My Blog

As we reach the end of another year, I need to look back into my Excel files and see just how good or bad the year was. 2009, by far, was my most successful year in writing.  I sold one article to Highlights for Children Magazine and one to Appleseeds Magazine.  Those two alone, took my writing income to it's all time highest amount in history.  As of 12/26/09 I sold 13 articles to various children's magazines, sold 7 "Bite of Washington" cookbooks and received a couple of hopeful nibbles on agents for my newest cookbook, "Cowpokes Can Cook".

Perhaps the biggest hit my writing career took was me taking a part time job!  I started working for the Puyallup School District as a para educator.  It has been a wonderful way to be around kids and get inspiration for my writing.  However, it has also left me challenged to get contracts taken care of and limited my writing time to almost nothing.  Surprisingly, I did finish NANO this November with over 70,000 words.  Of course they are just words and it will take months to make sense of them.

My goals for 2009 were to sell at least one item per month.  I did that.  I wanted to break into the Carus Publishing.  I did that.  I wanted to break into Highlights.  I did that.  So what is next?  What are my goals for 2010?

1. I wish to devote more time to my writing crit group.  I love those gals and they are probably ready to boot me from lack of participation. They have taught me a bundle about writing and finding my errors.

2. Sell at least 24 articles.  Yes, I know that is two a month.

3. Secure an agent for my children's cookbook.

4. Blog more.  Imagine that.

5.  Write more!  Imagine that!

Happy new year 2010!