Next Year

Finishing the last major project of 2012 has me thinking about the new year. My inclination is to plan out every second of everything, of course, but aside from a couple of deadlines I haven't. In fact, I haven't even bought my 2013 desk planner yet (disclaimer: I usually wait until after New Year's, when they're marked 75% off.)

I think I did okay with 2012's theme of coloring outside the lines. I took an art class, started and finished the 1000 Cards Project, sold a new series in a new genre and joined a literary penpal club (yeah, I know, but it's actually been pretty cool.) I also got involved with NaNoWriMo in a major way, started working with two new and very interersting guy editors (Hi Adam and Tim), both of whom helped me to expand my writing horizons -- all very different for me.

2012 wasn't all sunshine and happiness, and I certainly didn't accomplish everything I wanted to do, but I'm not interested in rehashing or dwelling on the negative. It's like backtracking over and over on a story trying to make it perfect when you should be writing something new. I'd rather write something new.

2013 will be a landmark year for me in a couple of ways. This is my fifteenth year working as a full-time professional writer. My fiftieth novel will be published in August. It would be easy to kick back and take it easy and think I've proven myself, but writers are only as good as their last novel. I'm not kicking back for anything; I have books to write.

What's ahead? I'm not sure. The universe, which over the last couple of years has been pretty active in guiding me in certain directions, hasn't exactly dropped a sign on my head lately. I'm kicking off the year with a road trip, so I'll keep my eyes open, but I think for me 2013 will be a bit of a mystery year. We'll see.

Are you making a New Year's resolution, or going with a new theme for 2013? Let us know in comments.