Reflections on Success – 2021
Hello, everyone! Long time since I blogged, I know. I have to get used to having one again – LOL. But today’s post is important, because it is an annual tradition of mine that I post my list of successes for the previous year. You see, I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. They come from a place of lack, of negativity, and a focus on what you DIDN’T do in the previous year and want to “fix” in the New Year. Instead, I like to set intentions and goals that BUILD on achievements (and learnings) from the previous year. I call it an Anti-Resolution Revolution, and I encourage participants in my 12 Days of Christmas for Writers to post their successes proudly, without equivocation. We always want to downplay our successes so as not to seem “braggy,” but as a result, we miss the opportunity to fully feel and embody them. They need to be acknowledged as much as failures. So without further ado, here is my list for 2021 (in no particular order).
- I sold a book! And not just ANY book, but one of my heart that I have been working on for almost 8 years (and submitting in various forms for at least 6)!
- I executed 2 R&Rs for the editor just to get the book acquired, and then completed all of my edits post-acquisition, so it is now off to the illustrator!
- I wrote 3 new picture book drafts this year.
- I did a LOT of revision – revised at least one manuscript for 9 out of the 12 months of the year.
- I had a successful pre-order campaign with a local indie bookstore (Second Star to the Right) for OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? We sold close to 150 books!
- Held a hybrid in-person and Zoom launch with illustrator Michael Slack to celebrate the release of OBUW.
- Held 3 other in-person events for OBUW – all supporting independent bookstores like The Wandering Jellyfish.
- OBUW got great trade reviews in Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books and Publisher’s Weekly, AND was selected as a top gift for 2 year-olds by the Today Show!
- OBUW made one of Betsy Bird’s 31 Days, 31 Lists! This was a huge career bucket list item for me, and I’m still ecstatic.
- Appeared on the Picture Book Look and Reading with Your Kids Podcasts.
- Did blog tour posts on Writer’s Rumpus, Picture Book Builders, Simply 7 with Jena Benton, Laura Roettinger, and probably more that I’m forgetting.
- Had the largest enrollment ever for the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge – more than 1700 members this year!
- Formed the first Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of 12 x 12 and prepared resources for members and diverse authors, with much more to come.
- Granted 7 scholarships to 12 x 12 for 2022.
- Participated in the Picture Book Playground book promotion group, and got to support and be supported by great friends during this book launch year.
- Conducted two successful launches of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System with my partner, Emma Walton Hamilton.
- Held 12 amazing webinars for 12 x 12, plus an extra “pop-up” webinar on revision and one on collaborating with booksellers.
- Took Jess Keating’s Epic Author’s Academy on a whim, to spur myself forward out of a creative and business rut, and it was life-changing.
- Created a 12 x 12 Bookshop in order to feature 12 x 12 member published books and to raise money for the scholarship fund and DEI activities.
- Launched accounts on Twitter and Instagram for 12 x 12. After 10 years, FINALLY got this done. 🙂
- Hired a new web team under short notice, and the transition was smooth.
- Finished the end of the year with $$ in my account. This is a BIG deal. I’m usually struggling the last few months of the year. This was a nice change.
- Paid my taxes on time!
- And last, but not least, started a new blog after a few years’ hiatus.
Now I urge you all to make your own list of successes. I promise there are more of them than you think!
1 comment on “Reflections on Success – 2021”
Love it! Congrats!
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