Things to Resolve in 2015

I feel like being loquacious, so bear with me. Below I will list a few things I intend to resolve in the upcoming year as well as explain why, which you will read (or not).

Read. Read. Read.
Every year I'd like to read as many books as possible. This year, I did not read as many as I'd have liked; this year, I struggled to read. I am rather proud of some of my choices: Fault Line by C. Desir, Coaltown Jesus by Ron Koertge, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown, and Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. A lot of picture books this year, not many novels. A couple re-reads: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis and Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley.

My goal for 2015: Devour 2014 YA books. Read ALL A.S. King novels. Dive into more British YA a la Marcus Sedgwick and Nick Lane. Pick my way through adult mystery reads--a new genre to explore, as always.

Write another novel. Maybe two.
This year I wrote one novel. I'm good with that, as it was a damn fine book. I learned a great deal about my process this year, a great deal about what I'm capable of as a storyteller. There are places I'd like to go, stories I'd like to tell. But my biggest contribution to the world of young adult and, latterly, children's literature will be a wide berth of truly diverse characters through a soiree of stories. My current novel, the one I wrote this year and am hoping to submit next year (more on that later), is straight-up contemporary realism. My next YA project will be more structured: what I like to call a dystopic crime trilogy. Playing with genre-bending (or subgenre-bending, as it were) has long been a dream of mine--this is my chance! Also, I'm dipping my toes into the realm of middle grade/children's literature. A big, fat portal fantasy is in order; it's been cooking for a few years, now it's time to stir and serve.

My goal for 2015: Write the first book of the dystopic crime trilogy. Write (or begin writing) the middle grade standalone portal fantasy.

Submit Adam's Book.
The book I'm working to complete will be ready for submission by March 2015. That is my deadline, that is when agents will be receiving queries in their inbox. I'm ecstatic! We'll see how things shakedown from there.

Land a major role in Summer 2015 Croswell Opera House Show.
This may seem nebulous. Impossible, maybe. But I have grown so much as a performer over 2014; I feel my former strength returning. I can land a major role in any of the shows for which I choose to audition this summer. Research is required. Vocal work--lessons even--are required. The groundwork has been laid, though. So let's do this!

___________

Those are my goals for 2015. What about you? Comments welcome.