Reflections on 2020 & Aspirations for 2021

reflections-on-2020-aspirations-for-2021

When I sat down and wrote Reflections on 2019 and Aspirations for 2020, I did not know what 2020 would become.  

I know 2020 has been a rough year for many of you, but I am heartened to see many fellow writers highlighting the positives they have found this year. 2020 gave the gift of time. Amidst the panic and fright and uncertainty, there was time to enjoy family, friends, work, hobbies, and even to learn new things.

2020 treated me with some semblance of respect and, while the things I achieved this year are nowhere as vast and new as my travel and work achievements last year, 2020 offered me the time to pursue writing at its fullest. I am thankful for that, so here I share the writing highlights of my year.

My poems “Self-Isolation” and I Know” were published in As The World Burns anthology.

This is by far my greatest writing achievement this year. Never before have I seen my words on the printed page but to see my writing in ink has been a writing dream of mine since I was nine years old. Nine years later I know this glowing feeling and look forward to working towards it again!

My poem, “Compassion“, featured as one of three strong leading pieces for Volume Eight, Chapter Two of Visual Verse’s monthly online anthology.

This writing achievement came out of nowhere! I had taken part in Visual Verse’s daily Instagram and monthly prompts for several months when I was asked if I wished to be one of the leading writers for the last issue of 2020. I said yes, mused over December’s photo prompt, and wrote Compassion. It is a delight to know my words helped inspire fellow writers and were so treasured!

I reached out to many new to me online journals and magazines with my writing.

Among the new writing outlets I discovered are Black Flowers, Green Ink Poetry, Emotional Alchemy, and Mookychick. The final count of my online writing publications for 2020 is 43! 43 poems written and shared with new and existing eyes. I loved writing in new ways and styles, challenging myself to do better after rejections, and exploring new places to share my writing. I shall continue to do this into 2021 and look forward to the challenges and inspirations this will bring.

I won first place in the EIF Poetry Challenge #8: Halloween Edition

This led to the wonderful opportunity of judging the EIF Poetry Challenge #9: Haiku. I adore the simplicity of a haiku; so much can be said or not said in seventeen syllables, so I loved reading the spirited entries and musing over the lines and feelings to decide the winners.

I collaborated

This year I not only accepted The Jaguars That Prowl Our Dreams in exchange for a review, I also collaborated with Photowall in exchange for a canvas map. It is incredible to think my words can be worth something so physical as a book or a lasting piece of art, and I enjoyed the process of doing justice honestly in each collaboration.

Blogging Accomplishments

As of this writing, Nin Chronicles has close to 1,000 WordPress followers. I never imagined the number could grow so and I am honored you all enjoy my writing! Reaching over 3k Twitter follows before the year ended was also a pleasant note on which to go into the new year!

I met you

Once again, it is so important for me to share how much making new writing friends means to me! Through your writing, I see in new ways, am inspired to write in new ways, and have the lasting joy of knowing friendship. Thank you for sharing this journey with me!

2020’s Wishes:

I wish to start a newsletter.

This did not happen. Writing a good newsletter takes time I do not currently have, but I look forward to making time in 2021!

I wish to create a book or an e-book featuring my best pieces of poetry. 

I console myself that the publication of my poetry in As The World Burns partly goes toward this wish. Rather than compile the best of my current writing into an e-book, I have plans for a book of mostly new writing centered around the sometimes-unseen side of fairytales and folklore. The acceptance of five poems intended to go into the book at a magazine heartens me that the idea has some promise! More on ‘Misconceptions’ to come soon.

I wish to reach twenty-five patrons.

This did not happen either. Patreon is something I need to work on in terms of what I offer and how I offer it.

Wishes for 2021

I quite enjoy having a list of things to work towards in the new year, be they goals or intentions or simply wishes, so I will again document the things I wish to write of here next year.

I wish to publish a book

I wish to reach 15 patrons (this equates to one new patron a month, which I think within the realm of possibility)

I wish to make at least $1 through future writing publications (obviously I can write writing worth reading so why not try to be paid for it?)

May 2020 have treated you as well, if not better, as it has treated me.

May 2021 flower and blossom for us together.

Consider sharing a highlight from your 2020 with me. May the words flow!

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65 Comments

  1. Irene

    Congratulations on a fruitful and productive 2020! I hope you’re able to reach your goals in 2021. Good luck!

  2. John Durrant

    Good Evening Jaya this post has got me thinking I should be writing a wishes list down so thank you for giving me an idea

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Delighted to have inspired you! <3

  3. my valiant soul

    Reaching the goal of 43 publications is enthralling. I see how productive the past year was to you and I hope you fulfill all your goals and wishes this and in all forthcoming years.
    Sending love
    Devika

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you for your amazing words, Devika! Your encouragement is priceless.

  4. Sue Berk Koch

    Congratulations on your poetry seeing print! What a lovely validation for your hard work! I had a few articles published in 2020. I kept up with my blogging goal of twice a month and although I didn’t see my followers grow as much as I’d like, I’m happy that I am staying the course. My NF book was pushed back to 2021. I’m just grateful that it wasn’t cx.
    Here’s to more achievements for 2021!

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you! 2020 was a good and memorable year for me. I am sorry your book was pushed back but hope that it sees the light of the world soon! Consistency makes for steady growth so may the words flow. 🙂

  5. overdressedblogger

    A big congratulations on your 2020 achievements and here’s hoping to many many more!!
    Jessica | http://www.overdressedblogger.com

  6. nianni

    Congrats on your 2020 accomplishments. Looking forward to hearing more accomplishments for the year. Wishing you all the best.

  7. Elle

    Omg congratulations, Jaya! You have achieved so .any things, and hopefully more, on your writing journey. I hope that you check all your goals for 2021, (especially the book making part, I’m very excited for you, that is going to be great!) and may we both grow as great writers as the time passes. 😊 cheers to more success to you and your blog! xx

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you so much, Elle! I hope 2021 is a glowing year for you as well. 🙂

  8. Unwanted Life

    Does the 43 poems you created for your blog or the number you had published in one of the writing outlets you mentioned? I’m sure it won’t be long until you smash 1k WordPress subscribers

    1. Jaya Avendel

      The 43 poems includes only external writing publications. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement!

  9. Katy Stephenson

    Wow what a 2020 you had, congratulations on all those achievements!
    Katy | http://www.katystephenson.com

  10. paeansunplugged

    Such wonderful milestones, Jaya! Always look forward to your verses. May 2021 be a year of more accomplishments.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you! May the words flow for you too.

  11. Alisha

    Wow, you have some impressive accomplishments! Congratulations on all of your successes! I hope that 2021 brings just as much success as the previous year!

  12. Kelly Diane

    It has been an absolute pleasure to watch both your writing and your blog grow throughout 2020. Wishing you all the best for this year and hoping you get to achieve all of your goals and wishes.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you so much, Kelly! Wishing you all the best as well.

  13. Beat Those Thoughts

    Some amazing accomplishments! Congratulations! I’d say my main accomplishment in 2020 was completing a 3 month internship just before the pandemic started! But mainly I used 2020 to focus on and practice self-care & my mental health which has been great.
    Congrats again on your achievements! Looking forward to seeing what you do next!x

    1. Jaya Avendel

      I love that you got in an internship before the pandemic started! Love also that you had time to focus on self-care. 🙂

  14. alexfaithwrites

    These are great! Congrats on all your successes last year and good luck with your ambitions for this year!

  15. Sharila

    Congratulations on an awesome year!! So glad that your work was published so widely. May you meet all of your 2021 goals.

  16. Tom

    Congratulations on being published, it sounds like you’ve made incredible progress! I reckon $1 is a reasonable goal, you’ll make more than that for your writing this year – good luck with everything you do, looking forward to the book publication!

    1. Jaya Avendel

      I find $1 to be a very reasonable goal indeed. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement!

  17. Lisa's Notebook

    Congratulations on all your achievements in 2020, Jaya. I’m so thrilled that you were published in so many places, both online and in print. And I really hope you do publish a newsletter in 2021, I’d love to keep up to date with your poetry 🙂 x

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you, Lisa! Plans are fermenting in my mind. 😉

  18. Kat Br

    “2020 gave the gift of time” – I got the same gift, interesting isn’t it? We are too busy to be busy and once your not, you will realize you wasted so much time on things that doesn’t worth your time.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Time is too easily spent! I am only glad I was able to spend time on things that mattered to me this year, and I hope you found time to be happy too.

  19. diningwithali

    Great post and congrats on all your accomplishments!

  20. Rachael

    Congratulations on all your successes and i am certain all your 2021 wishes will come true xx

  21. Her

    Congratulations Jaya on all your 2020 accomplishments and my best for your 2021 wishes, may you see it all come true.
    Will be looking fwd for your master pieces as always.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you so much! May the words flow for you as well. 🙂

  22. Keep Calm & Drink Coffee

    Wow!
    Chapeau!
    I really was in need to read positive and good things about 2020, but yours are more than that! Extraordinary!
    Best compliments from the heart.
    My wonderful thing about 2020 is having met You.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Your words and presence add to the delight of my past, present, and future. Thank you!

  23. Hayley

    This is amazing Jaya! You’re so right about how heartening it is to read these kinds of posts – I was in a dark place at the end of 2020 so couldn’t see beyond that but seeing other people’s highlights reminded me of my own which brought me back to a positive place.
    You’ve achieved so much in the last year and I’m so excited to see what 2021 has in store for you! 🙂

    1. Jaya Avendel

      I am so glad, Hayley, you were able to find a positive place again! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

  24. erinragankelly

    Great job in 2020. I’m not much on resolutions because I let myself down too easily with them. However, reflection and a path of where to look in the future in writing is perfect.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      🙂 I try to set myself small visions to work towards rather than goals. In writing, though, I like to know where I am headed.

      1. erinragankelly

        I like that…thanks for sharing

  25. Sara James

    You did great not just in your writing journey; but as well as in your blogging arena too. Taking part in Instagram competition and working hard along with your other fellow writers were amazing achievements, along with your publications. Wish you all the best in achieving your goals in 2021.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you so much, Sara! I hope your 2021 is a beautiful time of writing flowing for you as well.

  26. Anika May

    Lovely goals, I love how you use your poems to reflect too. All the best with your goals this year, especially publishing a book, that’s so exciting! 👏🏾
    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you, Anika! It is a journey writing a book, but I am enjoying it.

  27. Nancy

    You did an amazing job with writing in 2020!! Wow 43 poems written is amazing. You got a lot of them published too. Congratulations on all of your achievements last year! You did a whole range of work too – not just poems, but also newsletters. Good luck with your goals for 2021! Love that you’re setting goals you’re going to meet!!
    Nancy ✨ mdrnminimalists.com

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you, Nancy! I look forward to writing in the future and your encouragement inspires me.

  28. Michele Lee

    Jaya, I enjoyed reading your reflections and aspirations. Reflecting and planning are such helpful and mindful learning activities. You have many things to be proud of. Bravo!

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Love that you loved this! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

      1. Michele Lee

        You are most welcome. Learning and growth cannot fully sink into our skin if we do not take the time to reflect on what we have learned. 💓

  29. barbaraleaver

    Amazing accomplishments! I wish you all the best for 2021

  30. Love and Literature

    Congratulations on all of your incredible achievements in 2020, you’ve done incredibly well! I hope 2021 brings you even more success!

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you for your encouragement! All the best to you. 🙂

  31. glowsteady

    Congratulations on all that you achieved in 2020, it seemed like a great year for the writing. I hope 2021 is even better!

  32. Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)

    Congratulations on all you accomplished in 2020 Jaya. We have to continue to celebrate every win!
    I’m glad we had a chance to connect last year and get to know each other a little bit. Good luck with your 2021 wishes.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      I always enjoy reading your writing, Michelle, so it is delight to have connected with you too! May 2021 treat you well.

  33. markstraveljournal

    Great thoughts and 2020 accomplishments. I think my 2020 highlight was taking time for self-care. The pandemic has allowed time for more self reflection and the ability to slow down. I’m looking forward to a vibrant and better 2021 as well as quality post pandemic time. Looking forward to reading more of your work through the year!

    1. Jaya Avendel

      I love that self-care was a highlight in your year and hope it is something more people make time for. 🙂 May 2021 shine for you.

  34. jei

    Congratulations, Jaya!

  35. Ingrid

    What a heartening set of reflections to read over, Jaya! It was a pleasure to work with you on the haiku challenge and I look forward to reading more of your work, both online and in print, in the very near future! 🙏

    1. Jaya Avendel

      Thank you, Ingrid! I always look forward to your poetry challenges and it is a delight to read your carefully crafted words. 🙂

  36. Andrew McDowell

    Congrats on your accomplishments! I had a poem published in As the World Burns myself. In fact, 2020 had more anthology publications for me than any other year previously.

    1. Jaya Avendel

      🙂 I loved reading the writing in As The World Burns and was thrilled to see your words on the pages too! Best of luck with your writing in 2021.

      1. Andrew McDowell

        Thank you! Same to you!

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