IWSG - Welcome to 2013

Happy New Year everyone!  It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means its time for my post for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group -- which I'm combining with my 2012 wrap-up and a peek ahead to next year.  Just in case you've spent large amounts of time under a rock this year and not familiar with what IWSG is all about, just click on the badge above to become enlightened.

Although not a big believer in resolutions, I am a proponent of pausing at years end to take stock of how far I've come so I can gauge my progress, as far as my writing is concerned that is.  My theme heading into the year was making it uncomfortable in my comfort zone, and I'd like to think that my results prove that discomfort can lead to growth. 

Blog-wise, 2012 was a huge success.  I posted 165 times (most ever), which garnered me a whopping 49150 site hits, 6000+ comments (avg of 40 per post), and propelled me over the 1000 follower mark.  My Origins blogfest pulled in 212 participants, and I participated in the A to Z Challenge for the first time (as well as co-hosting) and thoroughly enjoyed it.  But it was WRiTE CLUB 2012 that was a monstrous achievement, but not without its cost.  It gobbled up all of my free time, energy, and pulled me away from both the blogosphere and writing time.  My biggest success, by far, is the wealth of relationships I continue to reap the benefit of via this blog.  All of you are pure awesomesauce, and I don't know what I would do without your support!

My other project's were a mixed bag of results.  I began querying FALLEN KNIGHT last year, and despite a couple of requests for fulls...it remains unclaimed. I did have a short story picked up for publication (coming out in early 2013), and I did finish the first draft of my 3rd novel...which is my first venture into the YA arena, so overall I'm pleased with my progress because I can definitely feel a forward momentum heading into the new year.

But life has decided to intercede and throw my family a curve ball for 2013.  For an indeterminate amount of time, circumstances will require that most of my energy be focused on my family.  That doesn't mean that I'm dropping off the radar (again) or giving up on my dream of publication, but for the time being I may not be able to give it the attention required for ultimate success.  Don't fear, my resolve is as strong as ever, and so is my patience.

And to tie this back to the theme of today's post, if there was one piece of advice I could give to an insecure writer, whatever the circumstances, is that calm patience will prove to be your best friend...if you can learn to develop it.

Welcome to 2013! :)