Okay, time to set new goals for the coming year.  Here's what I've come up with.

1.  Write six new novels.

2.  Co-write five new screenplays.

3. Finish twenty-five new poems.

4.  Publish seven new novels.

5.  Market, market, market like crazy.

6.  Have more fun this year than last.

1.  Elephant Skin
Remember when you a kid and skinned your knee?  You the first thing you did was go looking for Mom or Dad to make you feel better.  Guess what?  There is no one who can make you feel better when it comes to rejection or bad reviews.  Your best bet against those is just a solid appreciation for the craft of writing.  Just like no one else can make you a writer, no one else can keep you from quitting.  It's your choice.  Just remember that you're not going to make a difference with your words if nobody reads them.

2.  A Rose in December
J.M. Barrie once said, "God gave us our memories so we might have roses in December."  That's still one of my favorite quotes.  The reason it applies to writing is that if you think that just because you are doing what you love that it's always going to be easy, you are mistaken.  Writing is a job, too, and some days it's a really tough one.  It helps to remember why you started the madness in the first place and what makes you happy about it.

3.  A Talented Techie
Let's face it:  nobody is around technology as much as a writer without things going wrong.  Your best bet is a spouse to understands computers far better than you do.  My husband actually tells me I have the kiss of death for technology.  I used to glare at him, but I've begun to think he may be right....

4.  Muse Fodder
You expect your muse to give you quality stuff.  In response, you might want to stock up on whatever makes him/her happy, be it music or movies.  Seriously, whatever inspires you is the only thing that will probably keep you writing.   Surround yourself with it in the hopes that one day you will create something that will inspire someone else.

5.  A Cat Who Refuses to Grow up
I love to watch kittens play.  There is nothing else like that, and it reminds me of all the right reasons that words matter.  Take the time to watch things that make you laugh.  It will come out in your writing.

6.  A Willingness to Both Give and Receive Help
If you think you're going to do the whole indie thing alone, you might, but here's the kicker: it'll take you so much longer, and you won't have anyone to share it with.  There are so many online forums out there like kindleboards.com filled with wonderful indie authors who want to help and encourage.  There are also many writers who could use your advice and skills just like you could definitely benefit from theirs.

7.  Persistence
Like the word no?  Good.  Oh, I thought you said that you did.  Well, you might want to start getting used to it at least.  You're going to hear it a lot as a writer.  The trick is to wait for a yes.  It will come.  It just doesn't usually happen when you want it to.

8.  A Definition for Normal
Now you are smiling.  You definitely have one of those.  Good.  Now get a dartboard and put it up on the target.  That's all it's good for.  You'll want to know a million times if what's happening in your career is 'normal' or if you're anger is 'normal' over a bad review.  You'll want to know if so many things are 'normal,' but really,  it doesn't matter.  You can't compare your road to anyone else's.  Besides, what's so much fun about 'normal' anyway?