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2018 has been a year, right? Sometimes it feels like it’s lasted half a decade and then other times… no, it actually just feels like it’s been the longest year of my life. Overall, it was a pretty successful one, though.
I read some good books, did a bit of writing (including winning NaNoWriMo!), and traveled to weddings around the country. (We traveled for other reasons, too, but mostly for weddings.)
Since this blog is part-inspiration for others to become their own heroines and part-diary, I thought it would be nice to take a moment to look back at last year before thinking forward to my goals for 2019. Ready?
An Aspiring Heroine
Posts Published: 17, including this recap
Words Written: 25,877
Most Viewed Post Published in 2018: Drinking Around the World at Disney World’s Epcot: Beer Drinker’s Edition
I’m not surprised at all by this because readers (and Pinners!) love my posts about Disney World.
Most Viewed Post Published Any Year: The Ultimate Disney World Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt
More Disney, more readers (and subscribers to my email list).
Best Viewed Writing Post from 2018: Creating a Minimalist Outline in Scrivener
I’m glad readers enjoyed this post because it was a blast to write. I’m such a fan of Scrivener now that I’ve used it consistently for over a year, and it’s nice to know other writers are getting good use out of the free Scrivener template from this post.
Best Viewed Travel Post from 2018: The Best Week in Japan
I would go back to Japan in a heartbeat, and I am super proud of this huge post with recommendations for food, sightseeing, and perfect little moments in this beautiful island nation!
Best Viewed Lifestyle Post from 2018: Self Care for Young Professionals
“Lifestyle” is such a catch-all category that tends to encompass my posts for young professionals, bookworms, and anyone else who finds their way to An Aspiring Heroine.
Goal for 2019
Write 50 blog posts
(Not as many as the 102 (!) I published in 2015 but still a good number to strive toward.)
Reading
Books Read: 36
Pages Read: 13,802
This year, I just met my Goodreads goal. You can find everything I read, including my “year in review” there, but here are a few of my favorites.
Favorite Book of the Year: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Favorite Children’s Book of the Year: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Favorite Nonfiction Book of the Year: Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Goal(s) for 2019
Read 50 books
Pretty ambitious since I’ve held steady at ~40 for the past two years, but I’m willing to give it a shot!
Read more diversely in 2019
I want to read books by more women, more people of color, more queer authors. Reading gives us the ability to take a peek at worlds and experiences unlike our own, and I want to be intentional as I choose what makes the TBR pile this year.
Writing
Words Written: 53,631
○ Imbolc: 50,067 words
○ Wyvern: 3,564 words
You can visit my Writing page to read a little more about my current projects and check out my inspiration boards on Pinterest.
Goal(s) for 2019
Finish first draft of Imbolc
I had intended to finish the first draft right after winning NaNoWriMo, but as usual, I was burnt out on writing. It’s difficult to go from writing basically never to writing an average of 1,667 words each day for an entire month. So my current goal is to spend January and February writing until I’m done with my first draft (and keeping up with my editorial calendar for this little Internet space).
Outline and write the first draft of Wyvern
In the spring of 2018, after another disappointing NaNoWriMo experience, I had one of those insanely creative days when an idea just came to me. I haven’t done a full outline of the story yet, but I know a few of the characters (including a cute, baby wyvern named Artichoke) and where they’re heading. I’d love to finish up with Imbolc and then let it hang out for a bit while I work on Wyvern.
Win NaNoWriMo
I’ve never “won” NaNo two years in a row, and I want this to be the year! Who knows what I’ll be writing at that point, but I’m excited to figure it out and do my best to have another 50,000+ November.
What are the goals you’re setting for 2019? Let me know below, and we can be accountability partners for the next twelve months!
P.S. If you’re looking to write your own writing goals, I have a guide just for you!
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