Reflecting on 2013 as it comes to a close. A lot happened this year, and it hasn’t all been easy, but overall I think it was worth it and it helped pave the way for 2014.

I got published, which has been really great and really difficult. It’s a lot of hard work, and I’m still working at it, but it’s helped me grow as a writer and helped me work at what I want for myself. I really do want to make this work, and I want my writing to be something memorable. I want people to love my characters, to hate my characters, to love to hate my characters, to laugh, to cry, to smile, to yell, to just… to do everything.

I went to more conventions than ever, which had a pretty surprising outcome. I never, ever thought I’d be a voice in the geek community. When I decided to wear Princess Peach for what I thought would be the last time, I never expected it to turn out the way it did. I never thought I’d end up writing that article for xoJane about plus sized cosplay, nor did I expect the huge response it has AND still gets. I never went into cosplay thinking I’d be some sort of role model that someone would look up to, but going into 2014, there’s so much I want to do in the geek community now. I want to be that black, plus sized, geeky girl, you know? I want to be that, “Cosplay what you want,” person, for women like me, for women not like me, for men, for just… everyone, really. There are a lot of people who are afraid to be who they are, so I want to be that person they can look at like, “Well hell I want to go out there, too.”

I want to be this name that people know. For writing. For cosplay. For art. For everything I do. That’s how I’m starting my 2014, because of how 2013 went :)

And also, randomly, I never ever thought I’d have to start thinking about my wedding. We jokingly said, after the publishing stuff began, that the only thing missing in 2013 is for them to legalize gay marriage in our state. Then they did. Wow.

So farewell to 2013. It’s been up, it’s been down, it’s been everything. But most of all it’s been important, and I am bringing that into my 2014. Thanks to 2013, and to all of you <3 Happy New Year!