A year in review

I published my first book in February 2017 and cannot believe it has been a year since I officially became an author.  There have been tears of joy, tears of frustration, sadness, exhaustion, and just about any other emotion you can imagine. But it's all worth it. I'm lucky enough to have friends and family (and amazing husband) who support my insane ambition to keep writing.   It's baffling to see how much I've learned in a year. Seriously... I had no idea what the heck I was doing when I self-published. I've been reflecting on the past 12 months and wanted to write out 12 things that I've either learned or realized since I entered into this beautiful, crazy publishing world. 

1. The first draft is ONLY the beginning.  There are so many steps after typing the end.
2. Editing could very well be the death of me. I'm getting marginally better, but it's comparable to pulling my own teeth out. 
3. I am a 'panster' rather than a plotter. (This means I sit down and type the story as it comes--letting the characters decide where to go)
4. Less is more.  There's no need to over-explain every detail 
5. Reading your favorite genres is the quickest way to get motivation back.
6. Reading outside your favorite genre helps you grow (as a writer & a person!)
7. My day isn't complete if I don't write at least for twenty minutes. I get restless if I skip. It's not such a part of my routine, it's natural to make time for it. 
8. I have pet words (who knew?) that I use TOO DAMN MUCH. I also cuss a lot. 
9. The writing community online is amazing and so welcoming. 
10. Self-promo is the definition of awkward. 
11. There are pros and cons to both self-publishing & traditional publishing.
12. Never underestimate the power of a playlist--music means more to me now as a writer than it ever had before.

I'm excited to see how much more I'll have learned in another year from now. Regardless, I love being a part of this publishing world and am so blessed to have these experiences. 

Jaqueline 

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