We’re officially in that strange transition period where our fingers always go for the 3 instead of the 4 when we type the year. 🤣 Hello, folks, and welcome to 2024! I hope it’s a good one.

As always, I’d like to start my yearly blogging journey with some goals. This post will come to you in four parts. The intro, which I think I’m nailing. 😁 Parts two – four will break up my goals according to categories (writing, art, and personal). I’m not great at resolutions, but I find myself more successful at completing tasks when they’re broken into bite-sized parts. It’s fascinating to realise I’ve been accommodating my ADHD brain for so much longer than I’ve had a diagnosis!

I’ll update you about these goals and my progress throughout the year. Also, I invite you to get your goal on with me! Feel free to share in the comment section, via DM, or drop me an email. I love chatting with you lovely folks!

Writing Goals

* Finish A Curse of Venom & Scales

I’d love to finish writing this new draft of ACOVAS by March. Considering how fast I’ve been writing, this is a super achievable goal, and I’m excited about my progress. (I’m at 80k words.)

This book has never been easy. From the beginning, it’s lived up to its name and has been a curse, but I really do believe the time spent away from it has helped me glean a better understanding of where the plot should go. It has had a complete overhaul and is vastly different from the draft my beta readers read. But I’m positive that this is the one. It feels right this time, as though everything is just falling into place.

If all goes well, this book might even be published this year, but I’ll set my official publishing goal for Summer 2025 just to keep the pressure off.

* Weekly Blog Posts

I’ll continue to post on Mondays. This schedule has been easy to maintain and has become a part of my routine. And because it has been a great help for my mental health, I’ll continue to write and schedule posts in advance.

If you have any specific post requests, please contact me, and I’ll be happy to write about your requested topic!

* Work on a Non-Fall of the Mantle Project

I want to query agents this year, which is a daunting goal (really, I’m super nervous). For that, I’ll need a standalone novel. The idea for this standalone has been in my head for a good few years, but during 2023, I completed most of the research and planning, and I should be ready to start writing this project soon.

The idea is to work on this project while ACOVAS is with my editor. I don’t want to say too much more because I’ve sunk myself with public declarations before. 🤣 There’s that ADHD!

Art Goals

* Keep Growing Foxie & The Moon

I had a successful first year with my tiny polymer clay business, and I’d like to grow that. Initially, I made only earrings, but I now also offer hairclips, magnets, and keychains. I’m planning to create some bookish accessories in 2024, and I’d love to add geeky items to my inventory.

If you’d like to see some of my work, check out my Instagram page @foxie_and_the_moon.

* Resume Commissions and Art Sales

During my depressive slump, art was the last thing on my mind. However, I’m feeling more like myself these days, and that means I’m ready for art again.

I’d also love to add stickers to my Foxie & The Moon inventory, so all the funds from commissions will go toward my savings for a cutting machine.

Check out my portfolio here, and please feel free to contact me for prices and details on commissions!

Personal Goals

* Honouring Mental Health

If the past few years taught me anything, it’s that health is important. We like to create this separation between mental and physical health, and for clarity, I do that, too. But when my mental state went to hell, my body also suffered.

As the mother of a ten-year-old, it’s even more important to keep myself afloat. That means taking breaks when I need to, seeing physicians when I need to, and saying no when I need to.

Because she’s watching, and what I do will impact how she takes care of herself one day.

So, the rule I made last year will roll over into 2024. If my health requires it, I’m giving myself permission to stop people pleasing and step away. It sounds so straightforward, but this has been one of the most difficult skills I’ve ever learned, and it’s one I still constantly struggle with. But hey, practice makes perfect, so I’m hopeful it’ll get easier with time.

* Social Media Posting

This goal has been my bane. I tried to ease back into regular posting on my poor Instagram page, and it went well until it didn’t.

At this stage, I’m a hermit, and I often don’t have anything worthwhile to contribute to your lovely feeds. I’ll try to be better about it, though. For now, I want to post once a month, and I hope it’ll morph into regular posting organically.

If you have tips on how to return to social media after a long absence, please share your wisdom with me? 😅

And I’ll leave you on that note.

Until next week!

Yolandie