*2017 : The year of Jill getting her groove back*

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something. So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” ― Neil Gaiman

2016 will be remembered as the year I started writing again. It has been a learning experience, taking my writing to another level. I ended the year with a sense of accomplishment – a good portion of the first draft of my current WIP composed and I have completed my degree!

A new year is always started with resolutions, but this year I decided to focus on setting goals and devising a plan on how to get there. Seeing how well a comprehensive layout has improved my writing, I am hoping that my carefully crafted homemade monthly planner can do the same for me personally. It covers all aspects of my life and the goals for each: family and friends, love life, self-love, health, fun and adventure, legacy, career, reading and then of course, writing.

My reading goals are pretty basic – read 52 books this year in conjunction with completing the following book challenge:

• A debut novel
• A novel published between 1900 – 1950
• A book you’ve read before
• A fantasy novel
• A book which has been banned
• A book with one of the four seasons in the title
• A book with a cat on the cover
• A Bestseller from a genre not usually read
• A book involving travel
• A book involving a mythical creature
• A bestseller from 2016
• A book published in 2017
• A book of more than 800 pages
• A book purchased on a trip
• A book loved in your youth
• A steampunk novel
• A young adult novel
• A book chosen purely based on its cover
• A book translated from another language
• A book adapted into a movie

As for my writing goals, when first composing the list I felt way too ambitious but luckily I quickly came to my senses remembering that the first step is to set attainable goals.

So my writing goals for 2017 are:

Finish the first draft of my WIP – all the way through.

Do the full layout for the next project

Learn to write like a professional

Develop solid writing habits

Build my brand as a writer

Focus on building the writing career of my dreams

Oh… and NaNoWriMo

So far 2017 has been off to a slow start, recovering from the festive season, getting settled back in at work and the kids at school and finding a new routine that works for us but I remain positive as each little bit of progress will add up to bigger results.

*Wishing all my fellow bloggers and followers a happy and prosperous new year.*

“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” – ― C. JoyBell C.