2023 Recap!

 

Alright so I totally forgot that I could use blogger when I'm not on my usual computer, so this post is a good deal later than I intended. I hope I did not entirely destroy your inboxes with notifications from the 12 days of Christmas... but I also hope you enjoyed it!

Anyways, here's my end of the year wrap-up post!

WRITING

So I was looking at my writing list and my first thought was, "have I seriously not finished a single story this year???" aaaaand then I realized... I have!!!

Thanks to my good writing buddy, Hannah, I finished a co-write of Heroes of the Sea, book four in the Heroes Saga, and possibly my favorite so far. We alternated writing chapters, and the final stats clock in at 44051 words, 189 pages, 2 long-lost cousins discovering each other, 5 adorable ships, and what should probably be 3 concussions but were actually 0. So YAY I did finish a book this year!

I did also start 10(?????) stories that have been paused somewhere in the middle. Last spring was the graveyard for awesome story ideas. Before the Heroes, More than Conquerors, Rangers of the West Haven, and Midnite Squadron: Assembling the Team (version 2) were all started, made it to about chapter 4-ish before dying (except Before the Heroes, because Hannah and I actually started it back in 2022, but I wrote like two and a half chapters for it in February so I'm counting it).

Out from the Stellular was my summer project, and it made it to chapter 8 before I decided I didn't like that I really had no idea what the plot was doing. Midnite Squadron: Assembling the Team (version 3) started up... and got about a chapter + prologue before I decided I didn't want to write Star Wars right then. Ganton got about the same before I decided I need to figure out what the story is doing. Heroes of the Six Lands was on fireeeeee until both Hannah and I fell into an almost month long writer's block.

Aaaaand then there's A Word Unbroken. And I could literally punch this story in the mouth until all of its teeth break and fall out. Okay maybe not literally, but you get my meaning. This story will not stay simple! The concept is already so freakishly complicated, can the plot at least not change every other chapter???????? Current stats: 75k words. 238 pages. So many character heartbreaks. 1 death fakeout, 1 death imminent. So many trust issues. TRILOGY POTENTIAL. HAPPINESS. I LOVE THIS STORY.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT DECIDED TO DO RECENTLY??????????

AWU is no longer a trilogy. It is going to be a standalone, most likely going to be called simply The Black Crystal. I decided I could only let Wren, Kel, and Garrin get kidnapped so many times before it got too repetitive. So yeah, I'm screaming a little.

Anwways, I've also written several short stories, none of which I really want to share right now since they're not my usual standard and I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing with them. I've started several other stories in da brain, along with a complete screenplay, so I is happy-ish.

But I have lingered on writing for wayyyy too long. 

Let's move along!

ART

Art was all over the place this year. I went through drawing phases, cross-stitching, repeat, loop-it yarning, back to the first two, a little bit of painting... ACK. However, I wish to showcase my drawn artwork at this time. My style has changed so much, but I am pretty happy with how it's all turned out!

READING

I read and reread a grand total of 135 books this year. This is one of the first years I have really kept track, so I am proud of myself! 15 of the new reads were five stars. My top 5 five star reads are as follows:

The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire

Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Hood by Stephen Lawhead

Defy by Tricia Mingerink

So, all in all, a rather chaotic year, but I'd expect nothing less from someone who named their blog "The Place of Chaos" (a.k.a. me). I'm looking at switching up my posting routine, maybe add in some new topics to replace maybe the "Random Ramblings" day, but we'll see! 

Let me know if there's anything you want to hear from me about, whether it's writing stuffs, reading randomness, trope opinions, art tips (not that I have many with my meh art), or whatever!

Thanks for reading! Good bye, y'all, and happy new year about a week late!