That's a Wrap!

 by Charlotte Bennardo

No, not the holiday gifts, although there is that to do.

Photo by Jens P. Raack, Pixabay

It's the final wrap up for the year. And I'm both good and leery about it. 

Why I'm good with it: it's been a banner year! My oldest graduated with high honors in mechanical engineering, got a job at the naval station, and moved to Jacksonville. My middle son is almost finished with his computer engineering degree in CA. My youngest married a wonderful girl and is going back to finish his degree. I finished my MFA, have a number of manuscripts ready to go or are out on submission, and I've gotten back into writing short stories. My family is in good health. 

Why I'm leery: It's been such a good year, how can next year top or even just equal it? I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a forest, unable to see what lies ahead. 

Image by Christa Regina from Pixabay

I can't worry about what might not happen; all I can do is work toward what I want to happen. I can control how much I write, how hard I work. What I've learned with my MFA is how to work more efficiently, expand my social media marketing, revive my short story writing, and balance work/life. 

What comes next? Today I'll submit my NA sci fi novel, The Frankenstein Vendetta, to agents. I'll check on my YA fantasy novels Ripples on Water and The Excalibur Vow that are out with agents, and start a major revision on a YA paranormal thriller. I've learned how to juggle several projects, like writing a novel, putting it aside for a bit while I revise a previous novel. I'm always working on something, but I've learned to take some time to hike, bike, swim, and explore, travel.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

So that's the plan for moving forward. Wishing you all a great New Year! 

Charlotte writes MG, YA, NA, and adult novels in sci fi, fantasy, contemporary, and paranormal genres. She is the author of the award-winning middle grade Evolution Revolution trilogy, Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons. She co-authored the YA novels Blonde OPS, Sirenz, and Sirenz Back in Fashion. She has two short stories in the Beware the Little White Rabbit (Alice through the Wormhole) and Scare Me to Sleep (Faces in the Wood) anthologies. Having finished her MFA, she's applying what she learned and is working on several children's and adult novels, along with some short stories. She lives in NJ but dreams of a Caribbean beach house.