Hygge (HOO-guh), the Scandinavian word for comfort and contemplation. The perfect word to describe a sunny but cold winter day. You stay in the house, make a cup of tea, bury yourself under an afghan, and open your favorite book. Quiet. Peaceful.

My original writing plans for this winter fell far short of the hygge ideal. Instead of completing one novel and one anthology piece, I planned on completing two novels and two anthology pieces. While goals are important, can lead to success, unreasonable goals will quickly drag a person down a stress-filled hole.

Lucky for me, goals are a fluid thing. Changeable. It didn’t take me long to realize I was not going to write two books by April. I’m not a fast writer, and that’s okay. I recently finished the rough draft of the first book, “Cassie”, and should have the edits completed and be ready for publication by April. After that, I can start on the second book, “Where Flowers Bloom”.

Then one of the anthologies I committed myself to was cancelled. This takes me right back to the place I was the last three years. One anthology piece due mid-June.

Is this a bad thing? Have I failed by admitting my goal was unattainable? No. Life is too short.

Hygge.