Wednesday, December 6, 2017

IWSG: Farewell to 2017

Can it really be the last IWSG post of 2017? The year flew by. Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this awesome group. Join in if you want. You can sign up here and visit lots of other participating blogs.

The optional question this month:
As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?

I guess I would spend more time on my fantasy writing and less on the romance side of my career. I felt like I didn't get much writing done, but looking back, I did complete three new novels. One less than I wanted but still not too bad.

My local writers' group held our group Christmas party last Saturday. We also went to a retirement party for the mayor of the town closest to us on Friday evening. On Sunday, I made Mac-n-Cheese for the kiddies after we decorated the Christmas tree. Needless to say, I'm watching the calories this week. I'm not a person who usually gains weight over the holidays, but it was a tempting three days of goodies. Still, it was wonderful to have all the children together to decorate the tree plus the new granddaughter. It's a time when I really see how much my kids love each other as they argue over placement of ornaments.

Christmas... is not an external event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart.
Freya Stark

Between now and the start of the new year, I'm going to organize my projects and my promotional plans and ideas. And of course, I can't wait to break out that brand new Old Farmer's Almanac Planner. I already have things written in it. In the meantime, I need lots of coffee for rewrites and outlining for what's up next.

TV land is drying up over the holiday season as usual. The Gifted has continued to keep me interested. The Good Doctor hasn't disappointed me yet. I like a medical show where everything doesn't always work out. More realistic when the patient isn't always saved. Looks like a lot of Netflix happening at my house for the next few weeks.

Last week also was a time of giving at our county libraries. They collected foodstuffs and took donations. It was also a great time to donate to the library itself. Perhaps even to gift a book in the name of a beloved teacher.


The news is awash with all kinds of accusations about sexual misconduct by people in power. It's all sickening and not at all surprising. Will it ever stop? As parents, we need to educate our children, boys and girls, about respectful behavior. I hope I've taught my daughter to take no s**t. 


We're expecting a bit of snow this coming weekend. Traffic in all the places I have to shop is already bad. PA has terrible roads and there's also still some summer roadwork that is messing things up.

Would you change something you did in the past year in terms of your writing? Suffering from holiday TV hiatus time? What good causes do you donate to at this time of year? Did you get the LotR reference?





28 comments:

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I hope you get all your writing projects organised so that you can jump into 2018 writing.
All the best, and I wish you a safe crossover into 2018.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Natalie Aguirre said...

I think you have had a fantastic year writing three books. I wish I could write one, but I have a day job writing, busy blog, producing plays for my boyfriend, etc. Hope you enjoy the holidays!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I might gain a pound or two in December, but I'm always prepared to scale back in January and get back to where I need to be.

Three books is really good. I wrote one story. LOL

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

3 books?! Wow! I would consider that a huge accomplishment.

Our traffic is bad now that it's the "snowbird season" here but at least we don't have to contend with driving in snow. :)

Stephen Tremp said...

Hi Susan great quote! I love Christmas it is a piece of our home we carry with us.

Bish Denham said...

I'd say completing three novels is quite impressive! I didn't even finish getting my one novel edited. But I'm not beating myself up because life got in the way. Have a most wonder Christmas and New Year.

Pat Hatt said...

Got everything done I wanted to do this year, except maybe become a millionaire haha Tv land sure is drying up indeed. Having all the kiddos together has to be fun. Ugg to the predator a-holes, throw them all in a hole.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I got the reference!
I bet that is mass confusion with all of your kids decorating the tree.
About to be a wasteland, but there is NetFlix. And Pluto with all the RiffTrax and MST3K you can handle!

Nick Wilford said...

Completing three novels is "not getting much writing done"? I'd like to live in that world. One a year is good going for me! Congrats on your progress!

Tamara Narayan said...

I did not get the LOTR reference. Thanks for clearing that up!

When it comes to Christmas ornaments, I'm the one rearranging their placement until everyone wants to throw me out of the house. It sucks being a Virgo.

My big accomplishment for the year in writing was finishing the editing of a novel and querying it. Plus starting a new novel.

In TV, I've been watching The 100 on Netflix and enjoying the heck out of it. I've got my eye on The Dark and I've heard Mudbound and Godless are worth a look.

The ousting of sexual predators from their jobs is fascinating in a car wreck kind of way. It's perplexing that Trump seems immune, but it's much tougher to fire a president than fire an actor I suppose.

M.J. Fifield said...

I understood that reference! (Which, is in itself, a reference.)

Three novels in one year sounds like a fantastic accomplishment to me. If I could get one book done in three years, I would be happy.

I haven't watched The Gifted, but I have been enjoying The Good Doctor.

Hope the rest of 2017 treats you and your family well!

cleemckenzie said...

It sounds as if your year was full of excellent accomplishments. Mac and Cheese is an excellent holiday food. Indulge. Enjoy.

Patsy said...

There are things I could have done better in 2017 - maybe that'll happen in 2018?

Cherie Reich said...

That's great about completing three novels! I'm enjoying The Gifted, but I need to catch up on the last two episodes. Here's to a productive 2018!

Chrys Fey said...

You completed three novels? That is awesome. Definitely a lot of writing right there and much to be thankful for and proud of. :)

Julie Flanders said...

Wow that's wonderful you completed three novels. Congrats! And I love the Christmas quote - so true. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

3 books is great!

J E Oneil said...

I think three books is super impressive. Good luck with all your end of the year plans :)

Diane Burton said...

3 books! Wow, that's super. Best wishes for a productive 2018.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yes, I got the LotR reference and laughed for quite a while. I don't know why, but it struck the right funny bone. :)
I am thankful for the end of 2017. I'm thankful for the coming of Christmas break and all that means.
Oddly, it's the rainy season here (winter in the Northwest near Seattle) that's the "ideal" time to do dig holes in the ground so we have some of that going on at a nearby intersection as preparation for a roundabout. All the electric lines, cables, and other things are getting re-routed underground.
BTW - Way to go on your writing! Merry Christmas!

messymimi said...

Three novels in a year! To me that is astouding. Hope you are taking time to have a Merry Christmas!

Yawatta Hosby said...

Wow, 3 novels, that's awesome! Keep up the good work. You'll finish the 4th one when you're ready. I'm like you--planning a writing schedule and organizing my promotions for 2018. Good luck with 2018!

Keep smiling,
Yawatta

dolorah said...

So cool that you are such a planner. I am discovering that I need to get serious about my writing and plot out some things around it. I've been malingering way too long.

I've given up on the news. Too depressing.

Juneta key said...

Congrats on all the writing.

Jo said...

Glad you got so many books finished. I am not sure I really believe this sudden spate of sexual harassment accusations. Very difficult to prove isn't it? It's a he says she says situation.

Our libraries are free which is good, I hope it encourages everyone to read.

Merry Christmas.

Fundy Blue said...

Loved the reference to LOTR, although I missed it on my first read through. I think completing three books is awesome! Way to go, Susan! All the best in setting your plans and goals for 2018!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - always good to be able to unwind and take stock ready for next year. So glad you had the start of many happy times with the family and your latest addition ... grand-daughter ... special times - cheers Hilary

Elizabeth said...

Three finished novels sounds great to me!
I love that Christmas quote :) I'm so behind on my TV right now that I hope I can use the hiatus to catch up. The Gifted is one of my favorites this year.