It’s Never too Late to Start Over

Happy 2022, friends! I say this with the voice of optimism (and the hope the world doesn’t shut down again because of you-know-what.) I’ve seen a lot of New Year themed posts the past week, as you have no doubt, too. I’ve seen folks talk about goals, and resolutions, and the anti-resolution posts who don’t fancy the pressure of goals. To all this, I say: you do you. If you thrive under pressure, set those goals! If you clam and cramp up under deadlines, find another way to trick your brain into productivity.

Personally, I need goals. I don’t always meet them, but oftentimes I do. Whether I meet my goals or not, it’s the setting of intentions I like best. It’s writing something down with a pen on paper. Something you can look back on, months later, to see what you were able and unable to accomplish. After this past year where I struggled to do anything besides survive the trials of my real-life tribulations, I’m a lot more forgiving of myself.

I no longer beat myself up for not accomplishing what I set out to do or compromising in order to keep up my emotional and interpersonal health. Like I tell my six-year-old, so long as you try your best, that’s what counts. These days, I am trying my best to do better in every aspect of my life. With the mental and emotional room to turn to business and the business of writing, I’m approaching 2022 with a fresh attitude.

No matter what happens, I plan to continue writing and finding alternative routes to publish. A few things I’ve already set in motion?

Got my personal/family finances under control.

I had to put aside my pride and reach out for help on this one. And while this may not seem like it’s related to writing, it has everything to do with my peace of mind. I’ve carried so much stress being the sole provider for my small family, and completely unable to do anything to attempt to make more money with writing. I know I’m not the only one in this boat, and I feel like I lost a year just trying to survive each week (not to sound too dramatic). This past week, I finally got all our ducks in a row, so I don’t need to worry about how I’m going to pay for my baby. I can finally take my son to the doctor again for a checkup. Or if he gets sick, without panicking about throwing a Ben Franklin at his pediatrician for out-of-pocket… Kay, rant over! Moving on 😉

Created a Ko-fi page!

This is mostly for Blackbriar Cove at the moment, though I hope to use this platform to help raise enough for future projects. I picked Ko-fi over something like Kickstarter or Patreon because it’s low-key. And I’m not so sure I’d be able to keep up steady content on top of what I already create with my books + fanfics. I didn’t go into my Ko-fi with much confidence. Surely other people needed funds for reasons much more serious than mine. Well, color me surprised! Thanks to the lovely people who contributed, I’ve been able to pay for an edit of Blackbriar. This may not seem like a big deal, but y’all, it’s huge for me. It’s allowing me to bring a project that’s lingered in 2-year production hell back to life. In many ways, I’m starting my author business over, but it feels good to be able to begin.

All of this may sound small in the grand scheme of things. But every step in the journey counts. And there really is something to be said of having relief. Of not being afraid of how you’re going to cover groceries, medical, and house bills. Of the freedom to create again without guilt. These are temporary fixes. They won’t last forever, but they are threading the needle as I work toward creating more stability for my kids and the future.