Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2011: Can It Top Last Year?


Happy 2011 to all of you! I hope your holidays were relaxing and joyful. I'm not crazy about all holidays (seriously, who came up with Valentine's Day?), but I do love the start of a new year. Maybe it's because of the concept of fresh starts and new challenges. Maybe it's because every year has been better than the one before, and I've had some pretty great years. I'm not big into resolutions (the same way I'm not into dieting or exercise), but I do love challenging myself. So, I'm listing my writing challenges for the year and would love to here yours as well. First, here's what I loved about 2010.

Some of my favorite writing highlights from 2010:
  • starting this blog with my awesome Sisters last Dec., and watching it grow over the past year, to over 400 followers! We are so grateful to have you reading our blog, and every comment makes us smile.
  • winning a Dear Lucky Agent Contest and an agent pitch contest with my first YA novel.
  • finishing the first draft of a 2nd YA novel at the end of 2010, and being really proud of how it turned out (well, for a first draft anyway)
  • the amazing support and encouragement in our critique group...I couldn't do it without them!
  • the fabulous community of writers, bloggers, book-lovers, etc. out there. You're all wonderful!
Writing Goals for 2011:
  • Revise the heck out of 2nd YA novel (hope to have my second draft finished by the end of Jan.)
  • Attend PPW conference again in April.
  • Get more comfortable with Twitter
  • After another critique and revision of 2nd YA, begin to query
  • BIG HUGE GOAL FOR 2011: SIGN WITH THE PERFECT AGENT FOR ME. (There, I said it. I really hope to have an agent by the end of this year. I realize that goal isn't totally under my control, but I think with some revisions and polishing, I have a decent shot.
Overall, I had a great 2010, so can 2011 beat it? Absolutely. Here's hoping that everyone has a year filled with magic and wonder. What about you? What are your reading and/or writing goals for the new year?

12 comments:

  1. Wow, you had some great highlights! As far as my goals, I would love to clean my 1st YA novel up enough so that it can go out for submission, and then work on finishing the 1st draft of my 2nd YA novel. I also would LOVE more blog followers. :)

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  2. Pam--I'm now following your blog. I hope you reach all your goals this year!

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  3. Kristi, you've worked so hard and accomplished much in just one year. I know 2011 will be awesome for you!

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  4. Great highlights, even better goals. Well done Kristi!

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  5. Lacey--it's going to be a great year for ALL of us! :)

    Matthew--thanks, and best of luck w/ your writing goals this year. :)

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  6. Most of 2010 was caught up in moving -- selling a house, finding a house, buying a house, fixing up said house. But I still managed to get one book released, another contracted, and found an agent, so I'm hoping I can continue the momentum.

    I'm focusing on conferences this year--small ones, one line ones, local ones, so my goal would be to submit workshop proposals. Which is what I should be doing now!

    Terry
    Terry's Place
    Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

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  7. Terry-Wow! You had an amazing year--congrats on all your success! :)

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  8. Go Kristi! I have no doubt that you'll meet your big huge goal by the end of the year!

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  9. You can do it!!! I'm over here cheering for you.

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  10. 2011 is definitely going to be "your year." I can just feel it.

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  11. Elana--I hope you're right! 2011 is going to be fantastic for you--I can't wait to read Possession! :)

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