Very Good Year

What is it with this time of year? Where the heck does the time go? Didn't I just blog the other day? Wait, maybe not...

It's always cheesy, but I like to do a little thinking about the state of my life at year-end. At this time last year, I had never blogged, I had barely finished one novel, and I was just getting my feet wet trying to figure out how to get published.

Now, I've thoroughly sent out one novel and am two-thirds of the way through a second. I've been rejected, of course, but I've had some hopeful signs. I've spent almost the entire year learning and learning, as much as I can about the art of getting published, and I still feel like I barely know anything.

This isn't a business that comes naturally. You aren't born knowing it, just like you aren't born knowing how to write. Aside from ever improving your writing skills, you have to take the time to learn the two-step and do-si-do of how to get your work out there, or you don't have much of a chance. Even those of us who do spend the time learning it all don't have much of a chance, but there you go. We do it anyway.

The two things I've learned are 1) it really is true, the more you write, the better you get at it and 2) a network of other writers, whether on-line or in person (preferably both), is the only way to stay sane. Even if your family is supportive, other writers are the only ones who really get what you do, why you do it, and the crazy stuff it does to your mind. Other writers rock.

The other thing I've done all year is read... lots and lots. I'll wander into my reading list and come up with some kind of a year-end top 5.

When I get a minute, that is.