2024 Goals

Hello, and happy New Year! I hope you had fun.

This year I want to focus more on personal and health-related goals. One of the big things I tried to focus on in 2023 was to not have a major mental issue because, since 2019, I had at least 1 issue every year. Be it a mental breakdown, an existential crisis, or suicidal ideation. I didn’t want to go through that again and I still don’t.

Because of that I’m cutting back on some of my more advantageous goals and making them more manageable so I hopefully have more time to take care of myself.

Firstly, I want to read 50 books this year. I know it’s a lot less than what I’ve been aiming for in the past, but I want to make attainable goals that I don’t have to stress about. And I’ve been consistently reading more than 50 books for the past few years. I know I can do it. I also want to take more time with books and enjoy them rather than just eat through them like I’ve been doing.

Secondly, I want to get AJ ready to be queried by the end of the year. I’ve been wanting to finish this for the past couple of years, but my hope is it will be ready by the end of the year at least.

These are my 2 biggest goals for the year. Because I want to focus more on my mental health I’m trying not to overwhelm myself.

I do have secondary goals that I would like to accomplish. But if none of these happen I won’t be upset.

1. I want to outline all of the rest of Side Quest. I know there’s still a lot to be done, but I think I can do it all in one year.
2. I want to post more consistently again. I hated how I left this alone for like 6 months. I’m hoping I can get to posting at least once a month. Idealy more often, but I’m not trying to push myself.
3. I want to finish outlining ‘Ghost Circle’. It’s been in the back of my mind for a while now. I just want it finished and then I can move on.
4. Last but not least, I decided after I was done writing ‘Anti-Hero’ that I wanted to turn it into a series. A little weird because it’s a more contemporary mystery thriller as opposed to a fantasy. But I want to do it. And I want to start outlining for at least a couple of the other books.

These are the things I want to get done this year. I know it’s a lot less than what I normally put down but this feels right. This feels like I may actually be able to cross everything off my list and not feel like I need to pull my hair out to get anything done.

Those are my goals for the year. If you feel like sharing, I would love to know what some of your goals for the year are.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it isn’t wonderful, I hope it gets better. I also hope that this year is a good one and kind to you. Stay safe, and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

2023 Wrap Up

I realize it has been like 6 months since I last posted, and I don’t have a good reason for it other than I just haven’t.

The second half of the year also really got away from me. It all blended together. Like it started out as September and all of a sudden I was prepping for Thanksgiving and putting up decorations for Halloween and then the Halloween decorations were replaced with Christmas ones.

My sister ended up going in for a second surgery this year too. It’s unrelated to the first one, that one was fine. She’s fully recovered from it. There were no complications with her recovery or anything. This surgery went well too. I think the surgery itself took a little longer than they had anticipated, but nothing went wrong. She’s recovering well, quicker than a lot of medical personnel thought she would have to be honest. But because of that surgery, I did have to come and help her out again. This has left my parents on their own during the busiest season. But thankfully they had quite a bit of help without me.

I was hoping that I would be able to query by the end of this year, but that didn’t end up happening. There is still so much editing to do and I’m not even done with the second draft yet.

I did have a goal to read 100 books this year, and that didn’t happen. I only read 64. And I say that knowing full well that calling that ‘only’ is a massive understatement. I did read a lot of books this year. And I feel I liked a lot more of these books than I have in past years. And going forward I do want to focus more on the quality of my reading rather than just the quantity. I look back at 2022 when I read 106 books. Some of them I don’t even remember because I read so many and a couple of them read very similar or had very similar themes. Maybe if I read less I would be able to pick them apart better than just having them blend together in my mind. So that’s what I’m going to be focusing on more going forward.

I also had a lot to do in the garden throughout the summer, so that took up a lot of time. As well as processing and preserving everything I grew. I wanted to take pictures and share my journey, but I just didn’t. I really do need to get better at that.

I also got guinea pigs this year too! I’ve been debating and researching these little creatures for the past couple of years to make sure I could take care of them and they would fit into my life. So far so good. And they make me very happy.

I have more ideas and goals going into next year. It will just be a little weird because I’ll still be with my sister and not at home for the new year. I probably won’t be home for a few weeks yet. It’s not a big deal but it’s hard when you’re as much of a homebody as I am.

I think that’s everything I have to talk about today. It’s been an interesting year for sure. I think I’ve learned a lot about myself and that’s always important.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And I hope this past year has been kind to you. If it hasn’t, I hope this coming year is because you deserve it.

Stay safe, and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

First Chapter Reading Excercise Update

Hello. I hope you are doing well today.

So, the other day I posted about how I wanted to read more of the books in my own personal library and how I was going to go about that. So here is an update on that!

Again, But Better by Christine Ricco

The first chapter of this one was pretty short, only 8 pages or so. I don’t think I’m going to continue reading it. I get wanting a new start and to try again and being really anxious and uncomfortable with one’s self. I think I just don’t like how she’s wanting to go about it.
Maybe it’s because of my family dynamic where I know I can talk to my parents about anything, so being in a position where I feel forced to be in uncomfortable situations or conversations with family isn’t something I can relate to. I’m also outspoken enough to tell people to shut the fuck up when they’re talking about my personal life like they actually know what’s going on. And I don’t understand people who feel forced into going into things that would make their parents happy instead of themselves. I know I’m probably in the minority here, but my parents have always said they while they may have preferences for what my siblings and I do in our lives, at the end of the day it’s our lives and we need to be the ones who are happy with what we do.
Also, if she is so unhappy with not making friends and joining clubs, and talking to people in her classes, she can literally just start doing that! Like, no one cares if it’s your first or your seventh year in post-secondary and you’re only just now joining the pottery club.
So that’s where I am with that one. I’m planning on unhauling it. If I do change my mind and end up wanting to read it later on, I know I can always get it from the library so nothing is really lost.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I can almost feel like I can get into this one, just not right now. I am thinking that this is going to be a backstory imagining for the Queen of Hearts. If you’ve read this and you know please let me know I’d like to see if I’m right about it or not.
But I just don’t think I’m in the mood for reading about a princess/noble who wants to live an ordinary life and everything goes wrong.
So I put that one back on my shelf for now. I know at some point I’m probably going to pick it back up, and I hope I do. I got a really pretty hard-cover edition of this that has a beautiful foil inlay and I really wanna keep it!

I also ended up reading another book on my shelves because I had it loaned from the library in Audiobook format.

And that was Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

I’m really happy I was able to read this, not just because it was on my shelf and brought me up to 7 books read. But because I did enjoy the story. I’m not sure if I want to keep it yet or not though. I have decided that I am going to read the second book, The Girl the Sea Gave Back, and decide after that.

I’ve actually read the most out of this one so far. I’m on page 81 right now I believe? And the book itself is just under 400. So I think I’m making good time.
Also, something else I’ve realized. I keep waiting for something to happen for me to put it down and decide I don’t like but it’s actually really good so far. Maybe I just had really low expectations going in?
Maybe I should start going into every book with those kinds of expectations. Then I’ll never end up hating a book. Either it will meet them or it will exceed them. Either way I”m pleased.

I also have a bunch of other books on loan from the library that I need to get through before they’re due, especially the ones I’ve been waiting on for a while.

I haven’t touched The Way of Shadows or The Darkest Minds beyond the first chapter yet. I’m hoping to get to them soon. But I will definitely continue with them.

I think I will post another update when I finish Red Queen. Or maybe in a week or so. And then after that, I think the only other time I’ll talk about updates is when I do another first-chapter challenge. Catch you up on where I was last time and tell you about what I’m doing now. I like that idea.

Let me know your thoughts in a comment if you have a minute. And let me know your opinions on any of the books I’ve listed if you’ve read any of them. And if you think I should give one another a chance. I would love to know if you’d like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it isn’t wonderful I hope it gets better. Stay safe and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

First Chapter Reading Exercise

Hello. I hope you are doing well.

Today, I guess I’m doing something a little different.

So, this year I’m on a book-buying ban until I have read at least 20 from my own library. So far I have only read 6 out of that 20. But I’m sort of at an impasse because I don’t really like my shelves anymore.

I want new books. I want books I’m excited about. I want books that I read and loved to look out at me and make me smile. But I can’t get any of these books until I have read another 14.

So I want to try something I’ve seen Kate Cavanaugh do multiple times, I’m sure others have as well but she’s the one I’ve seen, and that is reading the first chapter of a book and seeing if I like it. If I do like it, I will either continue reading it, or I will put it in a pile for later. And if I don’t, it’s going into my sell pile.

I’m also wanting to do this because I’m actually pretty behind on my reading goal for the year. I’m sure I can still catch up, but I also want to shift my perspective on books and how much I should be reading.

So, I’m going to list all the books that I have selected for this. I only have 5 right now because that seemed to be a good number that was both a challenge and not too intimidating to me. All of these books have been on my shelf for quite some time. At least 2 years. Though I think one I only got last year. I still want to either get through these or decide I don’t want to read them anymore.

I’m not going to feel too bad about selling or getting rid of them at all. Books are meant to be experienced and enjoyed. And if they would bring someone else happiness, who am I to stop it?

Anyway, I think I’ve put enough prelude down. Let’s get into it.

The Darkest Minds By Alexandra Bracken
The idea of having powers thrust upon you at a very young age after an illness that killed many kids your own age and being imprisoned in a government camp? Hello, interesting premise and fighting against the system. Where have you been throughout my life? I do have high hopes for this one. And admittedly, I think the only reason why I haven’t read this one yet is because my library doesn’t have it in audiobook.

Again, But Better By Christine Riccio
I was originally drawn to this one because I felt like I could really relate to it. It’s supposed to be a story about a girl who’s never been in a relationship her entire teenage life, and so in her early twenties goes to school abroad and basically reinvents herself. I’m not sure how exactly I feel about it right now because I have come to terms with and gotten more comfortable with my realities. I still think I will enjoy it, but I’m still not sure where exactly I stand on the contemporary genre.

Red Queen By Victoria Aveyard
I think out of all of them I have the most mixed feelings about this one. I’m still not a big fan of romance, and I’m not sure how I feel about a forced lost princess angle. But I had very similar thoughts about Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen, and I really liked that book. Maybe I don’t know what I like just yet? Maybe that one was oddly well-written? Maybe I’m just in denial about my preferences? Who knows?

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
I have found that I really like Marissa Meyer’s writing. So I have probably the highest hopes for this one. It’s a retelling or reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It has forbidden love and forced expectations and someone who just wants to be true to herself. What more can you ask for, really?

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
I am a sucker for a good apprentice story. Couple that with magic and assassins, I’m a happy camper. I think I haven’t picked this up sooner because I can be quite a mood reader, and I just haven’t been in the mood for it recently. I don’t think I’ve been in the mood for much recently. But I’m changing that today!

So there we have it. 5 books I would like to get through the first chapter of, at least, in the next couple of days. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me. I’m hoping I can stick to it because I’m posting it and that helps to make me follow through with things.

I guess that’s all I have at the moment. Please let me know if you’ve ever tried this and how it worked for you. I would love to know if you’d like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it’s not wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe. And I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

Life Log #18

Hello. I hope you are doing well.

So, a bit of a life update for you today. Mostly because I’m pretty sure I’m going to be at least a little flakey this month.

At the end of the month, I’m leaving the Province to go and visit my sister to help her out in her recovery after surgery. And there are a lot of things I need to do around the house for my parents before I leave. This is probably going to result in me being too busy to make many, if any other, posts this month.

I am hoping I will still be able to do a reading review at the end of the month, but that’s more of a ‘we’ll see’ situation. I’m sure it will come out, just maybe not when I plan for it to be.

I’m hoping things will go smoothly this month. I hope my sister’s surgery goes well. And I hope you understand that life happens and I need to prioritize.

I think that’s about all for right now. I’m sorry for the short post today. As I said, I have a lot going on right now.

Either way, I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it isn’t wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe, and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.