2016 sure was a mixed bag.
It saw some writerly highs: the publication of my first book, Goodnight Jesus. Goodnight Jesus has only been out for 3 months and it’s already headed to a second printing. I wrote 8 picture books drafts. (Thanks, 12×12!) Better yet some of them I’m not even embarrassed to put my name on! My middle grade book crossed an invisible threshold: it surpassed my Masters Thesis as the longest thing I’ve ever written. I scored high profile interviews for my nonfiction projects. I even pulled in some freelance projects that I’m very excited about. Not bad considering much of the year I’ve also been rebuilding our kitchen.
On a personal front it was mixed. I been to many happy weddings and welcomed many babies this year. There have also been funerals and hard losses.
2016 was also the year that brought “dumpster fire” into our shared vocabularies.
Dear 2016: I made you this ornament. It is a Dumpster fire. pic.twitter.com/XjbM18bC9i
— Jennifer Brooks (@stribrooks) November 20, 2016
2016 gave us heart wrenching international events and an the election that gave us nation-wide depression. Plus, it was a really bad year to be a celebrity. (Yes, really. Here’s a full statistical analysis to prove it.)
All in all, I’m happy to put 2016 behind me.
Hello 2017, full of hope and possibility. May you be a year of writerly success without the taint of dumpster fires.
In 2017 I want to continue to build on my successes. Writing 5 days a week (more if I can help it!). Reading hundreds of books. Learning about my craft. And contributing to my community and accountability.
Here’s to a new year!