Accountability Response to 2023 Self.
Image contains a quote by Toni Morrison - “Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
Okay, bisssshhhh!!! It’s the end of 2024, and it’s time to answer to my past self and hold me accountable. If you want to read the 2023 original post, click me.
Now, the biggest question is,
“Did we do what the fuck we were supposed to do?”
Okay, without further delay—because it’s currently Sunday, 12/22/2024, at 11:43 AM—let’s jump in.
First question:
Did you set up your Shopify?
Nope, we went with Payhip instead. Shopify was a little too much for our AuDHD brain, and we couldn’t get over the initial learning curve to set up the shop. Payhip, on the other hand, was simpler and felt more familiar—especially since we spent hours building our website through Squarespace. Honestly, if we’d known about Payhip first, we probably wouldn’t have needed a separate website.
Long story short: we did it, bish!
Did you invest in getting office supplies so you can better ship your books?
Yep! Bookmarks, packaging, wrapping paper, microphones, desk tables, monitors, a thermal printer, and a label maker. We got it all!
We did it, bish!
Did you release two stories this year?
I released Supersized Bubblegum, a story about fat chicks gaining superpowers by chewing bubblegum while taking down a multimillion-dollar company.
That said, it was the only story I released, but it wasn’t the only story I wrote.
We finished Nectar & Honey, a novella for an anthology releasing next year. We also wrote five short stories that are currently being queried by lit magazines (and we won’t hear back until next year). On top of that, we decided to partner with some amazing authors to create a bomb anthology of speculative fiction, which is also dropping next year.
So, don’t feel bad because we didn’t get a second release. We’re just getting started, baby!
Are you finished drafting When Fire Meets Fire? Because we all know your readers want a completed series!
This one…we got about 60% done, but it wasn’t giving what it needed to give. We were super worried about that dreaded “meh” feeling with second books in a series.
So, we scrapped the whole thing. BUT we worked on a detailed outline for books two and three, and now it’s giving what it needs to give.
The plan is to finish the first draft next year, then drop the preorder for book two, because we’re that confident.
Did you save?
Nah, bish.
Were you kind to yourself this year?
Yes, bish! You know we go through hell with other people projecting their insecurities onto us—trying to make us feel small or “too much.” This year, we said, fuck that.
We stood tall, walked in our truth (even though we’re still figuring it out), and had fun rediscovering ourselves without other people’s expectations weighing us down.
Long story short: We’re doing us.
Were you your own biggest cheerleader?
Yes! It got rough, but we pulled through. We took some hard rejections this year that made us question our writing ability and identity as a writer. But instead of quitting, we went harder.
We invested in classes, took courses, and leveled up. Our writing has soared, and we’re connecting with the right people. If no one else is fighting for us, bish, we’ll fight for us.
Image contains a quote from James Baldwin - “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
Did you move? If not, why? If so, where did we move, and are we happier there?
YES, BISH!!! We’re out of that fucking apartment and moved to an entirely new state. I can’t say where—because who knows who’s reading this—but we did it!
The new apartment is bigger, better, and we have valet trash. VAL-ET TRASH, BISH! Are we rich? LOL nah, but we never have to take out our own trash.
The food is better, the environment is better, and we’re happy.
Did we attend at least one author meeting a month? (Zoom calls don’t count!)
Surprisingly, yes! We got involved with our local library and started attending in-person meetings with other writers once a month. We did it, bish!
Did we exercise at least three times a week?
Nah.
But! We did become more active, which led to some weight loss, and we’ve been slowly changing our eating habits. Instead of sugary breakfasts, we’re eating pears, drinking water, taking vitamins, and sometimes adding an orange.
Progress is progress.
Honorable Mentioned Wins:
When Blood Meets Earth is getting an audiobook! We’ve already contacted the narrator, and production starts in January.
We’re hosting an anthology with amazing authors, and the cover looks FIRE.
We’re comfortable identifying as Queer and aromantic. No need to overdefine it.
We let go of other people’s expectations, and it’s been freeing as hell.
Image contains quote, “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” by Maya Angelou.
Our stories are enough. We are enough. And we’ve found readers who love what we create.
To my 2023 self:
Thank you for not giving up. Because of you, I’m here today, thriving. We’ve accomplished so much, and we’re just getting started.
Love you, bish.
Image contains quote, “You are the change.”
