The journey to come: What’s new in 2022
Hello and welcome to 2022! It might feel like groundhog today but I, for one, intend to grab this year by the horns and make some exciting changes. In this post, you’ll find out what to expect from me in 2022, and what my main goals are for the next 12 months!! →
New year, new me!
Well hello again everyone, and welcome to 2022! I know we’re only two weeks in, but it already feels a bit like groundhog day, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, I intend to take this year by the horns and try to make the best of whatever it throws my way. As we ease (or throw!) ourselves into the next 12 months, I think the most important thing we can do is take care of ourselves, look out for each other, and be kind to our fellow humans.
To start things off on a positive note, I’d like to share with you all my brand new profile picture…
Isn’t it amazing?! This is something I’ve been thinking about doing for a while, but when I decided to set up my own publishing business and start publishing my books, I knew it was time to bite the bullet. I’m very wary when it comes to sharing photos online, so I thought an illustrated profile was the perfect compromise to make things a bit more personal. I commissioned this particular piece from the wonderful @andra.mdesigns. What better way to celebrate the new year than with a brand new “me”? 😁
What to expect from me in 2022
Change is hard and sometimes makes me anxious. Like, just changing the format of my sub-headings for this post had me on the edge of my seat. But given the goals I’m working towards, I need to shake up my approach to managing my various online platforms. Here’s a few things you should know about what will happen on this site in 2022:
I WON’T be blogging much. Never fear, I’ll still be providing my quarterly updates and key announcements about the publication of Holding Up the Sky (late 2022), but you’ll see fewer content posts from me so I can invest my time elsewhere. So no blogging goals or targets this year!
I WILL be starting a newsletter. I literally just made this decision a few hours ago, but all my research tells me this is the way to go. My day job has given me some experience with newsletters, and I’m looking forward to making new and meaningful connections. Watch this space!
I PLAN to engage more with you. Last year, I really dropped the ball on interacting with others on their websites and blogs, and this is something I’d like to rectify. Keep an eye out for a new stalker (a.k.a. me) on your platforms in the coming weeks and months. I’ll try to be there!
My goals for the year
This year, I have set myself four goals—three very firm, one fairly loose—and they are more than enough to occupy me in the months ahead. Along with my online platform overhaul, which is part of me setting myself up to publish my first book, my key targets will certainly keep me on my toes. Here is what I’m working towards in 2022…
Publish Holding Up the Sky. As you probably know by now, I will be publishing my contemporary YA novel Holding Up the Sky in late 2022 through my new publishing imprint Southscript Press. There’s so much to do that this goal is probably worth about 20 goals, but I’m keeping things simple. You can add this book on Goodreads now!
Send First the Song to beta readers. Finishing draft 2 of First the Song (Graceborn #2) was my goal in 2021, which I got nowhere near achieving, so it’s back on the cards for this year. My current projections are that I’ll have the draft completed in late July, so I hope to send it out to betas in late August. But we’ll see how it goes!
Start writing Blood of Old draft 3. I’m fully prepared for this goal to fall over, but I would be super pleased if I could make a start on the third draft of Blood of Old (Graceborn #1) this year. After receiving some very useful feedback in 2020, I’m keen to incorporate it into the story and start getting this manuscript ready to send to an editor!
Read at least 25 books. Since I didn’t reach my reading goal in 2021 either, I’ve decided to lower the bar for this year. I have a feeling I’ll actually read a fair bit more given my progress so far, but it is only January. My 2022 Goodreads challenge has been set at a modest 25 books and I don’t plan on changing that regardless of what happens from here.
What are your goals for 2022? Are you planning any big changes or will you just take things as they come? Is there something you want to get out of the year ahead?
Rebecca Alasdair
I'm an Australian indie author who hoards books, loves dogs and coffee, and has a tendency of staying up all night!
14 Comments
Alex
Hi Rebecca!
” I think the most important thing we can do is take care of ourselves, look out for each other, and be kind to our fellow humans. ” So true. I agree. I haven’t done the best job of taking care of myself. I need to get better at that. I’ve taken some small steps. But, I need to do more.
The new profile pic is awesome! Andra did a great job! I can relate to how you feel. I don’t like posting pics of myself and I decided that if I publish, I won’t have an author bio or photo (I’m okay if only a few people buy my book and I only want to hit the milestone more than anything else). So, I can relate to what you said about not feeling comfortable about sharing photos – I’m a private person myself.
Change is hard, but you have some nice goals. I look forward to your quarterly posts :).
I’m excited for your newsletter! 🙂 I’m stoked :D. Awesome that you’ll engage more too 🙂 :).
Go Rebecca!!!! I added your book to my Goodreads 🙂
You can do it. You’ll get First the Song ready for betas!
You’ll start writing Blood of Old draft 3 and do fabulous! I believe in you. Go Rebecca!
And you’ll hit your 25 book goal! You got this! :). I’m excited for you and I have faith in ya :).
I will likely take things as they come.
My goals:
– Develop a good running routine. I started off well but then tapered off. Need to run again and develop a consistent run routine;
– Finish my fanfiction (and I have been writing daily since January 8, so I feel good);
– Start working on my rewrite of my superhero story;
– Read 15-20 books (especially novels and novellas, but I’ll count a couple graphic novels too); and,
– Get back to editing my main short story.
I also hope to be kinder to myself. Great question about what I hope to get out of the year. I’m not 100% sure. But, I just want to be happier, develop more confidence, and really embrace the artistic side of myself (not just drawing but also writing) and enjoy life.
Rebecca Alasdair
Thanks so much Alex!! Your continued support means a lot! I love your list of goals. Enjoying life the best you can should always be #1.
Getting into a good exercise routine (well, ANY exercise routine) is one of my personal non-writing goals for the year too! So hard to get motivated at the moment though… 😅
Alex
You’re always welcome, friend 🙂 You’re a kind friend and I believe in you :)! You’re right – we have one life to live here, might as well as enjoy it as much as I can. Thanks for the reminder :).
Haha it is hard. But maybe you can start off small? Like maybe you can go for a walk during your work breaks in the day? Perhaps a 15 minute walk at the very least, a day? 🙂 Then build up from there. I believe in you 🙂 :).
Rebecca Alasdair
Thanks Alex! I’ll get there eventually! 😅
Alex
Just do your best. And know that I’ll encourage you 🙂 GO REBECCA! 😀 You got this.
Energyflux2012
Nice goals. I have similar, with getting Blade of Dragons ready for publication, and sending out Heart of Dragons to betas. Need to rewrite Soul of Dragons (book #3) too, and building my own mailing list newsletter. Good luck, Rebecca. And that profile pic looks great 👍.
Rebecca Alasdair
Ah thank you!! There’s always so much to do, isn’t there? When your book 2 is ready for betas, let me know—I’ll be on board for sure! 😊
Tomas
Good to see you’ve decided to be generous to yourself with the reading goal 🙂 I’ve noticed your new picture on GR a couple days ago. I’m curious to see how you’ll do with a newsletter because that’s something I’m on the fence with myself – it’s something that can be powerful when done well, but the “done well” part is a major hurdle for many people.
As for my goals… finishing book two is unlikely, but I’d like to get as close as possible and start some early work on book three. I plan to move in spring, so that may throw all my plans out of the window anyway. So I will mostly just improvise on the go. Feel welcome to lurk around and watch my progress 🙂
Rebecca Alasdair
Yes the newsletter one is interesting. It does require quite a bit of thought and effort to make it effective, particularly as a marketing tool, but I’d like to give it a shot. 2022 will probably be a bit of a trial year for me and build on it into the future.
All the best with the moving! I’d definitely plan for things to get thrown out the window for a time—that’s what happened to me—but you know what? That’s fine. It’s an exciting life development and you should threat it as such!! 😊
Tomas
Yep, and I plan to be nice to myself this year, because of the unpredictability. That said, I will try to broaden my horizons (and skills) when I can.
Rebecca Alasdair
All the best with it!! 😊
Andrew McDowell
I may have mentioned these before, but I want to try to get into a writing routine, complete at least one more book (ideally Mystical Greenwood’s sequel), and get more ratings/reviews for Mystical Greenwood and the anthologies I’ve been featured in.
Rebecca Alasdair
Excellent goals, Andrew! I hope it all goes well for you 😊
Andrew McDowell
Thanks, Rebecca. Best of luck with your goals!