Happy New Year! 

Wow, I can’t believe I haven’t written an article since last year! (Sorry, but I just had to make that joke…)

In any case, I find myself really excited to go into 2025. I don’t have a ton of resolutions, but there are plenty of projects and goals that I’d like to accomplish throughout this year.

But before I talk about this year’s goals, let’s go over my goals from last year…

2024 Goals

Last year I kept things pretty simple. These were my goals:

#1 Start a podcast

#2 Read a minimum of 25 books

#3 Get published at least 4 times

#4 Love what I write (despite inevitable imperfections)

So, how many of these goals did I accomplish?

One.

I didn’t start my podcast yet, I only read twenty books out of twenty-five, I was only published twice, and it took me three quarters of the year before I really learned how to love what I write.

So, what now? Am I a failure as a writer and as a person because I couldn’t reach the goals I set for myself? Should I have lowered my expectations and given myself goals that were even easier?

No…to all of that.

Flipping The Narrative

Last year started off pretty rough. Right after creating that short list of goals, things took a turn for the worst. 

Between family emergencies, plummeting mental health, and various other issues, I went from feeling ready to take on 2024, to having trouble getting out of bed each morning.

Despite everything that happened last year, I made so much progress in both my writing and life.

No, I didn’t start my podcast. But I did write thirty-one articles, appear on someone else’s podcast and YouTube channel (twice). 

No, I didn’t read twenty-five books, but I did read twenty, and I enjoyed each one of them!

No, I didn’t get published four times. But I did get published twice.

In January, my story The Voice Within was published in the Lawless anthology, and in September I published A Traitor’s Vow, the sequel to The Librarian’s Ruse.

In addition to all that, I posted over 137 Instagram posts and reels, edited and published The Dragonslayer’s Birthright here on my website, created another book of fantasy prompts, took on a few editing and proofreading jobs for clients—and so much more.

Setting Goals to Inspire

One thing that I’ve learned throughout the last few years is that goals are important for me to thrive.

I need to keep challenging myself to move forward. 

If I shoot an arrow but I don’t aim at a target, chances are that I’m going to miss—and miss badly.

But if I do aim at the target, then even if I fall short and don’t get a bullseye, I’ll still get an arrow somewhere on the board. 

And just like with archery, even if I don’t end up achieving the goals I aim for, I’m guaranteed to at least achieve something. And that’s important.

So this year I’m going to continue aiming.

My Goals For 2025

I still want to start my podcast, and I’m once again going to try to read at least twenty-five books.

As for publishing, I don’t see myself publishing more than two books this year (including the third and final book in the Adventures In Eldnaire trilogy), but I want to have at least three finished and self-edited novels ready to go through the publication process by the time 2025 is over.

I’m also planning to take on a few more clients for my editing and proofreading services.

And alongside my podcast, I plan to start posting videos to my YouTube channel.

Continuing The Journey

I don’t expect that this year will be perfect, or that I’ll achieve every single goal I have. 

But I do know that if I put the time and effort into my goals, I will reach a lot of them.

God has taken me on quite the journey over the past six years. And at this point it’s clear to me that I’m on the right path—even if this path isn’t easy, or always fun.

I know that right now I’m slowly learning and developing the skills that will turn me into the person who God created me to be.

So that’s why I’m excited about 2025. 

I have my goals, I know I’m on the right path, and I fully intend to keep moving forward.

Before You Go…

Do you find that having goals inspires you, or are they more likely to overwhelm you? Do you have any goals for 2025?

I’d love to hear about them! Let me know down in the comments!