My year is up! Goal report.

A year ago, I set a goal: to give my all toward my writing career seeing that I got a windfall of hours due to my youngest finally heading to school full time.

I'd said if things don't go as I want, I'd consider heading to grad school (yes, I'd be completely out of my element... college was a loooong time ago.)

I started by entering the esteemed PitchWars with my YA, Mega Girl, again, this time a heavily revised version. It didn't makes it, but the encouraging letters made me think it's so darned close. So, I entered another, got lucky and got in. And wow, a few agents were intrigued. And the querying process began.

Then, I plotted a new YA, an upper YA... one I always wanted to write. Then for NaNoWriMo, I finished it in 18 days. Its temp title is Lotus Island. I get to tackle the first draft soon.

Then I returned to the previous year's NaNo... an NA, a category I had never written before, but after reading the NAs from many of my peers, I wanted to try. It was the most fun I'd ever had writing a manuscript. And I revised... and I had beta readers—fantastic beta readers... and I revised more. And I set a goal: to pitch it at my local RWA conference.

Meanwhile, Mega Girl's rejections started coming in in clumps... A few had interesting feedback, like it read young, it started in the wrong place, or it's a tough market (apparently a knack I have is picking the hardest market). Things like that. Some had the dreaded "dear author" which is one of the worst things to read when you're feeling puny.

I went to my first writer's retreat with some amazing writers who helped me in more ways than I imagined. (Can't wait until next year!)

Got a few more rejections and decided to take a Mega break.

And my NA got some love from a mentor in a new contest. That's right, what is now known as Nothing Ever Goes As Planned was liked, loved, by someone who wanted to take it under their wings! And the last near three months have been working toward that goal.

And now, I'm here a year later with three books, two completed and one just beginning. And funny enough, I'm entering Pitch Wars again too. Different story this time.

I've come full circle doing the exact same thing.

Nope, there's no publisher. No agent. No plans to self-publish yet.

Same spot, but I'm not in the same position. So far away...

So, I made that goal and then some. I've no plans to go to grad school anymore. I think I'm getting plenty of lessons from my tribe and betas and CPs without paying an arm and a leg.

I guess the point of the story is: Learn every day from yourself, others and you're richer for it.

Now to set up my next year's goals.

Fellow writer/Twitter love fest

Last year, I had a story I wanted to share. I shared it in Pitch Wars. It was enjoyed, but not enough. And it needed something more. Many tips and advice on it came my way.

So, I put it away and wrote a new story. And I fell in love with it.

Then, I decided to put that away so I could return to the old story and rewrite it. And I did.

This year, I decided to try to share it again.

This year it's stronger. This year I'm stronger.

How?

I listened. I read. I pondered. And I revised my ass off.

I follow a collection of amazing writers.

From a simple bit of advice of tense that helped their own novel to a day-by-day book plotting in a month to a short letter that told me what was missing from my MS, I've gotten the best bits.

Then, the critique partners I've met and came to trust my babies with have become a support group beyond what I could ever expect.

So, as I prepare to enter my second Pitch Wars with a new version of last year's story, I must make this post short. But I have a huge list of thank yous. And a lot of you already know who you are.

Pitch Wars Pimp my Bio!

Hello everyone! 

This is in response to the #pimpmybio for PITCH WARS, also known as the coolest opportunity for writers to get to know each other and work with pros in the biz. 

This is all due to Brenda Drake, who had this brilliant idea 

and has gotten to watch it blossom to the contest it is today. 

(She's an author herself and has a couple books 

THIEF OF LIES and TOUCHING FATE) coming out!)

And here are a few random facts about me, Ann Marjory K, other than being a YA and NA writer.

*I'm from Chicago!*

It's my hometown! My family and I live in the center of it. Steps from Soldier Field (I'm not a Bears fan, though), the Sears Tower (it's never going to be the Willis Tower to me), Lake Michigan 

and the coolest museums around. 

Look, you can see my house!

*Best Food Ever?*

Sushi! Gawd, just give it to me and I'm happy. I also get out-of-control cravings for Indian food and chips and salsa. Not to say I give in, I just crave them hard. 

Cute! And I will eat it all.

What I eat everyday? Sweet Potatoes. Blame my Whole 30 diet. 

Baked, roasted, mashed or topped with a dab of ghee, I love them.  

Nom.Nom. In many ways.

*Drinks!*

If I lived on coffee, tea and water, I'd be fine. I take my coffee black ever since my freshman year of college when I decided to check it out. All that cream and sugar get in the way of caffeine.

*Favorite all time books my MS is nothing like.*

I fell in love with 100 Years of Solitude and Wise Blood in college. The beautifully written, magical realism of 100 Years and the brilliant, unforgettable characters of Wise Blood will stay with me forever. I've yet to read their equals. Once every five years I'll pick them up. Matter of fact, I'm due.

*What I Read More Often*

Most of the time, I stick with YAs, NAs and some adult. I like fantasy, so long as it's light, but that's not to say I won't read a good fantasy like Lord of the Rings. I love contemporaries as well. And when there's humor, that' a bonus. 

When I need a break, I read a non-fiction something.. anything! 

*Stress relief, sewing, also known as the anti-writing*

When I need a break from writing, I turn to my sewing machine. I haven't had a lesson since junior high and I tend to follow my own pattern rather than someone else's, but I'm having a blast with it. I've altered many t-shirts, mini skirts and love creating costumes.

*Costumes*

Speaking of, I can't go without sharing what a huge nerd I am. I don't think I ever outgrew Halloween. I took it to another level last year, though, and tried cosplay. It is the most fun I can have one weekend per year. If you can recognize any of these characters, I give you bonus geek points!

ps: It's even more fun when my kids join in.

6 extra facts some people may find interesting:

1. I've never once watched Big Bang Theory. 
2. I also can't quite get into Dr. Who.
3. I will reference Princess Bride, Sixteen Candles and The Goonies as much as humanly possible. 
4. This is the first blog entry and/or tweet I've ever used gifs in.
5. I also love Star Wars (possible more so now that I have kids who dress as Princess Leia and Boba Fett). Watching order here: New Hope, Empire, Jedi, Clone Wars, Rebels. (Don't bother with those first three, they just draaag). 
6. Oh, and Empire is the BEST one because, well, AT-ATs. 

Look at them! Aren't they AWESOME? *STOMP* *pew! pew!*

That's all I got! Check out the rest of my fellow contestants here!

And Thank You, Chris Keelty, for hosting everyone!