"WORDS ARE, IN MY NOT-SO-HUMBLE OPINION, OUR MOST INEXHAUSTIBLE SOURCE OF MAGIC. CAPABLE OF BOTH INFLICTING INJURY, AND REMEDYING IT." ~ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Raindrops on Roses/Whiskers on Kittens



2010 is right around the corner! I have no doubt it's going to be a fabulous year--but I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2009 before it's gone.

My Favorite Things from 2009

YA BOOKS:
  1. Shiver
  2. Hunger Games
  3. Lipstick Apology
INDUSTRY BOOKS:
  1. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
  2. The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile
  3. 2010 Guide to Literary Agents
WRITING (REFERENCE) WEBSITES:
  1. Thesaurus.com
  2. Wordle
  3. Wikipedia
WRITING (INDUSTRY) BLOGS:
  1. Nathan Bransford
  2. http://www.agentquery.com/
  3. Writer Beware Blogs
PERSONAL DECISIONS:
  1. Quit teaching to write full-time (a HUGE thank you to my awesome husband for this one too!)
  2. Start a writing blog
  3. Check out twitter... where I met fabulous writers and my super awesome CPs!
WRITING BUDDIES:
Okay, so I love all my writing buddies! But four in particular have really rocked my world this year...
NON-WRITING WEBSITES:
  1. Google
  2. Facebook
  3. Fark.com
MOVIES:
  1. Avatar... HANDS DOWN
  2. Taken
  3. The Hangover/X-Men Origins: Wolverine/Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (what? I couldn't choose!!)
VACATION:
  1. My honeymoon in St. Lucia


  2. My first ever trip to Boston


  3. Christmas in Kentucky with my in-laws and ADORABLE nephews & nieces!


GIFTS:
  1. My brand new Canon Rebel XSi!! Count on my other (photography) blog (Simply Saradise) to be updated on a regular basis.


  2. My beautiful desk (birthday present from Nelson)


  3. The wedding album that my mom made for us

MOMENTS:
  • My youngest sister Kelsey's wedding in the Outer Banks


  • A day spent in Annapolis with Nelson
  • An extended 6-week visit from my other sister, Liz, over the holidays
  • FINISHING SHATTERED!! (The first draft anyway)

BABBLING FLOW POSTS:
  1. Knowing Your Characters... Inside AND Out
  2. Literary vs Commercial Fiction
  3. Twilight Bashers

Okay, this is my last post until 2010!! Happy New Years everyone!!

♥ me
Posted by Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos} Labels:

14 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 30, 2009 at 4:57 PM

    What a lovely post to end 2009.

    You are an inspiration to all us aspiring authors.

    All the very best for 2010, honey :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 30, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    I REALLY need to read Hunger Games. I read the title EVERYWHERE. Yay for such a good year. Hope 2010 is just as awesome :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Frankie Diane MallisDecember 30, 2009 at 7:13 PM

    Yay Love SHiver and Hunger Games!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amy StaryDecember 30, 2009 at 8:18 PM

    Geeze, what is with Hunger Games? It IS everywhere. If this was all 2009 I can't imagine how cool your 2010 will be.

    I love how happy and positive you always are. My fav thing abt this year was finishing my MS too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Melissa HurstDecember 30, 2009 at 8:28 PM

    I did not know that you quit teaching this year, too! I "met" someone new through my blog today who also quit teaching this year and signed an agent. LOVE Hunger Games, too. Have you read Catching Fire yet? It's awesome. Have a happy New Year's and see ya next year:)It's going to be great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 30, 2009 at 9:01 PM

    Thanks for the links to your back issues, good lady. I quite enjoyed reading 'em, especially the Literary vs. Commercial Fiction one. Nicely done!

    Happy New Year, and best of luck with the editing! (Are you going to start an #ameditingparty now?)

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. JulieDecember 30, 2009 at 9:30 PM

    Very uplifting post! When I look back on my year, all I see is stress-wedding-stress. Lol!

    Congrats on quitting your job to write full time! (Which is now your job anyway) Can't wait until I get to quit mine...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shannon O'DonnellDecember 30, 2009 at 9:48 PM

    What a great way to say goodbye to 2009 before ushering in 2010. :) It looks like you had a fabulous year, though!

    ReplyDelete
  9. GuinevereDecember 30, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    It sounds like you had a wonderful, busy year in 2009... hoping 2010 is even better!

    On a completely separate note, you have excellent taste in movies. I also loved Avatar. I expected it to be terrible, and I was pleasantly surprised. Boondock Saints II did not live up to the original, but was still really good, too (although really, I'm in it for the hot brothers with the Irish accents, anyway).

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownDecember 31, 2009 at 7:16 AM

    What a fantastic year for you! I hope 2010 is just as great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anne RileyDecember 31, 2009 at 9:02 AM

    I am reading The Hunger Games right now and I love it! Good choice. And I didn't know you used to be a teacher! Look at that. Teaching just breeds writing, doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jemi FraserDecember 31, 2009 at 9:18 AM

    You've had such a great year - what a lot of great moments. I hope 2010 brings you much more of the same :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousDecember 31, 2009 at 4:36 PM

    I had no idea that you QUIT to write full-time. See? I do learn something every day. Nor did I know that I was one of your favorite writer ppl. Thanks so much. Means a lot. You are a very talented writer and I am sure you will do well. A supportive (and cute) hubby, great new desk and camera will all come in handy! :-) Keep up the great work and congrats on completing your first novel. I am very proud of you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Diana PazDecember 31, 2009 at 7:43 PM

    OH my gosh, you had the same idea as I did!!! I love your favorite things :)

    Happy New Year, and may it bring you and your family every success :)

    ReplyDelete

Yay! I love when you have things to add :)

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