2012 Recap of Life (and stuff)

There are many, many things about 2012 that displeased me. It was totally not my year. This isn’t me looking for encouragement or compliments—it literally was a hard year personally. But I’m not going to go into the negative. Instead, I’m going to reflect on all the good things that happened in 2012. Because dammit, there were some freaking great times.

My main, overarching thing I’m taking away from this year is perspective. I sometimes have a hard time remembering that I am still young. I’ve only just turned 23 this year, and I sometimes get in a mindset where I’m so adult. I have TIME to accomplish everything I want to do. I have TIME to travel, see family and friends. I’m not tied down by family, marriage, kids, a “dream” job, etc. I’m independently young, and it’s time I take advantage of it.

I’m also a constant worrier. I worry about things. I worry about YOUR things, probably. My goal for 2012 was to not be such a people pleaser and with that I’m afraid I’ve turned somewhat cynical, but I’m going for a more carefree approach in 2013. My 2013 decisions may not be the best, but it’s time to start living life the way I want, not the way society says I should.

Take that as you will.

Now it’s time for another yearly reflection (in pictures! WOO) of the good 2012 brought.

Rung in the New Year in PARIS

 

Paris with some of my best friends was one of the greatest experiences ever. So what if I came home broke. So what if I drained my bank account. I had a BLAST, and I’d do it all over again.

Cheers to 2012 with Krista

CREPES <3

Friends and France <3

Finished my Masters (in Business. EWEWEW.)

This is a super boring one. I almost forgot to add it because it was so boring. I guess I should feel accomplished or whatever, but really I considered this time away from writing. It was a pain in the ass. And it also reminded me I cannot math for shiiiiiiz. But anyway. Yeah. Masters.

Finished 3 Manuscripts

2011 taught me that I can write out of my comfort zone (YA contemporary) and be strong with my writing. I wrote a dystopian in 2011, which I then turned into a thriller in 2012. I’d never written anything like it before and was CONVINCED it was the best thing I’d ever write in the history of writing.

But then I pushed myself further. In January, I wrote a YA mystery (psychological thriller? Idk. More of a mystery, maybe.) Still out of my comfort zone. It was so much fun to write and I ended up loving the characters. I thought my agent would be like, oh this is okay. But she ended up really loving it, which made it even better.

Then, while revising that, I ended up going back to my element and writing two YA contemporaries. One was meh, and that's okay. (Although I ended up setting it aside. It's really not that spectacular) But the other was better. It’s what I called my YA Road Trip Story.

I ended the year outlining two new YA contemporaries.

So I basically learned that even though YA contemp is my comfort place, I CAN write anything I can put my mind to and be strong within the words I weave. So if you’re a writer and corner yourself in a box, challenge yourself to write out of your comfort zone in 2013. You may end up loving something you never thought you could have.

So, that’s that. 3 finished MS, 2 outlines. Imagine what I could have done if I wasn’t in that stupid Master’s program. (Just kidding school isn’t stupid. Stay in school don’t do drugs.)

Traveled

I spent time in France, Germany, Los Angeles, New York (where I met my agent, who’s a real sweetheart), and Texas. I traveled with friends and had a BLAST.

Road trip to NM, land of the chile, where we picked some up fressssh.

 

Road trip to Sedona, AZ over the summer. (<3)

 

Jumping off cliffs in Sedona

 

 

Los Angeles for ALA with Lindsi

Los Angeles road trip with mah girls Kelsey and Lindsi <3

Beach time in LA with my cousin

Subway ride with Hector. I think the combination of me + BEA wore him out.

Ferry ride + statue of libery :)

BEA with these lovely ladies: Britney, Anne, Claire and Gabby

 

Met Awesome People

John Green

Stephen Chbosky

 

PUPPY

 

(August 2012)

Andddddd because I didn’t quit my Master’s (believe me, tears were shed more than once about giving up) my boyfriend bought me a PUPPY as a graduation present. GAH. I’ve wanted a little guy for so long, and he’s been like my child. And because he’s like my child, there will be no kids in my near future. Or, you know, far, far future.

(December 2012)

 

 

Had Happy Holidays

 

White Christmas in Texas!

Ugly sweater party <3

Decorating the tree with the sibling <3

SNOW :D



 

2013 Goals

• Be carefree, not tied down to what society stays my early 20s should be.
• TRAVEL MOAR
• Focus solely on my professional career goals (in other words, write more than 3 books in 2013. HOLLA.)

Previous End of Year Wrap Ups

I just stumbled across my 2011 yearly wrap up. SIGH. 2011 was an amazing year. Maybe because I was living off severance so I just partied wrote and traveled and hung out a lot. Ha!

Anyway, here's my 2011 End of Year Wrap Up if you're interested.

Alsoooooooooooooo!

Happy new year <3