2018 is nearing its end. But the road continues onward, into 2019 and beyond. There are hills ahead, and valleys and curves, obscuring the horizon. Where will the road take me? I’ll trek onward … and find out.

This year, for me, has been one of great achievements, and the completion of some pretty big goals.

I finished Book 4 of my series and launched it into the world.

I also wrote and illustrated a children’s book (yet-to-be-published).

I solidified a film and branding contract with an agency (who now represent me and my IPs).

FILM BRAND MANAGEMENT

I attended the Sydney Supanova convention for the first time and was able to meet Stephen Amell (Arrowverse) and Trina Nishimura (voice actress)!

I started work on Book 5 of the Dragon Calling series, as well as content for the 3rd & 4th Companion Guides.

(can’t show any pictures or the cover image because SPOILERS … and, special content like that is reserved for my Patrons over on Patreon).

Speaking of Patreon, I decided to expand my creative horizons and launched my very own PATREON PAGE!

I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time, and managed to hit the 50,000 word goal!

I found investors for my plushie project, and now the plushies are officially going through the production process.

On top of which, I managed to create several new Special Edition and Cross-over print art to sell at future conventions, as well as some pretty cool commissions.

And, somehow, I still managed to keep on top of my blogging (… sort of 😉 ).

Of my top 10 goals I made for 2018 (some of those are mentioned above), I accomplished 6 of them; and some were pretty impossible-looking at some stages. To that end, I am very satisfied with what I have been able to achieve.

Does that sound like a lot? I’m sure some of you work on so much more stuff than me, and achieve three times as much, but for me, this year has been BIG.

But if I’m honest, the ratio of accomplishments to self-praise at each success is … still lacking. But I did try! I tried to give more attention to celebrating the results of my efforts than I did in the past. I made a conscious effort to be more aware of the “goal-being-reached” aspect, and I certainly felt a sense of relief and accomplishment in completing each one. But I have this habit of taking it all in at a quick glance, before turning to face forward, and look ahead at what is to be done next. Always looking far ahead, seeing the grandness of my visions, the completion of my goals; it is what has enabled me to achieve all that I have so far. I envision my goals, and I chip away at them, keeping the vision in mind. Always seeing things before they are there for others to see.

And while I may be able to dream and then do … I still have trouble celebrating the milestones of my efforts; if it weren’t for my sister (and occasionally my other house-mate) stepping in and enforcing a few special celebratory evenings with take-out, wine, and the occasional special gift, for the most part I wouldn’t bother rewarding myself.

I think I need to spend these final few days of 2018 just going over all I have managed to do this year, and simply give myself a pat on the back.

I don’t know what 2018 was like for you; maybe it was amazing, or maybe it was full of stumbling blocks and pain. But I hope, if anything, you allow yourself the time to look back on all you have achieved (or survived) and celebrate where you are now. You are alive (for one thing) which means you have the opportunity to make next year better than this one.

Next year will be another big and amazing year for me. But aside from all my writerly and creative goals, there are a couple of personal goals that I really need to work on. If I gave as much attention to those, as I did to my creativity, they wouldn’t be the large weed-infested gardens they are now (well, not really large or infested, just … somewhat neglected patches of life in need of some TLC).

And I guess that will be another goal to work on in 2019.

See you all in the New Year!