Reflections on 2017, and What Matters More than Having the “Best Year Ever”

/ saraletourneau

Last January, a friend gave me this New Year’s party hat. The timing for this sparkling “gift” couldn’t have been more appropriate: I was ready to send a YA fantasy novel to beta-readers, and 3 weeks into a crowdfunding campaign to help me afford a trip to the Iceland Writers Retreat. Not to mention I had a whole list of goals and plans for 2017, and if things worked out the way I’d hoped, maybe I’d be closer to my dream of being published by year’s end – a pretty good “best year ever.”

Today, that hat still sits in my writing space (a.k.a. my dining room table), and I’m no closer to being published than I was a year ago. But that doesn’t mean 2017 was “not the best year ever.” Rather, it turned out much differently than I thought it would.

Was it challenging? Absolutely. Discouraging? At times, yes. But it was also one of the most exciting, inspiring, and humbling years I’ve had the privilege of living.

For all those reasons, I can’t write this annual reflection post in the same way I’ve written those of past years. Instead of focusing on milestones, blog statistics, and defined plans that could change in a few months, I’d like to share what I learned this past year. How certain events sent my mental health spiraling and shook my faith and self-confidence. How other events and important choices helped me heal and made me look at life – even why I write – from a different perspective. How it all, in the end, reminded me that I’m intelligent, creative, and determined enough to rebound from setbacks.

A Year of Courage, Persistence, and Resilience

As I mentioned earlier, I began 2017 by sending my YA fantasy novel (one I’d been laboring over for 4 years) to beta-readers and starting the first draft of a prequel novella. It was a thrilling, nerve-wracking time, especially since I was planning hoping the novel was close enough to “DONE” so I’d feel comfortable pitching it to literary agents at a writing conference that summer. Thankfully, the new writing project gave me a means of using the waiting time in a productive way. (And obviously to distract myself from the fact that OMG beta-readers were reading my manuscript. 😮 )

Then, in late February and early March, my writing plans for the year imploded.

Two unrelated events happened at once. First, I received the bulk of my feedback from beta-readers. Most of them liked the story, but they also pointed out glaring issues with the plot and the world-building… and some of those issues left me so stumped that I couldn’t figure out how I’d fix them during the next draft. (It also didn’t help that I was growing increasingly frustrated with the YA epic fantasy novels I’d been reading and was wondering if my manuscript would contribute to, rather than be a solution for, the issues I was seeing with that genre.)

Around the same time, I was dealing with all kinds of stress in my offline life, including uncertainty at my day job. This, along with my wounded confidence in my writing, triggered a months-long period of anxiety that… well, I’ve learned to manage it better, but like all mental health issues, it won’t ever go away completely.

So, by the end of March, I was so disheartened and exhausted that part of me wanted to hide under the blankets and away from the world. But I didn’t, because a truly amazing adventure was just around the corner.

The waterfall Hraunfossar in Husafell, Iceland

In April I traveled overseas for the first time to attend the fourth annual Iceland Writers Retreat. Between the workshops, cultural immersion, a day-long tour of the Borgarfjörður region, and meeting writers from several other countries… it’s still hard to describe my time there in just a few words. So instead, I wrote three articles about it! You can read more about my IWR experience (and see some of my photos from the trip) at DIY MFA, Writers Helping Writers, and IWR’s official blog.

Attending IWR was also an incredibly brave step for me. Not only did I travel alone, but (thanks to a friend’s suggestion) I also ran a GoFundMe campaign to make the (expensive) trip more affordable. It was a daunting challenge – honestly, who feels comfortable asking for money and promoting it via social media on a daily / weekly / etc. basis? Yet somehow the campaign raised over $2500 USD, about two-thirds of the trip’s overall costs, and… well, I’m still blown away by that outcome. So many friends, relatives, and writing pals were willing to invest in making my dream a reality, and I sincerely hope that one day I can make them proud with the work I create in the future.

Speaking of new work, attending IWR was like hitting the reset button for creativity. I came home rejuvenated and eager to write again. But instead of resuming the novella or starting Draft #4 of the YA fantasy, I opted for a fresh start, a chance to apply what I’d learned to something new. So I began Storm, a YA magical realism novel about an 18-year-old girl struggling with an anxiety disorder during her first year in college. I’m now almost 70,000 words into the first draft, and it’s already the most personal yet most therapeutic fiction piece I’ve ever written. This story has also pushed me out of my comfort zone in more ways than I’d expected, which is something I plan to blog about in more depth once I finish the first draft.

Also, thanks to one particular IWR workshop, I began writing poetry again for the first time in 3 years. By year’s end, I had written several new poems, revised several more older ones, and began reading more of it and blogging more about it. I also submitted separate batches of poems to a poetry contest and an online literary journal. It feels so good to have the poetic tap turned “on” again, and I’m excited to see where it will bring me in the future.

Despite scrapping my plans to pitch the YA fantasy, I still went to the Writer’s Digest Conference in August, and I’m immensely grateful that I did. I reconnected with old writing pals and made new friends. I learned more about the craft of writing and the publishing industry, and got emotional after a string of sessions touched on regaining confidence, wrestling with one’s inner critic, and other “inner demon” issues I’d been having with my craft. And on a fun note, I got to see Anathema, one of my favorite music bands, in concert the night before WDC began. As I said in my WDC 2017 recap post, I was meant to attend that conference, even without the pitch slam.

Outside of my primary projects, I continued writing articles for DIY MFA and Writers Helping Writer in 2017. I focused mainly on my core topics of literary themes (DIY MFA) and general writing tips (WHW), but personal experience often crept in, leading me to blog about regaining confidence in our writing and balancing the creative life with real-life responsibilities.

And the biggest surprise on the creative front? I was invited by Alison Walsh of Wonderland Recipes to write the introduction for her upcoming cookbook, A Literary Tea Party. I was already THRILLED about Alison’s book to begin with, and now I’m honored to be a part of her publishing journey.

This is a long way of saying that, for me, 2017 was a year of courage, persistence, and resilience. I had to learn how to believe in myself and my abilities as a writer again. But before I could do that, I had to absorb some hard lessons, take a leap of faith or two, and find the strength to keep trying despite being so terrified of failure. Does it matter whether it was the “best year ever”? Not really. I might not be where I’d dreamed of being months ago, but I’d like to think I’m where I’m meant to be at this moment.

Some Goals for 2018

Writing-wise, my main goal for 2018 is to finish Draft #1 of Storm (which should happen in the next few months) and, if it’s possible, begin Draft #2 before year’s end. I also plan to continue writing poetry and submitting pieces to literary journals and/or contests that fit my work. And depending on how things go, I might try to draft a short story (or novelette? I don’t know how many words it’ll need) between Drafts #1 and #2 of Storm. All I’ll say about that project for now is that it’s not related to Storm, but rather something I’ve been brainstorming since the Iceland Writers Retreat.

Speaking of literary events, I’m taking a year off from the Iceland Writers Retreat and Writer’s Digest. Believe me, this decision hurt, but as much as I love both events and want to travel more, I need to buy a new car this spring… and I can’t afford to do all three.

That said, I’m not foregoing writing events completely in 2018. Now that I’m writing poetry again, I’m itching to attend the Massachusetts Poetry Festival again. I haven’t been there since 2013, so I’m already looking forward to a mini-vacation in Salem and some long-overdue quality time with my favorite short form of writing.

Apart from that, here are other goals (some creative, others more personal) I’ve made for myself in 2018:

  • Promote Alison’s Literary Tea Party, of course 😉
  • Resume a more consistent presence on social media (that is, if I can find the motivation…)
  • Continue writing for DIY MFA and Writers Helping Writers
  • Continue attending weekly yoga classes
  • Donate money once a month to a different cause I care about, mainly wildlife / conservation (World Wildlife Fund, Audobon Society) and writing & arts programs (Grub Street, PEN America)
  • Visit at least two Massachusetts Audobon wildlife sanctuaries

A Quick Note About the Blog’s Growth and Other Statistics

Even though I decreased my blogging schedule and social media time so I could focus more on writing and self-care, 2017 was still the blog’s most successful year, passing 2016’s total number of page views and visitors. The only reason I can think of for this? You, the readers. You continue to share the links, recommend this site, and visit whenever new articles post. And for that, I am grateful beyond words. (*hugs*)

In case you’re curious, here are the five most viewed new posts at the blog in 2017:

  1. A Writing Study on Assassins, Flashbacks, and Emotions (A Guest Post & Giveaway by Fantasy Author Maria V. Snyder)
  2. Sara’s Favorite Reads of 2016, Plus Two Times the Giveaway Fun!
  3. What Do You Think?: Asking for Feedback on My Novel’s Blurb
  4. Six Words of Wisdom on Running a Crowdfunding Campaign (Plus, the “Final” Total for My GoFundMe for the Iceland Writers Retreat)
  5. The 2017 Blogoversary, Part 1: Ten Unique Reads I Highly Recommend + Giveaway

These posts, however, are among my favorites of 2017, and the ones I’m most proud of writing:

  1. Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Synchronicity: My 2017 Writer’s Digest Conference Story
  2. Finding Gifts and Inspiration: The Blessings of a Writer’s Relationship with Nature
  3. On Breaking Habits, Managing Energy, and Extended Absences from Social Media
  4. Poetry & Song: “Elegy” and Adele’s “Hometown Glory”
  5. Poetry & Song: “Eve of Spring” and Anathema’s “Lightning Song”

The Kaldakvísl River in Mosfellsdalur, Iceland

Last But Not Least, Another Blogging Schedule Change for 2018

Starting next week, the blog’s posting schedule will change to once a week on Tuesdays (though I might have to skip a week occassionally). Why the decrease in schedule again? It’s just me adapting to real-life responsibilities constricting the amount of time I can spend blogging. And all bloggers, I think, can agree that balancing blogging with our offline lives is hard, especially if you’re juggling creative writing projects as well.

Unfortunately, this means that quote posts like Weekly Writer Wisdom and Thursday Thoughtfulness are going away. I also won’t accept blog awards anymore, though I might still do “award-less” blog tags / hops if they offer something different or interesting. This does mean, however, that I’ll be focusing my blogging time and energy on the types of articles I enjoy writing most – and I’m super excited about that. I hope you will be, too!

Because, in the end, the readership of this blog – yes, that means, YOU – makes this endeavor worthwhile. I know I’ve frequently said something to that effect, but after this past year, I mean it with every ounce of my being. Your comments, friendship, and support gave me a desperately needed boost on confidence when I needed it most. So however you showed your support in 2017 – be it encouragement about writing, donations for the GoFundMe campaign, a comment that made me smile or laugh out loud – please know how much I deeply appreciate it and you.

And, finally, Happy New Year! I hope you had a warm and safe beginning to your 2018, and may you be blessed with love, inspiration, and prosperity in the months to come.  ❤

How would you summarize your 2017? What were some of your creative or personal highlights and milestones last year? What lessons did you learn from your successes and/or failures? Finally, what are some of your goals for 2018?

34 thoughts on “Reflections on 2017, and What Matters More than Having the “Best Year Ever””

  2. Congrats on all you did this year! Getting feedback from betas for the first time can be sooo hard and discouraging but it also helps you grow so much. I love the sound of Storm already! And it sounds like you still had a pretty great year! I’m so jealous of your writing retreat but I’m glad you had an amazing time. I’m hoping to go to some conferences myself and maybe even a retreat this year and I’m also getting ready to send a new novel to betas in the next month or two. I’m so nervous that they’ll rip it apart and point out a million things I didn’t see but I’m also excited to know where I stand with this novel, you know?
    I haven’t commented in forever, but I still read your blog all the time and love it. I hope you have a great 2018!

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    • Thank you, Shay! 🙂 And no worries about lurking instead of commenting. In fact, you posting here reminds me that I haven’t checked in on your blog in a while. (*face turns bright red*)

      Yes, 2017 wasn’t such a bad year. Definitely a year of growth and learning, but the most important thing (I hope) was moving forward with those lessons in mind and putting them into practice. Hopefully that will lead to a stronger, more soundly built new story in the long run.

      It sounds like you have some exciting plans for the coming months. Good luck with the beta-reader stage and any traveling or conferences you’re hoping to attend this year! (Just curious, but do you have any particular conferences or retreats in mind?)

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  3. It started off shaky, but it turned out to be a good year. The great thing is that you kept writing and working despite feeling discouraged and battling your anxiety. And now you have a new WIP going and are back to writing poetry. That’s very inspiring. I wish you all the best and awesomeness in 2018.

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    • It definitely did start off that way. But if I had stopped writing because of it, I would have felt lost – and my anxiety would likely have been worse, too. So continuing to write gave me purpose and (maybe most importantly) an outlet for what I was going through at the time.

      Thanks for continuing to visit, Zezee, and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018 to you, too. 🙂

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  4. Happy New Year, Sara! You’ve really accomplished a lot this past year, despite rough times.
    2017 has been quite a year for learning and growing for me too. Learning more about health, foods, about writing, and growing in faith… I should write a few posts about it soon actually.

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    • Thanks, E. 🙂 Yes, it was definitely a year of growth, learning, and moving forward despite those obstacles and hard lessons. I hope you have some time to write your own thoughts about 2017 soon – I’d love to read them!

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  5. Great recap of the year, Sara. It was great to review many of your successes and challenges from the past year, many of which I remember, but when they’re all lined up, it amounts to a really wonderful year. Each obstacle you overcame was a huge accomplishment, and you had many great moments and events you attended. I hope the next year proves to be a wonderful year!

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    • Agreed – it was a good year overall. Sometimes the lows felt too low to overcome, and when you’re in the midst of a low point it tends to blind you (or dim? that’s more appropriate, right?) to the brighter, happier moments. But I hope that when future challenges come, I can apply what I’ve learned and come out stronger and wiser in the end.

      Best wishes to wish, Mandie, for a happy, healthy, and creative 2018! Though I think you’re already on the right track, with the short story that was recently published. 😉

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  6. I’m sorry I haven’t been so active in the comments section of your blog in 2017 but real life got in the way and all of the things I loved to do couldn’t fit in a day anymore. 🙁 I love this post with all my heart! It’s so honest and thoughtful and I really missed your writing voice.
    2017 was a tough year for me too, but it also had some great moments! I’m glad to learn that you’re doing better, anxiety-wise. Learning to see your writing in a positive way is definitely the key.
    Since I was absent for quite a while, I didn’t have a clue about Storm. It sounds really interesting and I can’t wait for you to finish drafting it! I will always be ready to read whatever you decide to write, Sara. I hope this helps your confidence. 🙂
    I don’t think I have a single poetry bone in my body and even if I did it’s buried too deep for me to find it now. But it’s good to know that you’ve restarted that. I know you had quite a few poems published in the past and that you will continue to do well in that form of writing. 🙂
    It sucks that you won’t be going to the writer’s retreat and conference again. But congrats on the new car (whenever you decide to get it)! 🙂 I hope 2018 turns out to be a much better year, health-wise and writing-wise. The change in blog schedule is totally understandable. Putting self-care above everything else is absolutely the correct choice. I’m sure your readers will be willing to accept the changes. Take care, Sara! 🙂 *hugs*

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    • Please don’t worry about that, Nandini. *hugs* Believe me, I know how transitioning from college to the working world and moving out on your own can be huge changes – though I didn’t do both in the same year! I hope all is a little less stressful now in your offline life.

      Yeah, Storm was an idea that came to me right before IWR and in the midst of the anxiety I was experiencing at the time. And then it turned into the project I really needed to get me through last year. And with the re-emergence of poetry… yeah, a few things have changed on the writing front. In terms of poetry submissions, I received a “no” from the contest I entered over the fall and am still waiting to still from one lit journal. I have a couple other places on my radar next, and one of them re-opens for submissions in February. So we’ll see how that goes. 😉

      I’d love to say that self-care and novel-writing are the only two reasons why I’ll be blogging less this year. But they’re not. :/ This week has been a lot busier work-wise than I’d expected, and I have a feeling it’s going to be that way for a while. So as long as that’s the case, I need to prioritize any writing time for the novel, poetry, and DIY MFA or WHW posts. If it means less time here for blogging (including responding to comments, as you can now see), then I guess that’s what it will have to mean.

      Well, that was a bit of a down note to end with. *lol* Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018 for you, Nandini! I look forward to reading more of your reviews at Unputdownable Books. 🙂

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      • I went on a hiatus because I couldn’t cope with work as well blogging and I also felt like I wasn’t putting quality content out. So yes, I completely understand why there needs to be a change in your blogging schedule.
        I’m moving on January 18th, although I’ll be moving most of the actual stuff on 21st. But since my family lives in the same city, it’s not an actual move. I’m just going to stay there during weekdays and come home for the weekends. Hopefully that’s going to impact in a positive way. I’m really looking forward to all the extra time I’ll get. I’ve missed pursuing my hobbies and I’m sure my health will take a turn for the better as well. 🙂
        It means so much to me that you look forward to my reviews. I recently had a conversation with my mom where she strongly suggested that I quit blogging as she believes it’s a waste of time and energy. I was not prepared for that and my mood just spiralled down from there. I decided to continue regardless and hopefully she feels differently about it as time passes.

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      • Oh, so the move is happening this week?? Good luck with everything! And remember to find moments where you can rest in between the busyness of moving. I was so tense and stressed during my move that, on top of coming down with a head cold days after moving in, I also developed a case of situational insomnia. :S Thank goodness that didn’t last too long.

        I know the feeling about people not understanding why we do the things we do. My family is starting to be more understanding and supportive of my writing, but in the past they used to question why I did it and call it a “hobby.” (*raises an eyebrow*) That doesn’t happen so much now… though I still remember my mother’s reaction to my writing the introduction to Alison’s cookbook. She said, “Are you sure she’s not going to take credit for it instead?” 😮 Which of course Alison isn’t, since she posted about it on her own blog and… um, well… my name is listed next to hers on the Amazon pre-order page. (*tries not to get too excited*)

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      • I’m so excited about Alison’s book! Congrats on that front, Sara. 🙂 I think I saw you adding it and added it to my Goodreads as well. It looks and sounds fabulous! I can’t wait! 😁

        Yeah, family can be really hard sometimes. I think the move is also going to make me feel better about all the creative work I do by the side since there’s no one around to judge me. I hope your family grows to accept you for who you are and what you do. ❤

        I’ll remember to take care and wind down a little after the move. I think I’m going to need quite a lot of rest for a week at least! Thank you for being so supportive and helpfully all the time. 😊

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  7. I love this post so much. It’s encouraging to see the big picture of your year, how a lot of good things happened even if it didn’t go the way you expected. I’m so glad you got to go to that conference in Iceland (which sounds AMAZING; I really need to go to a writers’ conference someday) and that you got back into poetry. That must be wonderful feeling. Also, I think it’s cool that although you didn’t publish or get closer to publishing your own book this year, you are getting to write the introduction to Alison Walsh’s book. You’ll get to see your name in a book at least, which is no small thing. =) I’m praying you have a productive and joyful 2018. ❤

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    • Thank you, Aberdeen. 🙂 And I wish you a very happy, healthy, and creative 2018 in return!

      I think one of the lessons I learned from the topsy-turvy past year was how I’m better off not having a set plan of what has to happen and when. Yes, I know what needs to be done, and the order in which I should take those steps – but I was trying to rush things by getting them done by a certain date. This year, I think, I’m going to concentrate more on the journey and less on the destination. Goals and dreams are important, of course, but how we achieve them counts just as much, right?

      Regarding the cookbook: I had a moment the other day when I was looking something on Amazon, and then typed in the cookbook’s title for the fun of it. And MY NAME SHOWS UP NEXT TO ALISON’S UM WHAT ALFJALKJFLKASJLKFJAKLFJKLAJFKLA. 😮

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  8. It was a real roller-coaster year, Sara. For what it’s worth, I was one of the beta-readers for TKC and there is great potential in the book with just a few glitches that need fixing up, which I think are entirely doable. And Himself also read it – all of it. And declared that despite some of the issues, it was very readable. So I do hope that in the fullness of time you will return to it. Though I think giving yourself an extended break is a good idea…

    In the meantime, I fully understand about your decision to cut back on the blogging and reluctantly, I think I’m going to be cutting back as well. Much as I love it, it takes chunks out of my time and now I need to write and edit more and blog less… All the best Sara – one of the reasons why cutting back on the blogging feels a wrench is I’ve been blessed with some wonderful blogging friends – like you. Hugsxxx

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    • I haven’t closed the door on TKC by any means – and I haven’t forgotten that you liked the story for the most part. 😉 But some of the other beta-readers pointed out other issues, and one particular plot twist didn’t go over well with most readers. So it’s not really a quick-fix case. If anything, I need more time to figure out how to make the story work differently than I’d originally planned. I also think I would have been more motivated to work on TKC if I hadn’t been struggling with YA fantasy as a reader. But that’s another story for another day…

      Of course, with my head so deep in Storm right now, it’s impossible for me to give much thought to TKC. I guess I really am a one-story-at-a-time writer. *lol*

      I honestly don’t know how you’ve managed to blog once a day for so long. Especially with all the different projects you have going on! But you know I understand, since I have to do the same. I wish I could say my cutbacks are because of self-care or more novel-writing time… But long story short, other responsibilities are encroaching on my blogging time, so I have to make some changes based on my priorities. :/

      Well, that was a sad note to end on, wasn’t it? XD Best wishes once again for a happy, healthy, and creative 2018 for you, Sarah. 🙂

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  9. Plans often don’t happen as we intend, sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not. It’s how we handle it that counts, and I think you’ve handled the changes to your hopes and plans for last year as well as anyone could. Anxiety can be a really hard thing to handle, and, I won’t lie, sometimes I do give in and crawl beneath the covers. At least for a little while.

    Everything that we write teaches us something and gets us where we need to go. I’m still not close to querying anything either, though I hope to be by the end of the year. Whether that goes to plan, or not, remains to be seen. I think I’ve said before, but Storming does sound like a really good premise.

    I’ve enjoyed visiting your blog for quite a while now, and I will continue to come back even if you have to drop posting to once a month. *hugs* to you too. And I wish you the best for this year. 🙂

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    • Thank you, VP. 🙂 We’ll see what happens with the blog as the year goes on. Between real life and focusing on my next DIY MFA (so I can meet my deadline), I’ve had to let a few things slide here lately.
      (Hence why it’s taken me a few days to respond to your comment.) I’m trying not to let it stress me out too much, but I feel such an attachment to this space – I want to have more time for it, but I don’t, and it kind of hurts. :/

      Anyways, thank you for your support. It means a lot to me. And your bits on plans working out differently, and how everything we write teaches us something that helps make the next project stronger…. I’m not sure how to respond to all that, because it’s so beautifully and honestly written, and because I agree with all of it. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else to know that it’s true. 🙂

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      • Sometimes we have to make hard decisions. And it sucks. Maybe in time you’ll have more time to come back to the blog. I had to abandon mine last year, but I’ve found a way back. *hugs*

        🙂

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  10. What a thoughtful look backward and forward. I imagine, looking back in x years’ time, you’ll agree that you ended up exactly where you were meant to be. What a journey! Storm sounds exciting – and who’s to say whether or not you’d have begun it if you hadn’t taken pause with TKC – or if it would have taken the same form. As ever, I’m so impressed with your commitment and dedication and sheer graft. And I wish you every happiness and success in the year to come – whatever form they take! We shall have to have a catch-up at some point… though I’ve not much creative spark to share. All those real life matters! I focused hard on business last year – and can see this year being similar, though I’m trying to set much better time-management practices in terms of handling my workload. I’ve lacked energy when it’s come to my own endeavours, and perhaps put too much into other people’s… But perhaps that’s an excuse at the end of the day. I’m finding it hard to find the will to write. But I know it’s what I want to do. I have so many other things to do, however, that it’s easy to let the time slip by without even trying. My days are full, and I’m happy – I think I’ll get back to it when the time comes, when the passion ignites once more and I can’t *not* any longer. 2018 is a blank canvas, and there’s much to look forward to! Including a holiday and a wedding, and potentially a new home that I actually own! So watch this space 🙂

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    • We should *definitely* catch up soon, Sara. In fact, was it around this time last year when we last chatted, after you had responded with your beta comments on TKC? Wow… But back to here and now: Maybe we can do something in February? Let’s continue to discuss via Facebook PM. 😉

      About your struggles with focusing more on other people’s endeavors than your own… That’s a bit of a recurring theme for you, I think. It’s something we’ve talked about before – but I do think that when it comes time for you to write something new, it’ll be a lot like The Night Butterflies. You’ll be so passionate about it that you’ll want to throw everything aside just for that. It will come, I’m sure.

      Thank you for your comments about the post, btw. And for believing in me. 🙂

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      • Always!

        Gosh has it really been a year?! That must be remedied! I’ve been in and out of the wilderness these past few months, but February I should be solely in civilisation, so that would be perfect 🙂 I’ll message you on FB! xxx

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    • It was a good year overall, yeah. It definitely had its challenges, but it had some nice surprises up its sleeve, too. All things to be grateful for in the end.

      Hope things iron themselves out for you soon if they haven’t yet, Bec. I know how stressful job-searching can be, especially when you’ve just graduated from university. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you – and in the meantime, do your best to stay positive and not give up. 😉

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  12. Your 2017 sounds like 2016. I know how much it sucks to lose confidence in your writing. I hope 2018 is a far better year for your writing! *hugs* 2017 in one word was definitely “healing.” I felt like most of 2017 was recovering from 2016. I’m not quite sure what I want out of 2018 yet. I feel like I’m still figuring that out. XD I do feel like I’m willing to push out more in my writing after having a year to recuperate.

    storitorigrace.blogspot.com

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    • Thank you, Tori! I hope so, too. And I think you have a good mentality going forward for your 2018. I hope you have a fantastic creatively and personally – and I hope to catch up on your blog soon now that you’re back from your hiatus! January has been kind of a crazy month so far for me, so I’ve had to let blogging slide the past couple weeks. :S

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  13. In a way, I think it was “the best year ever” for you (until, of course, the next best year ever comes). I firmly believe that happiness and successful life isn’t about not having struggles or darker moments, but in overcoming them and going forward despite the setbacks. To me, throughout the year, you’ve shown immense growth: you battled your anxiety and succeeded, you made bold decisions, and you moved forward instead of clinging to the past (to me being able to shelve a project – even temporarily – and move on) is one of the greatest steps. Especially that so many writers aren’t able to do it.
    In my eyes, at the end of 2017 you came out stronger, more focused, and all in all a winner. 🙂

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    • Wow. I hadn’t thought of it that way. And you’re right, success and happiness don’t always come with smooth sailing. Thank you for reminding me of that, Joanna. And for sharing an alternate perspective of the past year of my journey. 🙂

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  14. Pingback: Five Ways In Which Writing and Yoga Are Similar | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog

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