2024 Author Goals: A Q4 Check-in and Final Roundup

We're at the end of the year! That's hard to believe. Feels like just yesterday I was setting my beautifully reasonable goals for 2024.


As a reminder...


My official 2024 goals:

Finalize The Winner Takes It All for publication

Publish a poetry chapbook

Edit 6 manuscripts

Bonus: Draft The Plus-One Contract


My secret, bonus 2024 goals:

Publish A Necklace of Teeth with Dogleech Books

Finish drafting Loving Her Princess as Cassia King

Submit Loving Her Princess to NineStar Press or query

Edit 12 manuscripts

Bonus: Finish drafting TPOC

Bonus: Read 20 books


Here's how I did on these!


I revised, edited, and finalized Winner, and it was published on 29 October 2024.


Over the course of 2024, I published TWO poetry chapbooks -- The Orange and Pink Sunset and A Necklace of Teeth. I also drafted a third chapbook, Coal Hearted, and submitted it to a small press.


In 2024, I edited 13 manuscripts and a tarot guidebook! That's easily my busiest editing year since I went freelance.


In terms of writing this year:

I completely drafted (75k) Loving Her Princess.

I completely drafted (22k) Witch-Touched.

I drafted 20k of The Plus-One Contract.

I drafted 9k of Loving Her Duchess.

I got 9k into The Queen's Champion.

I completely drafted (6k) my short story for the Scholarly Pursuits anthology.

I drafted 12k of a secret pen name project.

Finalizing Winner for publication included adding 18k to the draft.

On my own time, I wrote over 20k on non-publishing fiction.


I started querying Loving Her Princess in mid-October. I'm currently working on an R&R.


I read 18 of 20 books. (That's published books only. I don't include clients' manuscripts.) I'd like to read more next year!


Witch-Touched was accepted to Lethe Press's Witchcraft In Your Lips novella collection.


And bonus things I accomplished this year:

I attended Sierra DeMulder’s Turn the Crystal poetry class.

I contributed items to 2 charity auctions.

I read tarot at a local bookstore once a month.

I revamped my author website.

I tabled at my first book fair.

I did my first writing experiment.

I participated in Swords, Sapphics, and Scribbles events, as well as the Order of the Written Word.

I matched up with a gem of a critique partner.

I published my first audiobook.

During all this, I held down a full-time job.


QOTD: How did you do on your 2024 goals?


(Next step is to set my 2025 goals, but that's another blog.)


Now go forth and make your dreams come true!


I believe in you!

For more writerly and adulty things, you can subscribe to this blog.


You can also follow me on TikTok ( @AuthorIvyLJames ), Instagram ( @authorivyljames ), Twitter ( @AuthorIvyLJames ), Facebook (" Author Ivy L. James" ), and YouTube (" Author Ivy L. James" )! I post about writing, writing romance specifically, adulting, my corgi Pippa Finn, and other fun.

MORE BY ME


The Orange and Pink Sunset (sapphic poetry chapbook):

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Read a few poems for free: The Orange and Pink Sunset: Poems from the Chapbook

Buy it from Amazon!


A Necklace of Teeth (queer rage poetry chapbook):

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Read a few poems for free: A Necklace of Teeth: Poems from the Chapbook

Buy it in print or in digital form from my publisher!


Make the Yuletide Gay (lesbian holiday romance):

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Read Chapter One for free: Chapter 1: “Good Sir, That's a Lotta Snow”

Buy it from my publisher or from your preferred digital store!

Listen to the audiobook!


Border Ctrl+Esc (queer MF marriage of convenience):

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Read Chapter One for free: "Chapter 1: In Which Internet Friends Become In-Person Friends"

Buy it from my publisher or from your preferred store!


The Winner Takes It All (sapphic rivals-to-lovers romance):

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Read Chapter One for free: Chapter 1: In Which Their Paths Cross Without Them Knowing It

Preorder from my publisher!


Love, Lorena (sapphic matchmaker/princess romance):

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.

Read Chapter One for free: "Chapter One: Guess Lorena Has to Go to Ìovoria Now"

Buy it from my publisher or from your preferred store!

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Published on December 31, 2024 08:29
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