Last year at this time I had just been through the Pitch Wars Showcase and was beginning a journey querying my first middle-grade book. Then the pandemic hit full force. Everything seemed to come to a screeching halt. Like many of you, my focus shifted. There was so much uncertainty and worry.
I decided to stop querying my book and focus on work and family. In the interim, I sought and received editorial and agent feedback. With that feedback, I took the book back into deep revisions. It has finally re-emerged! Shiny new words, deeper POV, and even a new title.
Between last March and today, here are just a few highlights:
- Joined a new critique group (virtually) with members from my regional SCBWI
- Attended several webinars for writers via SCBWI (a great way to connect with others during the pandemic)
- Completely rewrote my Pitch Wars book
- Started writing an adult cozy mystery (my first!)
- Outlined and began writing a new middle-grade fairy-tale retelling (I’m so excited about this one!)
- Had the privilege to read several ARCs as well as beta reading some books that I can’t wait for you all to be able to read as well
During it all, I continued to write as a freelancer, although by the end of 2020 I had significantly scaled back the amount of work I contracted. I much prefer fiction writing and am all in on this publishing journey.