Creative goals 2024

Introducing my word of the year

Happy new year! Chúc mừng năm mới!

At the turnover of the Gregorian calendar, I didn’t feel quite ready to sit down and write a list of goals for the new year yet. So, being the lucky benefactor of two new years, I gave myself until Tết to write it. I’d use the five week gap – all of January and the beginning of February – to truly reflect and think about what I wanted out of 2024.

So here we go.

Word of the year

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Australian author Amie Kaufman’s piece about choosing her word for 2024. I’ve never chosen a word of the year before but it makes a lot of sense to set the tone for the year. My writer friend Bianca Breen has also picked a word of the year for the first time.

My word for 2024 is wonder. 

Here’s what wonder embodies for me:

• Curiosity: I will continue to learn more about the world around me. I will dedicate time to studying young adult literature and becoming a better writer through my Master’s degree.

• Travel: I will visit and explore new places. I will go overseas to Europe for the first time since 2019.

• Magic: I will write my first magical realism novel. Also, it’s the year of the dragon!

• Admiration: I will embrace the beauty of the world. 

• Dreaming: I will continue to dream big dreams for my writing career and do my best to achieve them.