Chaos and Order: A New Year's Resolution
In 2024, we concentrated on our second and third novels. In 2025, we plan to finish them. And start new ones. Crokell got titled. We got Dante. The cats are in charge of the dogs. Sounds like fun!
New Year's is not just a date on the calendar. Well, it is but it can be so much more. I am trying to turn it into a celebration of the three R’s: reflection, renewal, and… rejections. No wait! Scratch that last one. Instead, how about resolutions to take with us into the new year.
For the last decade, Tod and I have taken a little trip to the middle of no where Texas around New Years to visit some friends and to step away from technology. We hike around a bit and just enjoy being outside.
So, this year I take a look at what was wonderful, and less than wonderful, and how we can change it and challenge ourselves to be better.
Reflection
I pulled Tod into writing in 2022 and in 2023 we started not just writing and editing together but getting published as well. We went from no publications to 6 publications. We also collected 15 rejections and started a weekly blog. If you want to read about the craziness of our first publishing year.
In 2024, we have come a long away and at the same time not so far. We decided we would focus more long form fiction (novels). We also agreed at the end of last year to take things a little slower. Tod is smart and reminded me that writing is not a sprint but a marathon - if you want it as a career. Which I do, someday. I love my normal work as well, but eventually I think I want a little cabin in the middle of nowhere to write and train dogs.
So, our major goal for 2024 was to edit and submit our first novel to the slush pile and we have done that. (Yay!) We wanted to keep our pattern for blog posting to be once a week, which we also managed. And lastly we chalked up more short story publications, and rejections, but who’s counting (well Tod is).
So… to recap 2024
Writing:
2 more short stories published
1 new unpublished sale (with an additional unpublished sale from 2023)
27 rejections (several submitted at the end of 2023)
23 short story submissions (several submissions are still pending)
1 novel submission
Have not missed a blog post although it did come close a time or two…
Other:
Tod and I both got new jobs!
Dante joined the Chaos Critter’s family. Read more here.
Crokell got his first titles and then some. Read more here, and here.
Overall a very good and full year.
Renewal
We started doing a few different types of blog posts: flash fiction, recipes, and dog training. It mostly follows what our poll suggested in here. For next year, we are currently planning regular posts in the following.
Topics Poll:
Chaos Critter Tails - Flash Fiction - monthly.
Chaos Kitchen Creations - Recipes - monthly.
Leash Lessons - Animal Training - monthly.
Sunday Salutations - Life Updates - randomly.
Chaos Critters Bookshelf - Book Reviews - randomly.
Chaos Critter - Pet and People Profiles - randomly.
Therefore, we wanted to know who you wanted the next critter profile on.
In the comments, let us know if you have other suggestions like Professor Possum, Mr. Hoppers, Hoss (a new friend you’ll meet in the next story), or some other critter. Let us know!
Resolutions
While I could fill pages and pages of the resolutions and goals for the next year. I will make just three related to writing.
Complete the two novels we have been working on.
Submit at least one new story every quarter. (Because we are working on novels most of the time).
New short blog flash fiction every month - something we started last year.
Our other goals are more varied.
Get Crokell his CGC-A, RA, TKI and PCD.
Get Dante his CGC, TKN, and start training agility, rally, and obedience.
Starting working out three or more times a week every week. AH! At least some of those will be hanging from a rope or preparing to hang from one.
What are your resolutions for 2025?
Wishing you all a good year,
Anna and Tod
Congrats and great goals!