Saturday, December 31, 2011

Reflections 2011


2011: I am so glad to see you go that there are no words. Well, here’s an attempt: gratilief. The fun I had online was only exceeded by the misery offline. If 2011 tries to come back, it and I are going to have to throw down.

Way back at the beginning of the year, I made up a list of resolutions. Let’s see how I did.

1. Make a more regular blog schedule.
People like focused blogs. Unfortunately, I like randomness, at least when it comes to topics. It keeps things interesting. Sigh. But I suppose a little more structure can’t hurt.
Done and done.

2. Write two more books.
I think this will probably be the easiest of my resolutions. I have tons of ideas I want to try out. I definitely know what one will be, but the second is a little more up in the air.
One is done but the other, my NaNo project, is still unfinished. But considering, I did all right.

3. Get one of the above books to the “reader ready” point.
Now this is the hard part. Partly because it means editing. After I finish the two books, I’ll focus on one and really edit the crap out of it. Writes, rewrites, re-rewrites, and the all-important beta reading. I fear I’ll have some trouble with keeping this one!
This is a “kind of”. One book has been sent out to betas, but I haven’t gotten as far as I wanted in editing it. What can I say. It’s been chaotic.

4. Follow more blogs.
Another easy one! Don’t worry. I won’t neglect my friends.
Hells yeah! I do love visiting blogs.

5. Have another contest—international, too.
I’ll pick out some more books. Don’t hold your breath, though. This might take a few months. I’ll visit Borders, which has a better selection of non-fiction than my local bookstore.
Another contest, yes x2, international…sigh, no. Sorry guys.

6. Make significant progress towards getting A Safe Place In Hell published.
Another hard one, mostly because I’m still a novice. I need to write a snappy query letter and send it out, but I’m nerved up. I can read post after post, book after book on the subject and still fail. Hard work is up ahead. I can’t back down.
Unfortunately, no. I did edit it more, but it’s not nearly ready, probably because I was distracted by a shiny new project and annoying personal matters.

7. Be the baddest bad ass I can be.
            I feel this one is self-explanatory.
            Well, obviously. I probably could have been badder, though. 

Not bad in all. How did you do this year? Did you meet your goals, writing or otherwise? Oh, and Happy New Year!

8 comments:

  1. I'll tell you something that no one talks about with regard to query letters and that is the component of luck combined with contacts. If you get chummy with the right people...you can just write a normal letter and you'll get representation. Seriously.

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  2. You are SUCH a badass! Great job on your goals. Life intervenes, best-laid plans and all that, but it looks like you stuck to yours pretty well! Have a safe & fun holiday!

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  3. I like that book title: A Safe Place In Hell!

    It's been an up and down year for me... some really good things going on, and some very bad things. I'm glad to see it at an end.

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  4. Happy New Year. I hope 2012 is a better one.

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  5. Happy New Year, Jeanne! It sounds like you did fine with your goals. Not everyone even gets half as far as you. In any event, much success to you in 2012.
    For me, my second novel should be published in the new year, and I should continue work on my 3rd WIP. With limited time due to my eleven hr day job, I just continue to look for ways in the new year at being as efficient as humanly possible.
    Thanks for posting.

    -Jimmy

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  6. Wow, go you! You seemed to accomplish a lot of stuff in 2011. The world could always use a bit more bad ass-ness, right? ;) Happy New Year!

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  7. Yay! You did awesome with your goals! Here's to 2012! That's crazy to say, right? :)

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  8. Great job! Best of luck with 2012!

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