Annual Report 2015

Steve Kaye, the hummingbird photographer who I met on my writing train trip, inspired me in so many ways. But it wasn’t until I got home and pursued his blog that I found this gem. This is a brilliant idea I’m going to steal. Every year he does an annual report documenting his progress as a photographer. I love this idea. Something to break down what you did over the year, show the progress you made, see what worked and what didn’t. This is valuable information when figuring out how to tackle the next year. It’s also going to be great thing to look back on. So here it goes: my first annual report tracking my progress as a writer.

2015 STATS:
Number of words written (in novel manuscripts): 50,016
            I’m sure I erased and wrote and rewrote so this is more of an approximation, but I’m proud of this number. This includes text added to my young adult novel that is on submission with editors now and the new YA novel I drafted and revised this year.
Number of picture book words I wrote this year: 524
            Again this is an approximation. That’s what this book ended up at but man I rewrote those words so many times! I know 524 doesn’t sound like a lot of words. With picture books every word counts so finding the perfect 524 words is no easy task. This picture is very personal and very close to my heart. Looking forward to sharing it.
Blog posts written: 11
            The year started slow. I didn’t want to generate content just to generate content. I had a lot of novel writing to do so I really blogged only when moved to. I want to continue this practice but the train trip I went on inspired me so much I have about 10 more blogs posts on the docket just reflecting on that!
Books read: 25 books
            I want to up this next year. It was a slow start, but I definitely picked up the end of the year. I’m always reading something at home and listening to another in the car. I think one of my goals should be to clear to my ever growing “to read” shelf (Even as I type that I realize that is a hilarious goal). There are just so many books to read out there and sometimes I get sad when I realize I will never be able to read “everything” Sigh. But dammit I will try.
Writing trips/conventions: 4                        SCBWI Los Angeles Writer’s day, San Diego Comic-Con, SCBWI Summer Conference and the cross country writing train trip. All so inspiring.
Writing classes:1
            I took a one-day workshop with Francesca Lia Block. She is one of my idols! Her books made me want to write for young adults and her class helped me lay the foundation for the novel I wrote this year. It was such a valuable day! If you live in LA, I highly recommend taking one of her classes. For those writers that don’t live here, she does online classes as well!
Number of agents I sent queries to: 87
            Yup. You read that right. The publishing industry is subjective and rejection is inevitable. I researched. I sent to agents I thought would be a good match. I reworked my letter and my pages when necessary. I kept going. It takes only one yes. I proudly signed with my agent this year!
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January 2015- The Art of Asking I loved this book written by Amanda Palmer. I needed this book in January. The year was starting out rough and I was drowning. Death in the family, doubts taking over my writing life and my regular life. Amanda Palmer’s book was a life preserver. It took me to shore and I picked myself and began.
Reading and writing while on my honeymoon in Hawaii

February 2015-Starting something new I hadn't started a new novel in a long time. This felt so good.
"Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling, but start. Start and don't stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just start." -Ijeoma Umebinyuo
I wrote a blog called Start.


March 2015-Your Infinite HeartAn opportunity arose to write a picture book. THE picture book. That one in my heart that’s been waiting to be written. I have a few stories of the heart waiting to be written. This one floated to the top and it was exactly the boost I needed.


April 2015- Stories connect us I had the opportunity to be part of Skype in the Classroom. I met with classes around the world and talking about stories. This was eye opening. This is why I do this.
I wrote a guest blog for The New Hollywood about this called Collateral Blessings.
My visit with an amazing class in Pakistan.

May 2015-Writing, Writing, Writing and marketing, marketing, marketingWriting: I was on a mission to get this first draft of Alien Boy out. A shift has happened. First drafts used to be hard for me. How do I get this right??? First drafts are now my favorite things. There is so much freedom here! I can write whatever I want.  WHATEVER I WANT. I can always fix it later. Doing this takes me places I wouldn’t dare to go sometimes.
Marketing: It’s a part of being an author. I love the new look of my website and pictures by the amazing Ragan Wallake. I also had the pleasure of speaking to the SCBWI Westside Schmooze about marketing with the fabulous author, Greg Pincus. 



June 2015- Exploring my passions
One of my goals this year was to bake a new pie a month. One of my friends happens to have an amazing food blog called Beauty in the Bite and we decided to collaborate! The Pie Lady was born.I also finished the first draft of Alien Boy. Finishing a draft feels so good.


July 2015- I heart process Despite the crowds, the sweat, the claustrophobic nature of that exhibit hall, I LOVE Comic Con. I get so inspired by the creators and the fans. The vibe is so motivating. There is nothing quite like it.
I get a good dose of process at SDCC. And I wrote a blog about it, I heart process.
The Walking Dead exhibit at SDCC.

August 2015- SCBWI Summer ConferenceI wrote this post after the conference ended: 
The SCBWI summer conference is over. (For those that don't know it's the Society of Children's books Writers and Illustrators) That conference is the place I feel most myself. The moment I enter those hotel sliding doors I feel tension fall away. I am with my tribe, surrounded by 1000 people who also love what I love. Stories. So grateful to be around people who totally get me. We value each other there. "What's your story? What do you write? What do you draw? What's yours?" And we do care. At least I do. It's place it's okay to scrawl down notes obsessively, daydream and believe. It's okay to talk about craft and process all day long. We are all in this together. I see that in everyone there, weather you are brand new, or a seasoned award winner. What always surprises me at the conference is when I can't think I could possibly be any hungrier for my writing career, my appetite increases 100 fold. I feel closer and closer to my goals. 
One thing I do that I think some might not understand is when I listen the keynotes, I write so much down. But it's not because a lot the things are new to me. Some are but not all. I write things down that I've heard before. Because writing things down solidifies it in my mind even more. I can't hear those important lessons too many times. "Work hardest" was a big one that carved itself even deeper into my soul with every pen stroke. My emotions feel right at the surface when I'm at the conference. It's actually right where I like them to be. It's invigorating. But that vulnerability is not sustainable back here in the real world. Walking out the hotel doors I feel the thread of magic from the weekend pulled from me in spools. But I keep enough to fuel me. Let's get to work.Thank you Lin Oliver and Steve Mooser.
Dan Santat speaking at the SCBWI LA Summer Conference.
After the conference I was ready to hit that revision of Alien Boy with all I got.
September 2015- Soul-mate agent!            I found her or she found me? Either way. It was an exciting month. Finally finding that yes and validation outside myself and outside my inner circle. She had wonderful notes for my first novel I wrote and I set forth on a rewrite and once that was done my baby is officially on submission, sent out into the world. Yikes and yay!


October 2015- Writing Train Trip This was a trip of a lifetime. For me writing goes with trains like pencils go with paper. It was everything and more.
Steve Kaye  who we met on this trip and source of inspiration of this annual report, said this on the train, “The people in coach are aggressively peculiar. The people in sleeper cars are deliberately peculiar.” AGREED.
I am blogging weekly about this. Find all the Elizabeths on a Train posts on this blog to read about this adventure. The other Elizabeth is also blogging about this, check it out on her website.


November 2015-InspirationI had the chance to go to an event in Long Beach and see my other writing idol, Neil Gaiman. Such a wonderful night. I had the chance to meet him briefly before the event and he told me, “Confidence is everything. Have that and they will follow you anywhere." I take that to heart.




I also took a great trip my husband to Solvang, CA, a little Danish town north of Santa Barbara. Inspiration found me there.
A story begins with this clock.This was at the medicine I needed to keep revising.
December 2015-RechargingThis month was about fueling the fire (reading a lot) and wrapping up first revision of Alien Boy. Getting some good family time in. Preparing mentally for the next year.


What this year taught me?I learned that working harder is the key. Not where I want to be yet? Work harder.
Some goals I’m thinking about for 2016 are: Reading more non-fiction, getting my next novel ready for submission and working with Francesca Lia Block one on one on my manuscript. 2016, let’s do this!

 What goals do YOU have for next year?