Well first, I’d like to welcome my new readers. I used to post more than spotlights, tips, and guest posts (swearsies!) but life got a little crazy. I’ve been juggling school, interning, writing, WriteOnCon, work, this blog, critique partners, two kids, and everything that comes along with each. I made it through about half the year before things started falling apart and I had to take a hard look at all the places my time was sneaking off to. Out of everything, Lit Rambles was, unfortunately, among the easiest of things to pull back on.
To my faithful followers who haven’t bored of me, hi! I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet. I hope you haven’t been concerned. I kept thinking I just needed a break and I’d be back in full force but here it is the end of the year and things are still quiet. It really has been because of business and mental blankness. I’d want to post something outside of the usual features but my mind was just…mush.
And yeah, it’s still mush.
I’ve had a pretty awesome year though, quick as its gone by. I met my 2010 goals. Agent Spotlight is still going strong. WriteOnCon was born and rocked. I went to my first SCBWI conference. Friends of mine have gotten agents and book deals. I’m still reading for a lit agent and love it. And my recent biggie, I quit my job in November! Let’s just say, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this peaceful. As for writing, I’m revising. Yes! Not drafting, not rewriting, not staring at the screen (okay, maybe sometimes) but revising.
So, naturally, my main my goal for 2011 is to finish this novel, revisions and all, and take the next step. Aside from that, I’ll be focusing on school. I’m graduating in June and really looking forward to having that time back as well. I think it’s going to be a year of Big Accomplishments, even if that only extends as far as finishing my novel and graduating school. Reasonable goals, yes?
Also, I put my feelers out about this on Twitter, but I should discuss it here as well. I’m thinking about taking a two or three month break from Agent Spotlight to do major updates in 2011. I’m just shy of 100 spotlights and can’t keep them all up-to-date any longer. In fact, I might have to bring in a blog partner this year if I intend to keep profiling new agents. I haven’t made any solid decisions yet except to take time off to update the oldest of the bunch. I’d love your thoughts.
I’m sure there’s a lot more I should reflect on or say about 2010 and 2011 but nothing more is coming to mind at the moment. Thank you for your friendship and support. I get so many great comments and e-mails about this blog and I so appreciate them. I hope you all have a safe, happy New Year’s. I’m wishing you the best in 2011.
In close, here are some my favorite reads from 2010. A few will be coming out in 2011. Please click on the covers for more info.
31 comments:
It's been a busy year for you for sure! Congrats on quiting the job and it will be great when you finish school. Keep up the revising. Love the blog!
Thank you, Jan! I hope you're finding success with your mystery novels. They sound fun. Best to you!
Sounds like you've accomplished a lot and still have tons on your plate with school and WriteOnCon. Don't feel bad if you need to take a break on the spotlights. Or maybe re-post some of the older ones. Not all of us, me included, have seen them all.
Glad to hear you're revising your manuscript. I have to do another round when I get the energy but am also looking at a new project. Happy New Year and hope you have a great year.
You're wonderful. Thank you for everything. I hope that 2011 is great for all of us.
I'll echo Richard's post and add...
You are amazing, Casey! You work so hard for all of us aspiring authors. Thank you.
May 2011 be your year in which fantastic things happen for you and your family! Congrats on finishing your novel and good luck with the revising.
Thanks for all the great information you provide! I got scared the other day when I clicked on your blog and nothing was there and then so happy a couple days later when I saw you were still here- whew!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for all you do!
I hope you have great success in 2011!
The progress you've made on your novel is really exciting. Congratulations on getting to the point of revision. Now all the fun really begins, right?
One more semester to go. That's really exciting as well. I hope it doesn't get too crazy for you at the end.
To echo the others, thank you so much for all you do for us aspiring writers. We really appreciate all your enthusiasm and encouragement.
I have to say that I really appreciate your blog and all the awesomeness you provide for us! You really put in a lot of time and effort into it all, and it shows. I think any direction you take it will be a good one! I'll keep coming back, for sure!! Happy New Year!
Being busy is a good thing! This blog is really helpful and I'm glad you've updated it as much as you have. You've included a lot of great agents and updating the older ones would be great :)
See you in the new year!
Casey, I really appreciate your agent spotlight and have referred many people to your blog. I'm sure its alot of work, thank you so much for keeping it going.
I wish you all the best in 2011!
Happy new year ... hope this year is a little less hectic for you ... but I guess changes are it'll spin just as fast
Anyone who has two kids and has time to do anything else besides collapse on the bed is at the top of their game by me.
Congrats on everything (including seeing the need to walk away from blogging for a while), and thanks for the list of books - I gave two of them to my nieces for Christmas, and their birthdays are just a month away.
I don't comment often enough, but I do stop here every day. Thank you for the blog and the agent information and for everything else you do to help writers. You're awesome.
Here's to an awesome 2011 for us all. =o)
Happy New Year! This one is going to be awesome. Full of awesomeness you know. I love your book listing. I haven't read some of those so now I must read them!
I think, considering the amazing and informative information you post weekly, you deserve a break.
Your blog is so helpful to those of us trying to maneuver our way through the publishing process. Any time you wish to take to improve upon it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for all you do and best of luck in 2011!
Take the time for yourself! I've been worried for some time that you'd taken on too much. Your site is an incredibly resource that a lot of people use and enjoy, but nothing is more important than your peace of mind, your family, and your writing.
It's nice to see a personal post, but I can understand why you haven't had time to do them. You've accomplished so much with this blog. I truly admire you for all you do. Best of luck in the coming year. I hope you get a chance to breathe!
Happy New Year to you too. Thank you for all the work you put into this blog. For me, it wouldn't be necessary to update all the profiles. For me, it is enough that they all have a date in the header. Any reasonable writer can go from there and find out more on his/her own (well, I can). I'm looking forward to hear that you've got an agent and a book-deal (although I have to admit that I was slightly envious when Beth announced hers in 2010). ;-)
Good luck, and don't think that we expect you to go crazy on our behalf.
Your agent spotlights are the best! I see no reason why an updated profile couldn't qualify as a new post. That way, you can have new posts as you update profiles for a while.
You are in the homestretch in an unbelievable number of things. It looks like 2011 will be your year!
It's good to hear how you're doing--and man, that you are? I'm not sure you've got the same 24 hours as me... ;)
I love the idea of posting the updates as you get to them, and also suspect you wouldn't have any trouble finding someone willing to jump in and share the load. This blog is a fantastic resource, and a wonderful connection between you and the writing world. Just wait 'til your book comes out--you're going to discover just how far flung your connections are!
Thanks Casey for all you do. And you do a lot! I hope 2011 is a fantastic year for you. Blessings always, Buffy
Great books on your list!
2011 IS going to be a big year for you. I wish you all the best!!
All of you who have Blogger set up with your e-mail, I just e-mailed my thanks! Those of you who don't...
Suzie F: Thank you! I hope 2011 is a fabulous year for us both.
Kimberly: That's weird about the blog (and scary)! I hope you don't have any other issues with it. Happy New Year to you!
Megan: Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoy Lit Rambles despite me pulling back. Happy New Year!
CL: Thank you for the referrals. Wishing you the best in 2011 as well!
Carolyn: Thank you! You're right. I think I've managed okay but 2011 should be even better. Happy New Year!
Cat: I do hope everyone is looking at the dates in the headers and checking the comments for updates, but I'd still like to have relatively up-to-date info. Here's to a fabulous 2011 for us both!
Erin: Thank you! I'm worried about re-posting since I link to all the profiles in the sidebar. I don't want to confuse people with multiple links. I'll definitely post when I update though. I hope 2011 is as great a year for you as I think it will be for me!
Suzanne: I don't even know what 24 hours I'm in. Ha! Thank you for the kind words. I hope 2011 is a fabulous year for you!
Thanks everyone! You're the best of the best.
Sounds like 2011 will be a big for you! Congrats on meeting all your goals for '10! :)
Thank you, Laura! I hope you have a great year as well.
I've enjoyed reading your blog these past few months--thank you for your hard work!
Thank you for reading, Priscilla. It's nice to see you commenting!
Hats off to you for quitting your job, that's a big step. There's a lot on here I haven't seen yet, it's all so useful. Do what you ahve to do and thanks for doing it :)
Thank you, Kangaroobee! Let me know if I can point you toward anything. Happy New Year!
Wahoo! No more job = more time for the things you want to achieve in life. Go, girl!
As far as the Agent Spotlights go, I think you should do what your gut tells you. You have more than enough here to keep most of us going for a good long time. Don't stress.
And Happy New Year!
The quiet was okay. I didn't mind (sorry for being quiet on my end as well, comment-wise). You've been heck-uv-alot busy to justify it. :) Congrats on graduating in June! That is crazy awesome. I remember when you asked about different POV in YA lit. Wow... that doesn't seem that long ago. And I can't wait for your novel, really. :)
Oh, and if you need help with the Agent Spotlight (or anything, really), I'd be happy to help. Happy New Year to you too! :D
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