Friday, December 28, 2012

A YEAR-AT-A-GLANCE 2012- A Writer's Journey

The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on the past months.  Alayne Kay Christian is challenging us to reflect on 2012 and list 31 things that we accomplished throughout the year.  She suggests looking back at our successes with confidence and gratitude.

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


Received my first blog award, the Liebster Award from Linda Hatton 





June
The community of writers, formed by our participation in the Platform Challenge in April, founded Wordsmith Studio 


July
Participated in Susanna Hill's Summer Short & Sweet for the first time



Won Christie Wright Wild's Spring Lucky Clover Picture Book Contest

August
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

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 

Deana Barnhart



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)
My Debut Picture Book!

November
Participated in my 3rd PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) with Tara Lazar


Preview


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


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. 


16 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. Thanks, Alayne, for instigating this challenge. My biggest success is making it through the year sane.

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  2. Wow. 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.

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    1. Yes, the kids sports schedule kept me really busy. My duties include driver and cheerleader at least 4x a week every week.

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    2. Wishing you success in 2013 with you submissions, Stacy!

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  3. Congratulations on all your accomplishments. And for balancing it all... do you ever get any sleep? I'm glad we met thru 12x12!

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    1. Sylvia, I'm glad we met too! I gained a lot from your blog.

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  4. I like toast (with jelly/jam/apple butter)! ;) Good job in 2012! :D

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  5. Ha-ha-ha! Glad you like toast, Erik.

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  6. Wonderful 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!)

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    1. Thanks, Beth! And now as 2013 approaches, you reminded me on your blog that it's time to write my goals down!

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  7. Congratulations, you have really accomplished a lot! I bet you will do even better in 2013.

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    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    2. Thanks, Janet. And I bet you will too!
      Have a great New Year.

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  8. Congratulations on an amazing year! I am so thankful for meeting you during April. Your format is wonderful, and I am promptly reapplying it :)

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    1. The feeling is mutual, Lauri! Wishing you a fabulous new year!

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