In 2021, on the recommendation of one of my mentors, I started the practice of tracking my creative endeavors / writing stats. She encouraged me to do this because it is very easy to focus on the rejection you face as a working artist. For every acceptance/award/publication there are at least 10 rejections, so she explained it was important to track your wins. This made a lot of sense to me, so for the fourth year in a row I'm posting about my yearly stats. In the whirlwind of life this is a good reminder for me to savor all that was 2024.
(ID: Jessica Renslow very pregnant posing silly on a golf course. Jessica Renslow with baby in sunflower patch.)
(ID: Jessica Renslow and husband at baby sprinkle.)
Miraculously, I made all my deadlines and had a healthy delivery. There is no waaay I would have been able to pull all of this off without my village. My hubby Shawn, sister Mandi, cousin Dawn and bestie Gretchen were my rocks this year. They all let me lean on them when my three-ring circus got too wild to tame. That transition from one to two kiddos was a big changeup for us. Adding an extra layer to all our new learning, our oldest was diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum. As his daddy and I have been learning to navigate our roles as parents/ advocates for our funny, bright big boy we have been very fortunate to find great resources and services upon the way. It's been a joy to see our boys bond and become "The Brothers Griffin."
(ID: Konrad in a strawberry patch with big sunglasses. Konrad and Ewan sitting on pumpkins.)
A sad note for 2024 hit in June when my father-in-law, Jerry Griffin, passed away after a long illness. Jerry was a good sport, especially in his last few years on this mortal plane. Shawn and I were happy he was able to meet his youngest grandson.
(Popa Jerry with his grandkids.)
So, what's in a goal and why should you write it down?
According to studies by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University, her research indicates that writing down your goals increases your chances of achieving them by 42%.
So, if it could raise my achievement rate by 42% plus keep me focused on the positives of being a working creative, I decided that once again it was worth tracking my goals.
(ID: cookies with Tuskegee history on them and Jessica Renslow with the State Children's Librarian.)
Best laid plans....My 2024 Goals were:
- Complete my adult paranormal thriller and workshop it
- Finalize postproduction on Unearthed Documentary
- Enter Unearthed Documentary into some festivals
- Finish Cozy Mystery rough draft
- Finish holiday romcom
- Finish 2 nonfiction children’s books
- Query contemporary middle grade fish out of water comedy
- Get an agent
- Have a safe birth and lots of fun adventures with my guys!
(ID: 2024 stats pinned on a corkboard with multi-colored posted notes.)
My 2024 Goals (Actually Completed):
- Completed my adult paranormal thriller and started editing it
- Finalized postproduction on Unearthed Documentary
- Entered Unearthed Documentary into 26 film festivals
- Halfway through Cozy Mystery rough draft
- Finish holiday romcom (still working on this rough draft)
- Finished nonfiction project for Indiana State Children's Library (details to come)
- Queried 33 agents with my contemporary middle grade fish out of water comedy
- Get an agent (still in query trenches)
- Welcomed in our little Earth Day baby earthside last April and have been having adventures with all my guys ever since!
My 2024 Creative Endeavor/ Writing Stats
- New Words: 59,950
- Reviewed Words: 118,981
- Completed 1st draft of adult paranormal thriller (80,000 words)
- Queried 33 agents
- Partial Requests: 9
- Full Requests: 5
- Participated in 14 pitch contests
- Got 7 agent ♥️s
- Got 5 publisher ♥️s
- Participated in Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo
- Completed Inktober (31 prompts)
- Applied to 5 Grants
- Applied to 1 Fellowship
- Got 4 Grants and 1 Fellowship
- Completed 2 film fellowships (received in 2023)
- Got into Heartland! (Film premiered at Heartland's Indy Shorts Film Festival)
- Documentary was in 1 film festival and 6 showcases
- Submitted to 26 festivals for 2025
- Completed Nonfiction Writing Contract
- Completed 2 Teaching Artist Contracts
- Taught 3 cohorts of Silver Screeners Filmmakers Club
- Birthed a 9.6lbs and 20.5 inches long healthy baby boy
(ID: Jessica Renslow at Heartland Indy's Shorts Festival. Griffin Party of 4 at Greek Easter.)
Giving birth to Baby Ewan and having "Launching the Lagoon" Premiere at Heartland's Indy Shorts Film Festival were my two biggest creative accomplishments of 2024.
(ID: Filmmakers reception at Heartland Indy's Shorts Fest. Gnome mascot wearing flamingo floatie.)
My 2025 Goals are:
- Complete edits on my adult paranormal thriller and workshop it
- Release "Method: A Voice Actor Prepares" online
- Finish Cozy Mystery rough draft
- Finish holiday romcom rough draft
- Finish western romcom rough draft
- Finish limited comedy series
- Write/Direct/Produce animated short
- Finish spooky YA
- Get an agent
- More adventures with my guys!
(A full house during the Unearthed Film tour and a very pregnant Jessica Renslow speaks to the audience at the Silver Screeners Filmmakers Club Spring Showcase.)
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