Hey all,
I can’t believe 2019 is almost over. It’s been a crazy and awesome year. I’m currently participating in Julie Hedlund’s end of the year reflection called 12 Days of Christmas for Writers. In it, she challenges us to make a list of our writing successes and share it on our blogs, so here goes nothin’:
- Signed my first book contract
- Became represented by an amazing literary agent Rebecca Angus at Golden Wheat Literary
- Changed my bio to say “author”
- Went on submission for the first time with my agent
- Co-created the Spring Fling Writing Contest with one of my critique partners Ciara O’Neal and we had over 40 wonderful participants
- Created the Fall Writing Frenzy on a lark and got so many generous donors donors from the writing community and the wonderful Lydia Lukidis and Jolene Gutierrez helped me make it awesome for the over 150 participants
- Earned an Honorable Mention from Diana Murray for Tara Luebbe’s Writing with the Stars
- Participated in 12 Days, Storystorm, NaPiBoWriWee, and Teacher’s Write
- Was a Finalist for Picture Book Party and got an editor’s interest, got likes from Twitter Pitch events
- Became a literary intern at Olswanger Literary
- Made many new connections with writers
- Created new Critique Groups, including an in person one, and was invited into others
- Competed in Writing Contests, and got an Honorable Mention in #50PreciousWords, thanks Vivian Kirkfield!
- Amped up my blog with more interviews and writing
- Built my platform on my blog, Twitter, and Facebook
- Found balance between work, writing, family, and internship
- I met a CP in person (and she introduced me to Vietnamese food–so delicious!) thanks Katie!
- Participated in Picture Book Palooza by Children’s Book Academy and Black Friday Boot Camp by Storyteller Academy
- Got a Black Friday Boot Camp conference membership donated to me by a friend who knew I wanted to go but couldn’t afford it
- Started logging information about the books I’m reading to refer to later
- Spent TONS of time at the library and made such great friend in the wonderful librarians
- Began listening to audio books for commutes; now I do that more often than watching TV shows when I get home
- Began reading graphic novels, middle grade, and chapter books
- Made more of an effort to review books on Goodreads and Amazon
- Learned how to make blog posts even better with images and connections to social media
- Joined the Authors Posse
- Won books and critiques from blogs and twitter contests (and donated a query critique to a CP)
- Tried writing in different styles for my picture books (parallel, how to, and unreliable narrator)
- Started making dummies to see what my picture books would be like–really helps with word count cutting, thanks Tara Lazar and Debbie Ohi
- Came up with many new story ideas
If you’re a writer, I’d love to hear about your successes and if you’re interested in Julie Hedlund’s Reflection, it’s not too late, come join us!
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez 
Lots of successes. Great year!
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Thank you so much, my friend!! It sure was. Here’s to hoping next year is even better!
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Wow, What a year!! You’ve had a year full of success!! The third one gave me goosebumps!
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😍😍😍 thank you! Isn’t that the coolest!?
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Kaitlyn is an energizer bunny mixed with sweet candy. Amazing heart, fabulous passion, and determination. She never stops and she does not let us stop either. Success, amiga!
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Aw Ana thank you so much for being so encouraging amd supportive. And I’m so happy my encouragement helps too, always here for you, Amiga!
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Wow! That’s a great list of accomplishments. I haven’t been doing 12 Days this year because I have been putting my energy in a few other places, but maybe there’s still time.
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Thank you and yes there’s still time, definitely do it; it’s worth it!
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Wow! What a year! Congratulations on all your successes and here’s to another wonderful year to come! I’m so glad our journeys coincided. I look forward to seeing where you go.
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Thank you so much and I’m so glad our journies coincided, too! So excited to see what 2020 brings for us both
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So great seeing just a sample of your successes listed here, Kaitlyn! You have definitely been a big part of my successes, and I can add ‘great critique partners and friends’ as one of mine : )
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Aw you’re so sweet and I’m so incredibly thankful that you’re a great friend and CP and thr only one I’ve gotten to meet in real life😍 love you, girl!
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Love all your successes. And this post. I used it start my calendar for the year of all the “extras” I want to do. I have to remember that writing and editing come first, though. That’s my kryptonite. I start reading blog posts and entering new things and forget to go back to my other writing. But here’s to a new year and renewed energy!
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Yes!! The good back is so helpful too and we always forget about that right?! I hope your new year is absolutely wonderful
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You are a Rock Star!! I’m glad to have met you in 2019!
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Aw, thank you! You are such a rockstar too, I’m so happy we met, can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store for us!
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What an amazing list! Thanks for sharing it because it allowed me to consider things in terms of successful accomplishments instead of the endless to-do lists that always have one or two things I never got around to taking care of. Hope 2020 is even brighter for you.
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Roberta, I’m so happy it helped you see the positive too! Julie is so inspiring, isn’t she? I’m so thankful I found her 12 days group
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Amazing! You should be very proud!!! I can’t wait to see what 2020 brings for you!
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Thank you so much, Kelly! I love Julie’s program, it really does allow us to be proud and focus on the positive, right?!❤️ I hope 2020 I your year too, my friend!
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🤗
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A rather belated: Congratulations on such a successful year!! I hope 2020 will bring just as many wonderful things and more. I was certain that I was following your blog (how could I not??), but just realised I wasn’t. How odd. Anyway, I’ve now rectified the error ;-).
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Helen, you are so sweet. Thank you! I hope your 2020 has so many stellar things coming too, and thanks so much for following and your kind words. No error at all, by so so happy your now following ❤️
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Thanks, same to you, I’m happy to have you as a writer friend 😘.
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