2011: Where I've been and Where I Want to Be

2010 brought many great things for me. Some of them personal, some of them writing related. Since this is a writing blog and not a bore-you-to-tears-with-my-personal-life blog, I'll stick to the latter.

2010 Highlights and what I've learned from them.

I finished revising my first novel, and promptly decided that it was horrible and would never be seen by anyone but my scribe sisters and I, started a few drafts for different works that I didn't pursue, and then I found my gem. I wrote it, and I rewrote it, and I rewrote it again, and I'm still revising it. I've learned so much from this manuscript, not just about sentence structure, plot, characters, etc. But also about my own writing style, my voice, and the mark I want to make as an author.

I entered it in few fun contests (and won, woohoo!) which landed me with partial/full requests. From those I learned a lot about what works and what doesn't in a novel opening, and that fiction is very subjective.

Watching Sisters in Scribe grow to having over 400 amazing followers! Our group has really come together over the past 12 months. We've grown as partners, learned each others habits and styles, and you lovely readers have been with us every step of the way. We're very grateful for your continued support.

Writing with Tangled Fiction has taught me more than I could have hoped for. I've learned I can write under pressure, I can meet strict deadlines, and I can still produce quality fiction that I am proud of.

I feel that I've come a long way as a writer, and I owe a lot of that to my scribe sisters.

Hopes for 2011!

I want to finish revising my current WIP and start submitting it to agents.

I want to draft another manuscript.

Of course I would love to sign with an agent, but my biggest goal for 2011 is to do my best, to grow as much as I can as a writer, and to write the best book that I can.

Happy 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?

The Final Friday Book Recommendation of 2010!

We wish you all a safe and happy New Year! There were a great many amazing YA reads published in 2010, and we've made a short list (in no particular order) of some of our favorites for this Book Recommendation! 

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

White Cat by Holly Black

Matched by Ally Condie

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

The Secret Year by Jennifer R Hubbard

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

Split by Swati Avashti

Freefall by Mindi Scott

      

What were some of your favorite 2010 reads?