When I think of everything that happened in 2014, I’m a little speechless. It was huge for me. In the tradition of my posts Looking Back and Looking Forward in 2012, here’s a list of this past year’s accomplishments, and a few goals for 2015.
In 2014, I…
– Bought a motorcycle.
– Got Ruby registered as a Canine Good Citizen.
– Attended a writing workshop and met folks who have since become my most trusted colleagues and friends.
– Started freelance writing, a new career.
– Published a couple of personal essays, including Saying I Do, Saying Farewell.
– Got a book agent in New York City to represent me as an author.
– Quit my day job as a legal assistant.
– Became a contributing editor at Modern Loss.
– Left my apartment and Los Angeles, and drove 4500 miles in three weeks by myself.
– Moved to a rural area in upstate New York, a completely new environment and lifestyle.
– Wrote a first draft of book proposal for my memoir (working on second draft now).
– Adopted a new schedule, including getting up before sunrise to write (aka the Plath Hours).
– Developed my personal website www.nivadorellsmith.com (still working out the kinks, but it’s a start).
– Sent holiday cards to almost 75 people (more work than it sounds!).
– Signed up for a dating website (no dates yet).
– Started cooking again.
I don’t do resolutions, but I do write down a few big goals for the new year. I’ve accomplished many of my past goals, including starting a blog, adopting a dog, learning how to ride, getting paid to write, getting published, and living somewhere with more space.
In 2015, I want to…
– Sell my book.
– Get published in a major print magazine or newspaper.
– Start a video blog.
– Sell and/or produce a movie script or television series.
– Travel abroad.
I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on my writing career lately, but not as much on my film career. I see the next year or two as a period where the two will become one. My goal is to be a filmmaker who also writes books and articles.
Still up in the air is whether or not I will meet someone in the near future. In May, it will be four years since Kaz died. I haven’t been quite ready to let go yet, but I can picture it happening more now than I used to. Time will tell.
What did you accomplish in 2014? What are your goals for 2015?
Happy New Year, folks!
– Niva
Riding Bitch 