A New Year is Here!

Tip of the Day: The Dream Big blog series is still going on and continues through January. You can read the entries HERE.

Last year my goals were to work REALLY hard to make CHASING BROOKLYN and IT’S RAINING CUPCAKES the best they could be. I think I did that, and I’m proud of how they turned out. CHASING BROOKLYN has received two wonderful reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, and I’m getting lots of nice notes from readers, so YAY! The hard work paid off!

I also wanted to stop worrying about things I can’t control, like sales, negative reviews, etc. I said, “I want to write without worrying about it all.” I’m carrying this forward to this year because I’m still working on this. It’s hard! But important. I don’t think I worry as much as I used to, so that’s good. Progress is always good!

My last goal was to go to New York to meet my publishing peeps. That didn’t happen, I went to ALA in Chicago instead, and I’m happy I went. I met Tina there! This year, New York is going to happen, and I’m so excited!

Writing wise, last year I spent a good chunk of time writing a book different than anything else I’ve ever written. I wrote it for me, and I had fun. We’ll see if it sells in the coming weeks, but if not, I needed that time to write something fun, and I’m glad I did it!
So, new goals?

It’s a new year, and a new opportunity to grow as a writer. I’ve taken the leap and today is my last day at the day job. My only job now will be author!! I’m excited and nervous and a hundred other things, but more than anything, I want to enjoy this time in my life. I don’t know how long it will last, but while it’s here, I want to wake up every day and appreciate all that comes with it. It’s an incredible thing, to be an author for kids and teens, and I feel so incredibly blessed.

One thing I really need to do is figure out school visits. How to do them, how to market myself to do them, and get some scheduled for next school year, hopefully.

Other than that, I think it comes down to what I often sign in my books.

Read. Write. Dream.

Yep. That pretty much covers it.

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career