I know I need to write every single day and make it a top priority. Reading Colleen Hoover helped me in my confidence because I’m definitely just as good as, if not better than, that wildly popular author all over social media. I’ve started following more literary accounts for inspiration.
WHY NOW?/INTENTIONS: To get out of the small presses, to be entered in competitions, to have a better budget for marketing, to build credibility
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Publish magnetic poetry chapbook
WHY NOW?/INTENTIONS: I can’t let ten years go by before another book comes out. I need to stay relevant and I can publish that on my own
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Continue blogging
WHY NOW?/INTENTIONS: To expand my readership and keep me accountable in my writing life
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Build social media presence
WHY NOW?/INTENTIONS: Because I need more readers and I’m paying for programs that help with scheduling, so it makes sense for me to improve content
PROJECT or FOCUS AREA: Start new novel
WHY NOW?/INTENTIONS: I’ll just be revising Lightning Strikes and writing makes me happy
List some words to describe how you’d like your writing practice to feel in 2023:
– creative
– inspired
– productive
– effortless
– authentic
– consistent
Is there anything in particular you’d like to learn more about?
I want to read more by Palahniuk, King, and Jenkins-Reid. I want to read more by Sally Rooney. I want to read more books about the craft of writing. I want to watch more films about writers, including documentaries.
What are you craving?
I want to find an agent and I want to truly prioritize my writing life: visit more bookstores, write in cafes, visit literary points of interest, attend festivals/conferences, and plan my own writing retreat.
How can you support yourself to receive it?
– Don’t procrastinate
– Make plans and follow through
– Budget!
Do you use social media?
I do and I have a strategic plan to improve engagement so I can attract more readers but I need to make sure I don’t waste time on it. I can’t keep scrolling mindlessly.
Where are your margins?
– On prep
– Before bed
On December 31, 2023, what do you want your future self to know?
Dear Mandi,
I want you to know I’m proud of you. I know how hard the last two years have been with dealing with Maddie’s accident and living in Ireland, and I know it’s been tough transitioning back to you “old” life. But you’re still showing up and you’re still putting in the time. People have been complimenting you on your new style and your growth, and both of those have come from a serious commitment to your writing life. Don’t be afraid to fully embrace your writing life; go to independent bookstores and fall in love with a favorite; set yourself up in a café to do some writing and observe the people around you for inspiration; read and annotate A LOT, and read like a writer; visit literary places of interest and go to festivals and conferences to find your tribe; start or join a writing group. Be the beautiful bohemian writer you can be. Stick with that passion and talent, and everything will fall into place.
WINTER
– query agents
– visit bookstores + cafes
– plan content for social media
SPRING
– query agents
– release poetry book
– writing retreat
– attend festivals/conferences
SUMMER
– query agents
– start new novel
– start writing group
– attend festivals/conferences
FALL
– query agents
– visit bookstores + cafes
JANUARY
– query an agent
– bookstores / cafes
– read 2 books
FEBRUARY
– query an agent
– bookstores / cafes
– read 2 books
MARCH
– plan and attend DIY writing retreat
– bookstores / cafes
– read 2 books
APRIL
– release poetry book
– bookstores / cafes
– read 2 books
MAY
– start new project
– read 2 books
JUNE
– writing group?
– social media planning
– read 3 books
JULY
– visit a literary landmark
– conference/festival?
– writing group?
– social media planning
– read 4 books
AUGUST
– conferences/festival?
– writing group?
– social media planning
– read 4 books
SEPTEMBER
– contests
– read 3 books
OCTOBER
– contests
– read 2 books
NOVEMBER
– contests
– NaNoWriMo
– read 2 books
DECEMBER
– reflect
– read 2 books
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