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 2017.

My 2017 writing successes:

1. I worked hard editing a handful of stories. Several are nearly ready to submit.
2. I completed StoryStorm last January and came away with a notebook full of project ideas. (Looking forward to StoryStorm in January. You can join us here.)
3. I attended my first (in a long time) SCBWI conference. I volunteered to help, met other writers, learned good things, and found my critique partner! That is a big thing, since my location puts me in no-man’s-land for critique groups.
4. My critique partner and I have been meeting monthly since the conference. We live half an hour distance from each other, but alternate driving to meet. Her critiques have been invaluable in sharpening my stories.
5. I enjoyed my work-for-hire projects and completed contracted pieces.
6. I read MANY picture books, logging them all on Goodreads. I also enjoyed reading chapter books, young adult, and adult novels. The only way to write is to read!
7. I participated in ReFoReMo in March and learned much about picture book structure, characters, setting, plot lines, and more. This reading for research adventure is worth the huge piles of picture books tottering over in the RV. You can join here.
8. My critique partner (thanks, Katie!) says several of my picture books are ready for submission.
9. I’m still dreaming up great ideas for picture book projects.
10. I work with several wonderful editors for my work-for-hire projects. This helps me view my writing from a professional standpoint and take myself seriously.
11. I applied for several writing fellowships. Though I was not chosen, I was encouraged by one group to apply again. I’ll take that as good news!
12. I’ve become more organized and structured in scheduling for completing my contracted pieces.
13. I’ve met and networked more with other writers. What a wonderful group of people!
14. In spite of a terribly stressful and emotional year, I still love writing! I cannot be without paper and pen, just in case.

You can learn more about the 12 Days of Christmas for Writers here.