A Year In Review

Today is this blog's one year anniversary. I have to do it.

WOO-HOO!

Ehem. With that out of the way, let's review.

My journey began July 2009 with The Roaring Lambs Writer's Conference in Texas. There I met Gene Getz, Allison Bottke and Mary DeMuth. Because of that conference, I created the brand Ranunculus Turtle, started this blog and tried very hard to be open to new opportunities.

Elder brother gifted me my website http://www.robynntolbert.com/ aka Ranunculus Turtle the website.

In the last year, I submitted Star of Justice for publication, entered one contest (those were the same thing, actually) and finished Elementals. I started Past Ties.

I gained a wonderful critique partner, The Lioness aka Kristin Steiffel. I joined an online critique group. I followed the journeys of other writers and encouraged them as best I can.

I wrote 3 book reviews, which means I read 3 brand-new books. I haven't done that in a loooooong time. I hope to continue.

I attended 3 webinars about marketing and making money online (something I would never have done previously). Several changes were made to this blog as a result and I intend to make more, specifically to my website.

I posted 223 times on this blog. More than I thought I would, but less than I could have by a hundred.

I got side-tracked when I realized I was not as popular as the morning paper. No matter. I needed that ego-bruising, too.

Altogether, not the most active year. Dave Ramsey would chide my lack of "gazelle intensity" and I would let him. It's hard to get a word in edgewise when Dave gets going. If only I could get him to be proud of my FV achievements. I have been gazelle-intense there.

What have I learned?

I have a "down time," which appears to be Winter, Spring and Summer. I'll have to work on that.

I like blogging. I like it so much I have 3 blogs on completely different topics.

I need a goal or I have no drive. I must therefore set goals if I am to move forward at any appreciable rate. I would like to attend a conference specifically for my genre interests. Roaring Lambs was great, but I was a turtle out of her shell among those blessed folks.

In my preparations to submit Elementals to a publisher next month, I have revised my website, created a Ranunculus Turtle FB page (just this morning, so please go "like" it) and jumped back into The Sandbox. I am trying to add book-buying into my budget. Alas, vet bills keep interfering.

I chose the turtle as my brand in the hopes she would impel me forward. I haven't been heeding her that much. Slow and steady must be my focus. Turtles don't stop. Neither must I.

Boy, spellcheck hated this post.