2020 in the Rearview Mirror

On the last day of the year, let’s see 2020 in the rearview mirror.

Five years ago, Marie Rebelle and Wicked Wednesday hosted my guest post, Tested.

It marked the launch of my writing career. I had completed an erotic writing course with Rachel Kramer Bussel, who encouraged our class to hone our writing skills by writing erotic memes. I am good at following directions. After that guest blog, in January 2016, I created my website and began blogging my stories.

I’m a creature of habit. Each year, I look back to assess and evaluate my progress, productivity, and lessons learned. It helps me to position myself mentally for the next year. I tease myself to squeak out a little more work before the year is out. That first Wicked Wednesday guest blog situated me to take subsequent action. I will forever be grateful for Marie’s enthusiasm and support of my work.

Marie’s current prompt refocused me on my yearly anniversary events. Writing this post helped me to see all that I created. My highs and lows are objective as I am disassociated from the feelings. My inner self called to me to punctuate 2020in words.

Bring on the Infamous 2020

You all lived 2020, so I don’t need to rehash it.

The start of my writing year was strong, but by the middle, I wondered if I was accomplishing anything. My measuring stick was off. I had drawn inside myself for self-care, like a turtle pulling in its legs and slamming shut. My bubble of people to interact with became small.

That was when I realized I was numb. I’d not been communicative with the outside world through social media. I only came out weekly or bi-weekly to “interact.” Those moments served as placeholders in my writing life.

As I began this post, I discovered I had only written four blogs on my website in 2020. Yes, I had become a recluse, hunkered down to get through this _____________. (Fill in what works for you. The word changes every time I read the sentence. ) But other writerly things happened, and I needed to note them for myself to move forward.

Writing Productivity

Short Fiction Stories:

Sincyr Publishing published my story Spoon Man in Rule 34 Volume Two. Rachel Kramer Bussel selected A Constructed Threesome for inclusion in Best Bondage Erotica of the Year Volume 2. I also wrote stories here: Bellesa One; Shag Story, Two; Rosy Wellness, Two; Website Blog Five, (Including my 2020 Blog Review: Top Ten Most-Read Erotic Shorts of 2020).

Nonfiction: I crafted seven posts for Medium and a guest blog post for Rosy Wellness.

Novel: I completed my debut novel manuscript and secured an editor.

Submissions: I submitted a story to Big Book of Orgasms Volume 2.

Presentations: In January and March I presented live twice. After that, three were digital.

Courses: I created my first Sexuality course on Level-Up.

Conferences: I attended two conferences, the Amelia Island Book Festival in February and Inkers Con Digital in June.

Writing Craft: Plottr and Authors AI were introduced to me and I use them both.

Other Work

In my everyday life, I produced. Here’s the best list.

• Completed 30 CEUS for the renewal of my Marriage and Family Therapy license.
• Sewed masks for family and friends
• Knitted five pairs of socks and two scarves.
• As of today, I completed Duolingo French lessons every day for 326 straight days.
• In January, I vacationed in Savannah and then socially-distanced in the mountains of North Carolina in August and October. I bought land there.
• Cheered my child on as new remote work life emerged and he started an MBA.

Feelings, Low, and High.

Lows

All-encompassing grief and numbness.

I missed my Sisters in Smut #3 Annual Gathering and our daily silly and fun interactions. I missed Mischa Eliot baking bread with Mr. J. Missed Inkers Con Live in Dallas.

My novel class concluded.

I lost a sex therapist mentor and two lifelong friends. (No death was Covid related.)

Only once this year have I seen my son, parents, and siblings.

Highs

I am well. Safe and blessed. Mr. J. and I have a quiet life of minimal interactions with the outside world. I write and knit while he reads. We walk at least twice a day. Zoom is our friend.

A New Constant: The D3 Writers-A Literary Salon. In February at the Amelia Island Book Festival, my writer friends Darryl Bollinger and Diann Schindler, and I forged a new writing group. Kindred spirits, clear about what we didn’t want, unsure exactly what we wanted, created what we now know as our Literary Salon.

Every two weeks since February we have met and discussed concepts, ideas, and styles of writing. Each takes a turn choosing the topic and facilitating the discussion. We have created something that evolves and we with it. This is the place where my energy for life has stayed alive, and I am grateful. We are planning writing workshops and a book about our writing journey.

D3 represents the first letter of our first names. A triad, a triangle that represents goals, dreams, and visions. We found ourselves in a place of re-visioning our work and our lives. It sustained and nourished us. I am humbled by the experience. It will continue.

Looking to the Future. Hello, 2021.

There is much planned. That is a surprise as 2021 approaches. Here is the beginning slate.

• An erotic serial for Rosy Wellness to celebrate Valentine’s Month.
• Sending my novel manuscript to my editor in January.
• Outlining a novella and book 2 in my novel series. Maybe creating two non-fiction books.
• Live presentations (July 2021).
• A new alliance with a publishing house that approached me to write a non-fiction sexuality book in 2021.

Ending the Year

So what have I learned?

• I can live with a little.
• I still believe in the goodness of the human spirit. This year I supported as many local businesses and helping agencies as my finances allowed. I worked the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• I got through this year being kind to myself.
• I believed in myself. I sent positive energy out to myself and all my fellow humans. I surrounded myself with a small but supportive cast of characters in real life and in my stories.

I look forward to my life’s expansion when the time is right. Until then, Goodbye 2020.

Check out Wicked Wednesday and see what others wrote.