2024 plans | Suzanne Rogerson Fantasy Author

It has become a ritual to look back at the year and check in on my achievements.

It doesn’t feel as if much happened in 2024 as I didn’t meet many of the goals for the year that I set rather optimistically in 2023. However, plenty of other things did happen, so it’s important to focus on the positive.

Writing

I published a new short story collection called A Little Christmas Magic on 28th November 2024.

I also made the decision to make a series of Christmas stories – Winter Warmers. This now includes my previous Christmas collection – A Christmas Wish.

Both books had a book tour on Instagram in December which I enjoyed immensely. There’s nothing better than seeing what reviewers think of the heart-warming stories I’ve created. And it was great to be able to share so many review snippets and posts on Instagram throughout the month. Both were run by Love Books Tours and went very smoothly. Highly recommended service if you are wanting a book tour next year.

Aside from writing, I attended several writing events in 2024. There was a weekend event just outside of Stratford Upon Avon hosted by Alison May and Janet Gover. A whole weekend of food, writing workshops and talking writing with fellow writers. Plus some excellent 1-2-1’s that helped me move my ideas forward. I would recommend both Janet and Alison for the services they offer to writers, and they also run the Debut Author Club together.

The Romantic Novelist Association conference was held 10 minutes for my home at The Royal Holloway College, so I couldn’t resist attending the whole weekend event. At times I found it a struggle socially as I didn’t know anyone, but it was a wonderful opportunity to mix with both aspiring and published writers. The workshops were great as well.

I kept up with my monthly writing sessions at my local library, and attended several author events in libraries and Waterstones.

The not so successful side of 2024….

Fantasy genre

I made the decision to park my new fantasy series Starlight Prophecy for a while. I need to go back to the planning stage and really get to know the world and the history before I commit to working on the half completed trilogy.

I also toyed with the idea of writing a collection of short stories in the world of my Silent Sea Chronicles, but I think it’s a hard one to pull off. I want to provide extra content for readers who’ve enjoyed the series and also entice new readers without giving too much of the various storylines away. Maybe I will revisit this idea in 2025.

Romance genre

I’ve made great headway with The Mermaid Hotel Series (news I will share in a New Year’s post). However, 2024 has seen a lot of work editing and re-editing the story, reshaping major points of the character arcs etc. I’m almost happy with the way it is now, so I’ll share more about that very soon.

Reading

I met my Goodreads goal of 24 books. That seems like a sensible amount, though of course I’d love the time to read more. I did not however get around to reviewing many books, which I am not pleased about. I enjoying reviewing books on my blog and see it as a way to score some good karma points! Hopefully people will review my books more in 2025. Fingers crossed!

I would love to put a post together celebrating my favourite reads of 2024, but will have to see if time allows.

Other

I love the little graphic I made to show off my books. It will need to be changed soon because it is very festive, but I will enjoy it for now.

And that is about it for 2024. It’s had its ups and downs, but I’m confident 2025 will be a bigger and better year!

Happy New Year everyone.

Stay safe and have fun!

Happy New Year!

I always look forward to this time, when I can set myself goals for the year ahead.

So far I’ve invested in my writing for the new year by purchasing;

1. Notebooks – who can resist a beautiful notebook?

2. Research books – Blueprint for a Book by Jennie Nash. Even though I’ve written quite a few novels, you can still learn new things and new ways of doing things. Blood, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls, not pictured above as it’s on my bedside table. This is a research for book 2 in MH series, the reason will become apparent when I publish! I’m reading Bear’s book at the moment and really enjoying it.

3. Pens with built-in lights for those ideas that strike in the middle of the night.

4. I’ve joined the Romantic Novelist Association’s New Writers Scheme for the second year running.

5. I’ve invested in the BBC Maestro subscription giving me access to hundreds of hours of masterclasses on all sorts of topics, writing being the big one of course.

6. I’ve bought the Mslexia 2024 diary and planner.

7. During Black Friday 2023 I bought the Pro-writing aid lifetime subscription of their editing software.

8. I joined the Marine Conservation Society as it’s a great charity more people should support. Plus it’s research for book 3 in MH series.

My writing plans for this year

First Quarter

Finish and type up the draft of book 0 in my Mermaid Hotel Series. It’s intended to be a prequel spanning Christmas, Valentine’s, and all the way to the following Christmas.

Read Book 1 – Secrets and Love Songs at The Mermaid Hotel. Send it to the publishers on my shortlist.

Write / Edit 1 – 2k words per day of book 2 in the Mermaid Hotel series. I need to get the word count up drastically as I plan to send this book in for my RNA New Writers Scheme entitlement. I can then get some feedback from a professional romance author.

Write something (anything) in my writing diary everyday.

Later in the year

I plan to write a draft of book 4 longhand as that is how I find I am most creative. I also plan to type it up at the weekends. That way I will quickly have a working draft ready to edit and it won’t be such a daunting task typing the whole thing up at once. I’m hoping this method will prove to be a success and I can write future books in this way too.

Each month I plan to write a short story for my Christmas short story collection (in the Christmas Notebook pictured above). Then I will get beta reader comments from my writing group and edit accordingly. I want to have the collection ready for publication in October 2024. This will include a blog tour and I want to have all formats of the book available including audiobook.

At some point in 2024

Revisit my unfinished fantasy series. I really want to work on Starlight Prophecy again.

I would like to take part in Nanowrimo 2024. Whether that is with the fantasy series or one of my mermaid hotel stories, it depends how far I get with the rest of my goals for the year.

Writing Retreats – it would be great to go on an all-inclusive writing break for writers. I think it could really help me get unstuck with my fantasy idea. If that isn’t possible, I hope to go on a writing break of my own design where I stay at a hotel all inclusive and write between meals! Sounds like heaven.

I would love to visit Cornwall with the family. It is where my book series is set and it’s been far too long since my last visit. I love the idea of catching an overnight train like some of my characters do. I wish Lowenporth existed in the real world and not just in my imagination. We could stay at The Mermaid Hotel, with Mrs Shallon looking after us. We could take a stroll along Kerensa Bay and have a dip in the sea at the Secret Cove. Maybe a visit to Sedgewood Nature reserve or spot some dolphins whilst hiring a boat from Yerling Harbour.

All this talk is making me want to get back to my characters. I hope 2024 is the year I get to write lots more in this world and share it with my readers.

***

That’s about it for my plans so far. These will no doubt change as the year goes on, but it’s a starting point. I have the usual plans to eat better and exercise more in 2024, but I’m not setting any strict resolutions.

What about you?

Do you set lots of goals and resolutions?

What do you hope 2024 will bring?