Tuesday, January 19, 2016

In which I make you guys take a survey

   Well, not make. That would be rude. You can ignore this post if you want. But it would be super awesome if you took this survey(that I worked really hard to make)!
   This might be a stupid idea, since probably like 6 people consistently read my blog, but whatever. When have I listened to common sense?
   So without any further ado, here's the survey. Take it if you want to help me improve my little corner of the blogosphere and feel super happy.

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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

In which I talk about this year a lot

   So I tried writing this on New Year's Eve, but that obviously didn't happen. I'm blatantly copying Katie's end of year post, because what are friends for if not to plagiarize?
   Love you, Katie child.
   Also, I'm linking up with The Broke and The Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday, so you have to hear about what my plans are this year. So there.


Writing

   Well. I feel like this is the first year I started taking my writing seriously. I checked and apparently I wrote about 34k this year. Someone please explain how I did that because that is a lot of words.

Me being confused and shocked

   My plan was to finish the book at 60k by the end of 2015. That's not happening. I'm a little disappointed, but I'm also very proud of myself for how far I've come. Children of the Nameless is coming along quite nicely, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
   I also wrote several short stories and some angsty poetry. Some of the short stories are on the blog and some I'm keeping to myself, because, well,



Blogging

   So, blogging was actually a thing this year. I celebrated my blog's first birthday; that was fun. I tried to be better and have a schedule, but that died quickly. My post about not comparing yourself had the most pageviews(thanks guys!), closely followed by my first Music + MBTI post about Fall Out Boy. If you liked that one, never fear; there will be more this year! (oh look I rhymed)


Reading
This is the year I rediscovered Goodreads. Now I understand how you guys can keep track of alllll the books you read. I didn't, so I don't know how many I read. I know it wasn't as many as some people, because how in heck is a person supposed to read 200+ books in one year?! Excuse me while I am confused.


   Some of my favorites this year were The False Prince, Leviathan, The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet, and Challenger Deep. I also got Harry Potter books 2-6(I already owned number 1), and started a reread, but I only got about halfway through 4 before realizing that I was already reading about 5 books and should probably save the reread for later. It will happen eventually.
   I also read Pariah, We Caught a Vampire, and all that's written of Little Hero by the fantabulous Aimee. I'm also pretty sure I reread Havard at the beginning of the year, because reasons.

Mostly because of this face. I love this face. And this boy.
   I also started reading The Color Project by my lovely friend Sierra and The Ring Thief by my other awesome friend Carlyn. I need to catch up on all the beta reading. Because there's a lot.

Life

   I'm going to do a list of random cool things that happened to me this year, because lists are fun and involve the least amount of explanation. And it's not going to be in order, because how am I supposed to remember things like that.


  • I flew to California by myself to stay with my aunt and uncle for a month. On the flight over, what should have been an hour long layover ended up taking about 5 hours. On the flight home, the stupid airport lost my suitcase. The actual visit was really fun and I got to see a lot of family, and I think that was only one day that I went to sleep before 1 in the morning. And I got to go to a baseball game, which was the best.
  • I discovered Twenty One Pilots and fell deeply in love. 
  • I went to EFY, a church camp. It was amazing. I made a lot of friends and had my faith strengthened when it was almost gone.
  • I also participated in a pioneer trek reenactment with church. I now have a greater appreciation of anyone who had to live without AC. Or jeans. Or showers.
  • I went to prom with my good friend Marcus and got to wear a pretty dress and look gorgeous. (I really like pretty dresses, okay)
  • My band had its first performance(I have mentioned that I play bass in a band, right?)
  • I started writing the Harry Potter fanfic that's been buzzing in my head for ages. And it's pretty fantastic if I say so myself.
  • I participated in Camp NaNo and NaNoWriMo for the first time this year
  • My family and I drove to Utah for Thanksgiving to see family we haven't seen in 4 years. I also got to see my best friend who'd moved away almost exactly a year before, and I got to meet my platonic wife Emily, who I met on GTW. (That was pretty much the best day ever.)
  • I started my senior year of high school and turned 17(I can legally apparate and do magic outside of school, guys)
  • I got to wear another really pretty dress and pretty steampunk jewelry as my costume for Halloween. Halloween is my favorite.

   Okay I'm done now. Onto my seven writing/reading/blogging related goals this year!


1. Finish Children of the Nameless and/or reach 60k by the end of February
    This is gonna be a thing, guys.

2. Edit CotN and send it to my betas
    I am equal parts nervous and excited for this. My betas are just excited.

3. Start the CotN sequel some time this year
    I'm scared, guys. SO MUCH UPCOMING ANGST.

4. Maybe possibly start writing one of my plot bunnies during the summer
    I don't know which one yet, because there's a lot. But it would be fun to write something besides
   CotN. Maybe one of my fluffy little contemporaries?

5. Start blogging more
    I'm not gonna hold myself to a strict schedule. I'm not going to try to post a few times each week.
    I am going to post more often, though.

6. Read 25 books
    Hopefully mostly new books, not just rereads.

7. Catch up on beta reading
    Adrianna, Caroline, Sierra, Carlyn, anyone else I'm forgetting: forgive me.


   Alright alright I'm done now. Anyone noticed that I like to talk about myself a lot? 2015 was kind of a rough year for me, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make 2016 way better.

Let's do the thing, guys.

How was your 2015? Do you have any goals for 2016?