< This was 2023 goals, but my goals for this year are same >

♡  I want to finish writing two books
(3 if I'm feeling goofy)

♡ I want to reach 3k followers

♡ I want to write without obligation and be kinder to myself

♡ I want to read more

— PATIENCE IS KEY. I tend to rush myself faster than I can catch up. Then I doubt my progress or compare my progress to someone else when all journeys are different. I must learn to slow down and go at my own pace. Do what works best for me.

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— PLANNING. If there's one thing I do, I force myself to do everything and still get nowhere. Or I spend weeks wondering what I should when my brain wants to do everything.
            ↳ I discovered working on two published books and the third one (maybe 4th) offline works best. Because I have many ideas, alternating between books helps keep that spark. And having an extra book to write offline helps so that I don't feel pressured to update, and can go at my own pace. Then it isn't a chore, but pure fun! ( But I must set realist goals because I'm famous for making unfulfilled promises )

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— REST. I've gotten into the habit of writing everyday that when I wanna take a break to relax, ideas are spiraling that I MUST write it now or never.  To the point I get headaches...and still force myself to do it. (If much of this is giving adhd, I've recently discovered it's possible)
            ↳ Resting not only helps bring new aspects on writing, but it's overall needed. Important. Even if I gotta turn my phone off and give it to a friend or sibling to hide, and bury my laptop under heavy items, I gotta rest.

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— ACTIVE. I'm naturally active and truly enjoy reading all kinds of books and letting the author know I enjoy their work. Even if I'm silently reading, I'll vote and might pop in a few times with a comment or two or comment on the last chapter. Just treating people the way I wish to be treated. Ofc with no obligations.  But normally when I'm active, that's how I gain followers.
                    ↳ TBH Followers aren't important to me, but I love active people and interacting with people in general. Many of my followers are from years ago and most aren't even online anymore😓, so with new followers, I hope to find opportunities to chat more and as well discover new writers and down the line, good friends.

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— WRITING is my favorite hobby, hopefully a career, but I must remember why I started writing in the first place. For myself. To write books I want to read. Don't get me wrong, popularly is really nice — and comes with a lot — and I'm sooo fucking grateful for the attention my books are finally getting, but I'm my biggest fan as well as the standard audience. If it's not pleasing me and myself, then I won't and can't do it. Even if 1 person loves my work sooooo much it hurts, if I don't love it then it don't matter.
                    ↳ But while doing this, I can be very hard on myself. Sometimes for no reason. As creative as I am and confident of my worth, I am the biggest doubter too. A perfectionist at its worse. Often times when I look at the bigger picture than tiny details, I prove myself wrong and it was good all along. But it's okay to fuck up. It's okay if it isn't right the first time. It's okay if 40 chapters are posted and I gotta rechange the whole book for 1 idea. It's okay if I take a minute to update or don't update at all. It's okay if no one likes my work. It's okay if I don't like it. It's okay if I fear success and get anxious before updating a chapter. It's okay. I'm not god. I'm not the best in the world. I'm not even the only person who feels this way. I'm human. I'm a writer, just like everyone else, who just wants to do something they love for the fun of it. And if it's no longer fun, that's okay too. As long as I'm kind to myself and preserve my well-being first, then it's okay for it to be okay.

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— AND if I don't reach these goals, I'm fine with it. I'll just do it again next year. And the year after that!