Reminisce

The year is nearly over and I guess it's hard not to look back over the year and ponder what has, or hasn't, been in 2013. At the start of the year we had only just moved to Canberra and were still finding our feet. I thought the year ahead would be more about settling Heckle and Jeckle in to their new lives, fixing up the things in our new house that needed it, and unpacking those last stray boxes lurking in the corners of the house.

Little did I realise that 2013 had a totally different year planned for me.

So we still have stray boxes in the corners of the house, which still has a long to do list of things that need fixing up. Heckle and Jeckle have settled, although it was a bit of a bumpy ride. And I have a job. One of those ones that "lands in your lap". A very busy job that takes up many, many hours of my week. Thanks to the job I think the only thing I did manage was helping Heckle and Jeckle to settle in - I was trying to settle in to my new role at the same time.

With luck, and fingers crossed, 2014 and I will be more on track with where I am headed. The house is still high on the list of things to do, but maybe, with luck, my writing will feature more prominately as well.

Half the fun of looking ahead is in the anticipation, and I can't wait to see what does happen in 2014.

Are you looking forward to the new year?

My 2013 goals

Last week I talked about my writing goals, which really had nothing to do with the fact it is the beginning of the year and everything to do with the fact the dramas of the last 6 months are over.

Now normally I don't do New Year Resolutions, but Heckle decided the family needed to sit down and each set some for 2013. So we did. We wrote them and then shared them. The Hub has resolved to do more outdoor family activities (like camping), Jeckle wants to play everyday with his big brother, while Heckle wants to have a set daily routine (his mother's son *grin*) and improve his behaviour (which is actually pretty good anyway, but I wasn't going to dissuade him).

As for me, I was careful to set two resolutions I'm pretty sure I can meet without too much drama. The first was to spend more time having fun with my family. Not that I haven't but the last couple of years have been pretty full on, and I feel I haven't done as much with them as I have wanted to.

The second was to make time for me. Again, with the craziness of the last few years I've pushed myself to the bottom of the pile. 2013 is going to turn that around.

To be honest, it's been a few years of total chaos, finishing with a complete change of life for us in late 2012. But I really believe that change heralds the start of a much more peaceful time in our lives (and I am going to hang onto that belief for as long as I can!!). I guess only time will tell.

What about you? Did you set any resolutions for 2013?

My Writing Goals

My writing goals usually run from September through until August (based on Romance Writers of Australia's contest year). Unfortunately, the day after the annual RWA conference was the day we discovered we were packing our bags and moving 1,600km south for The Hubs work.

So rather than thinking about goals (or writing, for that matter) I was readying our house to sell, packing, house hunting and moving. Then followed the resettling of Heckle and Jeckle into a new school, sports etc. Follow that up with Christmas and the last 4 months have slid by without any resemblance to the routine I was used to.

Finally I seem to have some time to me again. So here are my goals for the rest of my writing year:

1. finish editing my Emerald entry in case it makes round 2
2. finish the first draft of the manuscript (and edit) started back in mid-2012
3. submit manuscripts

Not extensive, but achievable.

What are your goals for 2013?