Between my triathlon training, my full time job as a dental hygienist, and my kids' busy sports schedule, I wondered how I managed to get through this year. What do I have to show for it?
A few grey hairs.
But it was all worth it. This was a year of balancing everything I love- my family and friends, my career, and my hobbies. Below is a breakdown of what I've been doing this year to help me grow as a writer. Instead of listing 31 accomplishments, I decided to break it down by months.
Here
are my 2012 Highlights
January
Set writing goals
February
Won the
New Voice Contest held by Sleepytown Press in
the picture book category
April
Participated
in the one-month long Platform Challenge, held by Robert Lee Brewer
May
Started
my series of Debut Picture Book Author Interviews on my blog
Wrote a
picture book a day for a week in my first NaPiBoWriWee (National Picture Book
Writing Week), hosted by Paula Yoo
June
The
community of writers, formed by our participation in the Platform Challenge in
April, founded Wordsmith Studio
July
Participated
in Cynthea Liu's Red Light Green Light (RLGL) writing contest for the first time
Signed up for the Picture Book Academy with Dr. Mira Reisberg
Signed up for the Picture Book Academy with Dr. Mira Reisberg
September
Participated in Gearing up to Get an Agent, held by Deana Barnhart, and won a spot to submit exclusively to Erin Murphy Literary agent, Tricia Lawrence
Participated in Gearing up to Get an Agent, held by Deana Barnhart, and won a spot to submit exclusively to Erin Murphy Literary agent, Tricia Lawrence
October
Published
my first picture book/eBook, Casey Chameleon, by Flying Books, Ltd. (who also happened to win an edublog award for best mobile app)
December
Joined a wonderful group of writers- Childrens Book Hub on Facebook for information, resource, and support.
Completed my first 12 x 12 in '12 and wrote 12 picture books in 12 months during 2012 with Julie Hedlund
Joined a wonderful group of writers- Childrens Book Hub on Facebook for information, resource, and support.
Completed my first 12 x 12 in '12 and wrote 12 picture books in 12 months during 2012 with Julie Hedlund
Overall,
2012 has been a terrific year! With all
the challenges I participated in, I managed to write a total of 23
picture books in a year with many more ideas yet to be fleshed out. But the one thing I am most fond of is the
fact that I met so many new friends in the writing community. Maybe next year, I'll get to meet some of
them in person!
A toast
to accomplishments and friendships!
Please
share with me your accomplishments, I'd love to hear about them. Also, visit Alayne Kay Christian's blog for more life coaching as we start the new year.
You have had an amazing year. Congratulations on your debut picture book, your numerous awards, and all your other successes in 2012. Thank you for taking the Thirty-One Just for Fun Challenge and carrying it forward on your blog. I love the way you broke your year down month by month. You must be one organized person :-) I look forward to seeing more of you in 2013.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alayne, for instigating this challenge. My biggest success is making it through the year sane.
DeleteWow. You have a lot going on with work, triathlon training! and kids with a sports schedule (honestly, the sports schedule frightens me!)! Congratulations on all of this. The 12x challenge has really kept me motivated to write. Now to submit in 2013 - picture books and other projects.
ReplyDeleteYes, the kids sports schedule kept me really busy. My duties include driver and cheerleader at least 4x a week every week.
DeleteWishing you success in 2013 with you submissions, Stacy!
DeleteCongratulations on all your accomplishments. And for balancing it all... do you ever get any sleep? I'm glad we met thru 12x12!
ReplyDeleteSylvia, I'm glad we met too! I gained a lot from your blog.
DeleteI like toast (with jelly/jam/apple butter)! ;) Good job in 2012! :D
ReplyDeleteHa-ha-ha! Glad you like toast, Erik.
ReplyDeleteWonderful list of accomplishments, Romelle! Good for you! Here's to an even more wonderful 2013. (How people manage to do all these things while working and raising a family just baffles me. And impresses me to pieces!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth! And now as 2013 approaches, you reminded me on your blog that it's time to write my goals down!
DeleteCongratulations, you have really accomplished a lot! I bet you will do even better in 2013.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThanks, Janet. And I bet you will too!
DeleteHave a great New Year.
Congratulations on an amazing year! I am so thankful for meeting you during April. Your format is wonderful, and I am promptly reapplying it :)
ReplyDeleteThe feeling is mutual, Lauri! Wishing you a fabulous new year!
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