Bustin' Out with My 2018 Successes

Children's author Julie Hedlund, challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post SUCCESSES (rather than resolutions) on our blogs this year. She believes the way New Year's resolutions are traditionally made come from a place of negativity - what DIDN'T get done or achieved in the previous year.  Instead, she suggests we set goals for the New Year that BUILD on our achievements from the previous one. I decided to participate in this Anti-Resolution Revolution! Here is my list for 2018.

Bustin' Out with My 2018 Writing Successes

The 2018 year was a like a bucking bronco I tried to tame. I had some time-consuming illnesses that set me back for a few months (concussion/broken nose after I fell off a treadmill, back injury that had me in ER twice, injured left knee and ankle when I tripped over my dog, then 2 months of PT). However, I busted out of the gate and mounted the writing pony again. 

Goals Met that I Set After 2017's 12 Days of Christmas

1. Beth Stillborn and I set up a weekly check-in as writer buddies to keep each other accountable. I'm proud to say we kept it up all year. This helped me manage my time better and motivated me to focus more.

2. By end of January I switched offices with Bob to get more space. I purged the office, my files, and email subscriptions to blogs I didn't read. We painted the office a restful green, and I bought a second desk for the research piles that appear when I'm writing.

3. I evaluated my best manuscripts, revised them and submitted more than I did in 2017. (13 subs, but I've been gun-shy due to an agent dropping me awhile ago.)  I entered 6 twitter pitch contests, too.

4. Stretched myself and embraced new opportunities instead of my go-to safe standbys by attending new conferences - Whispering Pines Writing Retreat, Harold Underdown's half-day revision workshop, and my first Highlights workshop, The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Science.

5. Tried my hand at writing for new age groups and in new genres: I completed a chapter book that both Harold Underdown and Rachel Orr critiqued. I wrote an informational picture book with a science theme that 2 editors asked to see. (A very nice "no" with comments, and one editor yet to reply from a twitter pitch request.) Wrote a proposal for a magazine article plus two NF writing samples for ASK magazine.

6. I joined my usual kid lit challenges that I completed: Storystorm (30+ ideas), ReFoReMo, and added inktober to exercise my drawing muscles.  

7. I began my first bullet journal and kept it up for the entire year. 

8. One critique partner had her first book published this year and it was exciting to know I helped her with revisions, ideas for PR, and educational activities for her picture book.

9. The Ohio Educational Library Media Association asked me to write a blog post on picture books. 

10. I judged middle grade compositions for the Ohio PTA's annual Reflections contest. (This put me in touch with the MG mindset as I've been reading and studying middle grade this year.)

11. The State Library of Ohio asked me to serve on the Choose To Read Ohio Advisory board. I am currently writing a teachers' toolkit for one CTRO award book.

12. I wrote two new picture book manuscripts, one a PB bio, and did my first interview with the biographee's daughter. (I worked on revisions more this year.) 

13. I began working part-time at a children's only indie bookstore, Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers. In the new year, I will be in charge of the ARCs. 

14. I wrote 8 blog posts for the GROG blog: book reviews, interviews with authors, miscellaneous posts on craft. My best post had almost 900 page views and the Highlights Foundation recommended it, too.
15. My online critique group met once a week every month of the year. ( I missed some sessions due to illness, but I count on my weekly 2 hour sessions with my "Mojo Women."
17. A success that is hard to "quantify," but my writing IS getting better, and I am receiving more personalized rejections.
18. I am ending 2018 hoopin' and a hollerin' as I revised 3 more mss with Marcie Colleen's December Study Hall class, and Agree Chung's Maker program for 2019.
Revision, craft, and study marked 2018. This new year, 2019, is going to be the year of 100 submissions.