Looking Back / Looking Forward

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