cornerofmadness

How is it that time of year again? How are we to the point of me summing up my year and laying out my goals for the next year? HOW?!?

I did have a good year though. As much as I am disappointed and hurt by how badly These Haunted Hills sold I am so proud of this novel and if it is the last novel I write as Jana I'm happy with it. I just wish it had reached more people.

I had three anthologies come out with my stories in them Anna Karenina Isn't Dead: The Rewritten Lives of Literary Legends which is as sadly neglected as my novel. I still think it was a cool idea and I like my story (but actually I haven't had time to read it so I feel bad about that)

GASPS: A Quiet Horror Anthology which at least found some audience and I'm still chuffed someone gave my story 5 stars

Minstrels in the Galaxy: Stories in the Key of Tull, Volume 1 Probably my favorite of the bunch. I had such fun with this story.

Yesterday I was told my shortlisted story didn't make it (again) however, one of the editors for this horror/sf/f press was so taken by my story she wants to interview me. That is cool.

What I succeeded in doing : I finished the 1980s monster hunter novel. Finally. It shouldn't have taken this long (we all know I was writing fanfic instead of making it a priority) I've started editing it. I will need to find a beta reader.

What I failed to do: Edit the YA seer/werewolf thing. Again. To be fair, I started it. It was in the first 5 nanos so nearly 20 years old. I have gotten better. Tastes have changed. I was encouraged to update once upon a time. Now I would prefer to return it to the late 1990s and to do some major changes to Killian and his abilities. (No need to change anything diversity wise. That was nailed the first time round) So it's slowing me down, frustrating me and it got abandoned.

My goals for 2025
1. balance fanfic better with original (ha, like it'll happen)
2. edit both of the above mentioned novels so I can DO something with them
3. Maybe start the novel in head right now, just to get some of it out of there
4. reread the numerous unfinished nano novels, find the most likely to be finished and FINISH THEM
5. keep up with the open calls because it's fun

How about you? What are your writing goals? Good luck whatever they are

Reminder to self for next writerly ways ghostbusters vs specter of the gun

Open Calls

NonBinary Review theme: Epiphany

A Bon Jovi music INSPIRED anthology I'm full on mad I didn't see this til now because the deadline is tuesday but Im sharing it in case some of you have science fiction that you can hammer into a Bon Jovi song inspired mold

Witch Craft Folk Horror that deals with what it means to be a witch

Robert’s Recurring Nightmares this one doesn't pay but it IS for charity if anyone's interested

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