top of page
Writer's pictureIvy L. James

2024 Author Goals: A Halfway-Point Check-In

Updated: Jul 10

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!

 

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


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):


Make the Yuletide Gay (lesbian holiday romance):


Border Ctrl+Esc (queer m/f marriage of convenience):


Love, Lorena (sapphic matchmaker/princess romance):

8 views0 comments

Comments


Subscribe to the blog

bottom of page