I awoke at four in the morning crafting this letter, then fell asleep, so I’m sure this version is nothing compared to what I wanted to say last night. Such is the mind of a writer.
This year seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye. It started with finishing edits on my young adult duology, book one. Then I took the brave step of submitting to agents and publishers from April through to October, with some hiatuses in between. I received a few replies of great and valuable feedback, and with a few tweaks to my query letter, I’ll be ready to submit again in the new year. While the feedback was promising, unfortunately, the storyline didn't align with what was being sought.
The publishing industry operates on its own schedule. Some responses take weeks to months for a reply to come in, if at all. It’s all subjective what the person reading the query is looking for. It’s like winning the lottery.
You may ask why I’m sending my work out for submission. Yes indeed, I could publish the book on my own, as I’ve done with my two children’s books, and a self-help journal. This time, I wanted to test the waters of acceptance in the ‘publishing world.’
In 2024, if I don’t get representation (aka a signed contract), and when I also have book two complete and ready to roll out, then I will look at a self publishing model.
In the meantime, I am two-thirds of the way through the second novel. This year, I took part in the Airdrie Voice and Vision project (one of my pieces appeared in Airdrie Life Magazine, Fall issue). https://patricialatchison.substack.com/p/willy-nilly-legacy While I completed a chapter for a dragon story, a collaboration effort of a book to be published in the spring, I also put the final editing touches on a rather long short story, called The Healing, which I’ve started sending off to magazines.
Writing a new Substack post every month this year was exciting, and I hope to write more often next year. I appreciated your comments. If there’s something you’d like me to write about, please let me know.
On a personal note, my husband and I enjoyed summer camping (okay glamping) and golfing. We’re beyond excited to greet our first grandchild in January. I’ve been told our lives will change with this new arrival.
My motto throughout the year was, “Remember why you started and don’t give up.” You bet I have not. For reasons of insanity that I can’t quite put a finger on, I keep continuing on and on and on. Sometimes I feel like the energizer bunny (with no batteries—okay, maybe the self-winding ones.) With my projects, I break them down into steps while saying to myself, “Just get through this step, and keep going.”
I don’t like New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I prefer goal setting and tracking progress, broken down into attainable steps (as if I haven’t mentioned that step thing before.) With 2024 coming, I’ll take a moment to regroup, to list the to-do’s, to take a breath, or two or three, and greet the new year as an opportunity to continue—to attain those goals and not give up.
No matter where you are taking those steps, whether it is the first, somewhere in the middle, or the last one and then onto something new, be sure to move forward.
This is a hard time of year for many. I wish blessings of joy to everyone. Take a breath. Take time. Do what you need to do, and then, when 2024 comes along, be ready. Go for a glorious ride. Write your chapter, a step-by-step guide to your goals, wishes and dreams.
May health bless your body, moments of joy fill your mind, and peace settle in your soul.
I look forward to sharing more stories and exciting news with you in 2024. Thank you for journeying with me on this sometimes lonely road of being an author!
Wishing you a blessed holiday season…