This year I am participating in Julie Hedlund’s “12 Days of Christmas for Writers.” She has challenged us today to publicly post our successes for the year. When I first heard this I was sad, because all I could think about was the pandemic and all the challenges we have all been going through. Then I started taking inventory of all the work I’ve done this year in my pursuit of becoming a traditionally published author/illustrator. O-M-G. I can’t believe all that I did, especially under the circumstances. I feel that this is a testimony to the power of having a creative world to dive into when the “mud” hits the fan. If you have an idea of something I should pursue or investigate in 2021, please leave me a comment. So, without further ado, here is my list of SUCCESSES:

1. I’m here. I’m alive. I haven’t given up. I still have hope for the future. I believe that good things are coming.
2. Change helps me grow. I have grown through many challenges this year and have learned a lot about myself and what is most important to me.
3. I participated in 11 online writing workshops.
4. I read over 100 books this year. (MG, GN, and PB).
5. I wrote 20 new manuscripts this year. These are fully fleshed out stories, some of which I have begun illustrating. One of these was my first Nonfiction Picture Book and another was my first early reader Graphic Novel.
6. I revised 5 older manuscripts.
7. I created 10 other story ideas that I haven’t developed fully yet.
8. I completed 15 picture book dummies. (This was a big OMG for me).
9. I compiled 1 complete GN submission proposal including manuscript, first chapter, and art samples.
10. I participated in The 100 Day Project and got to 60/100. Not too shabby.
11. I participated in Folk Tale Week for the first time and illustrated a story based on the prompts. That’s 7 full color spreads in one week!
12. I drew about 75 other vignettes, just for fun.
13. I entered 6 competitive contests and received recognition in 2 of them.
14. I won 3 professional critiques.
15. I gave 150 critiques.
16. I participated in 5 pitch events on Twitter. I received requests from 3 agents.
17. I submitted work to 14 agents this year. This was a big step forward for me.
18. I was interviewed by 2 publications and was requested to write my first book review.
19. I’ve made a lot of writer and illustrator friends this year. 🙂
20. In my other realm of art facilitation, I held a workshop at the Discovery Children’s Museum, received funding for a youth project in 2021 from Clark County, and received two teaching artist grants to produce video lessons, also in 2021.

Whew! No wonder I’m exhausted. I think I’ll go take a nap now.

Sending love to you all and wishing you a safe and healthy New Year!