We're halfway through the year! Good job, us! (Yes, I had to look it up because I thought it was beginning of June. I’m bad at basic math.)

Here's what I posted on Instagram as my goals for 2024:

• Finalize The Winner Takes It All for publication

• Publish a poetry chapbook

• Edit 6 manuscripts

• Bonus: Draft The Plus-One Contract

That's a nice, reasonable list. I'm doing great on it -- Winner is in edits, The Orange and Pink Sunset is published, I've edited 6 manuscripts, and TPOC is at 19k/70k.

Here's the thing, though... I'm an overachiever.

Here's what I've done so far outside of that list:

• Find a critique partner (CP)

• Finish drafting "Fake Fiancée" short story

• Attend Sierra DeMulder’s Turn the Crystal poetry class

• Draft TPOC query letter and synopsis

• Draft Sword's End query letter and synopsis

• Start drafting Sword's End (it’s at 51k/75k) as Cassia King

• Start Cassia King social media (Instagram and Twitter) and email

• Start a Substack newsletter

• Read 11 sapphic books

• Revamp my author website

Check, check, and check! Except. Hehe. That's still not all.

Here are my other, secret, bonus goals (other things I'd like to accomplish before 2025):

• Publish A Necklace of Teeth, my queer rage poetry chapbook, with Dogleech Books

• Finish drafting Sword's End as Cassia King

• Submit Sword's End to NineStar Press

• Edit 12 manuscripts

• Bonus: Finish drafting TPOC

• Bonus: Read 20 books
  

Technically, yes, I realize that that's cramming A LOT into one year and it's arguably unreasonable for me to expect so much from myself while maintaining a full-time job, working an editing side hustle, promoting my author platform, spending time with family and friends, etc.

I know this.

But here I am.

One of these days I'll write a blog about having reasonable expectations of yourself, and it'll be as much for me as for you, but it is not this day.

QOTD: What are your 2024 goals, and how are you doing on them?

Now go forth and make your dreams come true!

I believe in you!

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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 things.

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!

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!

Border Ctrl+Esc (queer m/f 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!

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"

• You can buy it from my publisher or from your preferred store!