Where has 2013 gone?

I swear it was 2005 yesterday.

When I finally sat down and took a deep breath after the release of Shards, I realized that it was December. I mean, I knew it was December, but I hadn’t really thought about what that meant. How January is right around the corner, how we’re almost ready to close the books on yet another year.

And how I hadn’t done many of the things I thought I was going to this year.

I mean, here, earlier in the year, I proclaimed that I was going to read all the books that I’ve never finished. And have I read a one of them? No, of course not. There was always more time to get around to that. Except now I’m out of time, and I’m not terribly motivated to shove in several 500+ page novels between now and New Year’s Eve.

Everyone makes New Years’ Resolutions, but I think creative types go a little insane. We don’t even do it consciously. I’ve spent a full 12 months getting Shards ready to go, and I think, by most people’s standards, outlining, rewriting, editing, marketing and releasing a significant-sized novel (I mean, it’s not 500+ pages, but it’s certainly above average) would look pretty snazzy on your List of Things I Accomplished This Year.

(It is pretty snazzy. I have a whole stack of Shards here waiting to go out to people who purchased autographed copies, and it is so pretty that I occasionally have to fondle a couple.)

(mmmmmm book)

But now that it’s out, and I’ve realized what time of year it is, I can’t help but think about what I didn’t get done. I mean, not only did I not finish any of those unfinished books, I’m only just barely going to hit my 50-book-a-year goal because I’ve been overdosing on easy-to-read cozy mysteries. I didn’t make any sort of progress on any of my other novels, and I haven’t even worked on a short story since, I don’t know, April, or possibly February.

I didn’t lose any weight, learn how to crochet, join a choir, or fix the godawful front garden.

Don’t be like me, friends. I know if I sat down and thought about it, I’d come up with plenty of things I did do. I got Shards done on time and initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. (The Kindle version even popped into the top 100–number 51–in mythology books for awhile.) I grew my freelance editing business to the point where I don’t really need to advertise anymore. We got the upstairs bathroom (unfortunately painted orange and yellow by the previous owners and slathered in all things rubber ducky-related) redone.

But man, where did the year go? I’m not ready for it to be 2014 yet!

How did 2013 go for you? Things you meant to get done? Things you did get done?

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