Writing Reflections

2023 Year in Review

Each year, I participate in Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas reflections. It’s one of several things I do to wrap up the year and look ahead into the next.
 
I sometimes post some of the successes publicly. Sometimes, I just keep them in my journal. This year, I decided to write about some of the things I could share publicly.
 

Poetry Successes

 
 
 

Poetry Publications

Book Announcements

While I didn’t sell either of these books in 2023, this was the year they were finally announced and I got to talk about them in public! 

YA Historical Fiction Novel-in-Verse, sold in 2022, announced in 2023, coming from Versify in September 2024. 

 

Nonfiction Picture Book sold in 2020, announced in 2023, coming from Chronicle Books in Spring 2025

 

Learning

  • Attended SCBWI NYC conferences in February 2023
  • Took a local history class through the community college
  • Webinar on historical fiction novels-in-verse through Writing Barn
  • Two Inked Voices editor workshops
  • Participated in a poetry book study on Inked Voices
  • Lead a book study on Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep on Inked Voices 
  • Lead a book study on 12 Week Year for Writers on Inked Voices 
  • Attended 6 sketch hikes with the local Parks and Recreation department
 

Presentations

  • “Filling the Library Shelves” with Jess Stork
  • Process talk on Wait, Rest, Pause for NF PB group on Inked Voices
  • Panel presentation with Mid-Atlantic authors as Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL)
  • “Digging Deep: Researching Your Nonfiction or Historical Fiction Project” for SCBWI Mid-Atlantic
  • “Digging Deep: Researching Your Nonfiction or Historical Fiction Project” for SCBWI MD/DE/WV
 
 

Books Read

 
Here are the stats of the books I read in 2023. I hesitated to post with a day and a half left in the year, but oh well. This is what I’ve finished as of December 30. 
 
 
My local library also tells you how much money you’ve saved by borrowing books. Here was my end-of-the-year total: $11,783.03!
 
 
 
 

Money

I know it’s weird to talk about money, and this business is so unpredictable. Because of a converging of circumstances (mostly book advances), I made more money with my writing in 2023 than I’ve ever made before. It’s been a big milestone, and I spent some of that money on conferences I normally can’t afford to attend. I know each year will be different, but I feel like I should toast 2023 (and my agent) for that reason alone. 
 
I think I’m most proud of how hard I’ve thrown myself into poetry. I still have a lot to learn and ways to grow, but I’ve loved being a part of a poetry community. 
 
What are you most proud of in 2023? 
 
 

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