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“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
~ Neil Gaiman
Hugs and Chocolate celebrates not only the New Year, but our one-year anniversary as well. Thank you for being part of our tribe. This year, we’re offering more guest spots, workshops, and opportunities for our readers to receive feedback on queries, synopsis, and the first page of your work-in-progress. We’ve shared our personal “wishes” for the New Year and hope that you will join us in the comment section. And, please, let us know what we can do to help you reach your goals.
Happy New Year, H&C family.
Courtney:
1. Comment on more blog posts. There are so many wonderful blogs out there, and I want to read more and have a more active discussion on more posts.
2. Support and encourage other writers in any way I can.
3. Finish writing, rewriting, and editing my YA thriller.
4. Focus on getting healthier.
5. Travel to a foreign country.
6. Go home to visit my family at least three times. (I’m in Denver, they’re in Alabama.)
7. Continue improving my writing and editing craft.
8. Read more.
9. Be more confident in everything.
10. Help my husband finish his book.
11. I’m sure there are a million more, and I’m sure you all will hear about them throughout the year.
Heather:
1. For at least one reader to truly connect with Pretty Dark Nothing. For them to walk away from the book and still think about it hours, days later. All it takes is one.
2. Make more time to mentor other writers and give back more to the writing community
3. Enjoying this new journey as a published author and wherever that takes me.
4. Meet all the H&C ladies in person.
5. To see Pretty Dark Nothing sell to a foreign market. I would love to see the cover in a different language.
6. Sign copies of Pretty Dark Nothing at Mysterious Galaxies in San Diego. I LOVE this book store!!
7. Attend BEA, Bologna Book Festival, UtopYA Con, SCBWI Summer Conference, RT Book Lovers convention, WorldCon 2013 and make new friends along the way.
8. Start creative writing classes for children and young adults.
9. For Pretty Dark Nothing and the sequel to do well enough that a third book is optioned by my publisher.
Jani:
1. Get myself an agent. I’m not going to rush it. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to happen. 2013 would be nice though.
2. Read more. I managed about 40 books this year(beta reads included), and I’m not completely happy with the amount. Yes, I’m a slow reader, but this year’s slow as unnecessary.
3. Comment more on blog posts. I’ve been slacking, but I have this thing. I comment, and what I write sounds stupid, so most of the time I keep my thoughts to myself.
4. Write, rewrite, revise, and edit a novel tentatively titled My Bones. I want it done by the end of the year.
5. Polish my YA Steampunk
6. Finish up my YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale from NaNo 2010.
7. Be more structured in my writing time. The last four years it’s been all over the place. Yeah, it worked for me, but I like trying new things to see if it might work even better.
8. Beta read more.
9. Be open to new things. Now matter what.
Tonia:
1. Finish edits on Follow You Down and send to critique partners by end of January
2. Put final polish on Follow You Down and submit to agents and/or select small publishing houses
3. Finish 1st draft of my first YA dark fantasy, The Winter Tree
4. Read 52 books in 52 weeks, including craft books on writing.
5. Learn to love the revision and editing process
6. Quit smoking.
7. Establish a schedule that will allow me to write more and stress less.
8. Meditate daily- this can include running, yoga, or Pilates.
9. Be more of a pay-it-forward writer by encouraging others, beta reading, and sharing my list of YA agents and small publishing houses.
10. Set goals monthly, weekly, and daily.
11. Dedicate more time to my personal blog and establish a schedule I’ll carry through with.
Rebecca:
2. Edit my Current Novel to Completion
5. Continue Regular Blog Posts on Hugs & Chocolate and on my Personal Blog (http://jamieraintree.com)
Courtney Koschel has been writing since she could hold a crayon. She has worked as a journalist, editor, technical writer, and technical editor. Young adult fiction is near and dear to her heart, which is why she writes YA and all of its glorious sub-genres.
Tonia Marie Houston is a mother, writer, poet, bookworm, and blogger. When sheís not chasing her three spider monkeys, she spends her time revising a young adult novel about life after death and second chances. Though she began to pursue her career later in life, she hopes to inspire and motivate other writers to put their best book forward.
This native Texan now lives with her Scottish hubby in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where she wanders the moors in search of William Wallace. She has been a guest blogger on Writer Unboxed and is currently working on the sequel to her YA supernatural novel, Touched by Darkness.
Jamie Raintree writes what she likes to call everyday fairytale love stories, featuring the little moments in life that are truly magical. She lives in Arizona with her husband and daughter and is currently editing her second novel.
Jani Grey is a South African ambivert, writer, reader, optimist, and bacon enthusiast. When her boss isnít looking she writes, revises, or edits YA Urban Fantasies in between work. Sheís sneaky like that. Sheís a NaNoWriMo addict and is currently working on two NaNo novels.
Rebecca Fields is a modern gypsy, roaming from place to place in search of ñ well, sheíll let you know when she finds it. Writing has become a way for her to share her adventures, both real and imagined. Along with her on her journey are her son and an assortment of rescued animals.
