DECEMBER 25, 2024: BLOG #79
2024 End of Year Reflection
Disclaimer: The information you are about to read is based off of my own opinions. Not intended to be taken as professional advice. Not a sponsored post. Just for fun to read and to maybe open up your mind to something new. Enjoy and thanks for taking the time to read my post!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!!
Can you believe the end of 2024 is already here?!? How wild! It blows my mind how fast days, weeks, months and years fly by.
In the spirit of keeping this blog like a virtual journal for me, I’m going to note the highs and lows in my life in this end of the year reflection post. As well as future goals for the upcoming 2025 year!
We’ll start with the lows and end with a high note.
By the way, I used to be a stickler about editing and polishing posts before publishing it on the blog. I ask you to please bear with me because I’m going to try to write raw and honestly. Meaning, little to no editing. This, and possibly several posts in the future, might not sound the most coherent since I’m writing this in a stream-of-consciousness style.
My reasoning: I get bogged down when I overanalyze my writing. I become hypercritical, which leads to not writing anything at all. And I want to keep writing. I don’t want to constantly face the icky feeling of doubt, to submit to the voice blaring in my head telling me my work is all shit and I’m shit and nobody cares about this or me.
So, I’m going to write what I want even if it is the largest, most exquisite pile of doggy poo because that’s the only way I can fight against the perfectionist demon within me.
Perfectionism impedes progress and contributes to anxiety and depression.
I want to reclaim the moments where I didn’t think too much about my writing and just felt the words, the ideas, flow through me onto the page. I found those works to be my constant favorites.
We’ll start with the lows and end with a high note.
THE LOWS - WHAT I’VE STRUGGLED WITH
This year was not a writing year. I’m not sure what happened, but it was pretty disheartening throughout the whole year because I felt uninspired (and coming up with story ideas is what I’m good at and has been consistently the smoothest part of my writing journey), exhausted and frustrated. I forced myself to write. I came up empty. Each day I hated myself more.
Why couldn’t I finish my manuscripts? Why aren’t the words coming out right? When will I publish my books it’s been years and everyone keeps asking about it but I come up with nothing year after year and continuously disappoint people?!?!
A few months in, I had to throw up my hands in defeat. And accept that I will not meet my writing goals this year. This was a year I had to learn to prioritize my mental, emotional and physical health. I didn’t stop writing completely, I just wrote for about two months out of the whole year.
Two months out of the whole year?! How disappointing was that when two years ago I managed to write a blog post a week and last year I wrote the first drafts of three trilogies for my productivity to tank to writing for only eight weeks of the year?!?
My spirit wasn’t only crushed by this realization, it eventually died. And I grew numb to life, to creating.
This year was also not a reading year despite my desire and enthusiasm to read so many new books. I’ll give myself some grace since I did manage to read more than last year.
I felt like I tried to tackle many projects, but, in the end, I produced nothing. No writing, no reading. It was a slow year unfortunately. I attributed this to my perfectionism sneaking its way back in, stagnating progress and success. And I let it. I was so oddly tired (from who knows what really) that I made every excuse to not push forward, to not do work, to let my goals fail.
On the bright side, the silver lining to all of this, I was forced to take a break. Probably a necessary break that I didn’t want to admit I needed. So that moving onto the new year, I hope to have more clarity, inspiration, peace and discipline.
THE HIGHS - WHAT I’VE ACCOMPLISHED
Completed NaNoWriMo for the 3rd year in a row!
I edited Dao Mu Bi Ji: Moving Forward Through the Flowery Night because I’m in love with HeiHua (the ship name for Xie Yuchen/AKA Xiao Hua and Hei Yanjing/AKA Hei Xiazi). I loved the story but felt it was missing some richness in its writing. So I decided to edit it to elevate its beauty. I have to keep editing it but suuuuper happy with where it’s at right now!
I also started posting a little bit more on my social media pages and also updated my blog – something I haven’t done in a long time since I took an indefinite hiatus.
The few books I did read were INCREDIBLE. And memorable. The characters and stories will live in my heart forever and serve as inspiration for my future works.
On the side, I took on crocheting! The crafts I made this year were so cute, which was honestly one of my favorite activities to do other than the typical bibliophile hobbies.
My lifesavers this year. I’ve included links in case anyone was curious, especially those who love Boys Love things. Also, most of these dramas are currently available in FULL and for FREE on YouTube.
- Love Murder Basketball (by Kurutta Hito) – *MATURE CONTENT
- Sex Therapy (by Cathexis World) – *MATURE CONTENT
- Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (by Shungiku Nakamura) – *MATURE CONTENT
- Sekaiichi Hatsukoi: Yokozawa Takafumi No Baai (by Shungiku Nakamura and Miyako Fugisaki) – *MATURE CONTENT
- Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime)
- Junjou Romantica (by Shungiku Nakamura) – *MATURE CONTENT
- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (by MXTX)
- Guardian: Zhen Hun (by Priest)
- Dao Mu Bi Ji (by Nan Pai San Shu)
- Be With You (Chinese Drama)
- SCI Mystery (Chinese Drama) – *MATURE CONTENT
- The Trick of Love and Life (Chinese Drama)
- Obey Me! Shall We Date? and Obey Me! Nightbringer
GOALS FOR 2024
- Print physical copy of Sekaiichi Hatsukoi – English Version (omnibus of Volume 1-3)
- Finish my fanfiction series and post on AO3
- 3 writing samples for my professional portfolio
- Have one manuscript professionally edit
- Finish writing contemporary romance book – full first draft manuscript
- Socialize and meet new people
- Achieve my financial goal for 2025
THANK YOU FOR READING THE POST!
I’m grateful to all of you!
What have been your greatest achievements in 2024? Challenges? What do you look forward to doing in 2025?
Have a great, safe and fun holiday season. Wishing you the best for the new year! 2025 let’s rock and roll!
Hello! From the Writer of What Makes You Curious
Introvert (specifically INFJ). Slytherin. Lover of fantasy, romance, thriller and mystery books. I particularly love Harlequin books! When I'm not blogging about the latest books I've read, I'm writing stories, poetry, song lyrics, practicing spirituality, binge-watching YouTube videos and poorly singing Backstreet Boys and/or Kelly Clarkson songs at the top of my lungs. Click my photo to the left to learn more things about me that you didn't ask for me to share with you but I'm going to share with you anyway.
