The Year In Numbers: 2024
I track things. It’s something that helps keep me moored and on the path I want to pursue, and also it ticks that little reward-driven box for me – I like that feeling of satisfaction that a checkmark gives me.
I also like following my growth and seeing where I’m letting things slip past me, or where I’m losing interest in something.
So here’s some stats and some things I did that I’m proud of or wish could be a little more impressive… but in general, I’m happy with my numbers. Yay!
If you did more of any of these than me, congratulations! If you did less, then I hope you don’t get comparison envy, because any success is worth cheering.
You may notice that these numbers aren’t huge. That is FINE, y’all. I’m in my fourth year of being a chronically ill, self-published, fully independent author. I don’t have a ton of money to put into advertising, so for the most part, I don’t. What you see here is completely organic growth as I learn the ropes of what to do for my writing career.
I’ve quoted this statistic before, but it bears repeating here:
“How many books do authors actually sell?
In the Penguin Random House/Simon & Schuster antitrust trial, they revealed that out of 58,000 trade titles published per year, half of those titles sell less than one dozen books (yes, 12 books). 98% of the books that publishers released in 2020 (a very big year for books) sold fewer than 5,000 copies – about 90% sold less than 2,000. And, a study in 2006 found that 950,000 titles out of the 1.2 million tracked by Nielsen Bookscan sold fewer than 99 copies.”
I write and sell books. I participate in events. I’m building a readership, a body of knowledge alongside my works, and a community. I’m building a name for myself in the most organic and authentic way possible. I can trace my growth over the past four years and it’s fantastic. Slow growth is much more sustainable and realistic and I get to keep the joy of doing this work. If you’re a new or aspiring writer, I share these stats so that you can get a true glimpse behind the curtain.
What I achieve is my journey. Yours may look very different!
ReadingBooks read: 17, according to Goodreads, but my library says 5 more than that. I also read a LOT of online materialDNF: 4, all non-fictionGenres: fantasy, science fiction, fantasy/romance, romance [this is new for me!], self-help, referenceMost recommended: This is How You Lose the Time War [Amal El-Mohtar/Max Gladstone], Rakesfall [Vajra Chandrasekera], Someone You Can Build a Nest In [John Wiswell], Toward Eternity [Anton Hur][these are affiliate links]Most read fiction periodical: Uncanny MagazineUnsorted list of things I’m proud of this year
I’m still learning Korean! I’ve mostly been working on getting comfortable with reading it on the fly, even though I don’t know what most of the words mean. Getting the pronunciation right is challenging because of how consonants work in the language, but every time I get it right I feel like I’ve won. I like to watch videos of people filming walking around various areas of Seoul while I absorb the atmosphere and try to read signage as we pass by. You’d be surprised how much you learn that way!
My orchid rebloomed. I have never managed to get an orchid to rebloom! This one was a surprise gift from Christopher, and it arrived in gorgeous bloom. I was delighted and added it to my collection of indoor plants happily, but I fully expected that I’d be tending it for the green leaves alone after those blossoms fell. It surprised me with holiday flowers.
I’m drinking more tea. Fancier tea, that is. My pal Velma and I have both been exploring the world of tea this past year, with Velma taking a much deeper dive than I have so far. That works well for me, because she suggests the ones she’s liked the most, and our tastes align. And we trade care packages full of tea samples. It’s been a delight!
I shut down 24-7 streaming at Radio Xiane and that was good, but I’m ready to bring back playlists/shows. This was HUGE for me; I have a difficult time saying NO and letting things go that I’ve loved but no longer serve me. In this case, I was spending money on the streaming host and not seeing a lot of return [in other words, not many listeners or support] – so I made the difficult decision to let the streaming service go. But I really enjoy putting together mixes and introducing new music to people, so after sitting with the idea of quitting completely, I felt like making mixes on MY schedule, when I feel like it, was something that could bring me joy again. So here we are, in 2025, and I’m planning to start a practice of random show releases. Radio Xiane lives!
In alignment with my values, I’m moving as many things as I can to smaller, indie or indie supporting platforms in 2025. Instead of Goodreads, I’ve started updating at The Storygraph. [follow me there! my books are there too!] I use Ko-fi instead of other platforms that have some sketchy history. This year everything is queerer and artsier and indie and filled with communities I feel good supporting.
I took time to rest, and not push myself. This is HARD for me, y’all. I am a go-go-go kind of person, and all the enforced downtime I had after the Big Bust really rankled. I credit that time for opening my eyes to the idea that I could write and publish my own books, though… which of course I could, but I was literally so busy all the time that I never took a moment for really reassessing what I wanted from life until I was forced to change.
Now that I’ve had a taste of what that’s like, I’ve learned to incorporate it into my life. I need to rest. [So do you.] I need time to reassess and recuperate and recover, and if I don’t take it my body will make me take it. I have a hard head, so it took my body breaking down to make this lesson stick. But it did!
What about you? What are your numbers, your successes, your reasons to cheer? I want to know!May 2025 be kind to us all. Life has been challenging and we need each other more than ever. Know that you can always come here for support in your creative endeavors. I’m cheering you on!
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