2024 Wrap Up
Or: is it New Years yet?
Required Reading
I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted this month’s newsletter to be about, but last month’s was a bit heavy so I wanted to end it light with a monthly wrap up of what my 2024 was.
While doing this I realised I have the memory of a goldfish. Fun times.
This was inspired by the amazing and brilliant O.O Sangoyomi and Birukti Tsige, both of whom I love!
January
I rewrote my entire manuscript in three weeks. I am a chronic overwriter, and up until August 2023, all I’ve ever written was fantasy. This led me to believe a 99k rom-com was acceptable. Oops.
I cut almost 13k words—while keeping the same scenes, which is still mind blowing to me—and sent out my last batch of queries. In this month, I also completed a second rom-com (under 90k this time because I learn from my mistakes).
February
I’m gonna be so real: the only thing I remember doing this month is moving rooms in my house. I don’t even have a picture to back up that claim, but I’m 30% sure it was this month.
March
I got an email to set up a call with an agent a DAY before I had planned to shelf the project and move onto the next.
April
I officially signed with my agent!!! Hyperfixed on Sims for the entire month.
May
Started an internship I had so much fun at! Turned 22!! It was warm enough so I could start my nature walks again (allergies and all) !!! Got my edit letter and spent an entire week feeling like an impostor and wondering if I’d ever edited anything before :(
This is a two parter because it was my birthday month. I don’t make the rules:
Me, unsuspecting:
Me, once I suspected:
June
This month I welcomed a baby brother and sister four days apart; the joys of having relatively young parents (I’m a big sister x3!) This is why I’m 45% confident I moved rooms in February. I also completed my first round of developmental edits this month.
Only one hand is pictured as the other is several miles away.
July
I came back to my newsletter after taking an eighteen month break (please clap) and I haven’t missed a month of posting since (except October, which we’ll talk about when we get there). Found out I had an unhealthy attachment to adverbs while doing line edits with my agent. Realized just how different the Queen’s English and America’s English is. Can’t say I’m a fan.
I also applied for my passport this month, which means I became a Canadian citizen earlier than this. That might’ve been what happened in February.
August
Completed my internship. Went to my first ever concert (Hozier). Got all four wisdom teeth out. Pinched a nerve in my neck. Went out on sub (hopefully I can talk about this soon!)
I lived a lot of lives in August.
September
I saw my first SmackDown show live. I also went on a writing retreat in Seattle with the most amazing group of people I’ve ever met and I’ll love them forever. I also also went to Target and Barnes & Noble for the first time ever.
October
I skipped a month in the newsletter.
(I went to my second concert—Bryson Tiller—and got sick in the middle of it. Got the flu a few days later. Gave everyone in my house the flu. Had an on and off again migraine that lasted two weeks after the flu cleared up. Did not get to wear my Halloweek costumes because of the previous illnesses. Family and I got reeaally into PlateUp! to distract from everything.)
November
First snow! My first rant newsletter! I dyed my hair brown and cut it into a bob! The world was worlding, I decided to put up my tree to kickstart the joy.
December
I’m hosting for the second year and I only managed to injure myself once (which is a great improvement from last year, but the month is still young!)
So
This has been a year.
I’d say I have a lot more to share, but I truly can’t remember anything beyond last week. 2024 had its ups, and its downs, but I’m grateful I got to experience the months as they came.
I hope 2025 is good to us all!
Happy Holidays,
Ash