Happy Monday! And Happy April! This month we’re theming our blogs and will be sharing a few of our favorite things in our posts. What kinds of things? Wait and see ; )
A long time ago I posted my five fav book series and narrowing down a list of reads was mentally draining, so I’m skipping the book-related favorites for now. I’ve also shared a lot of my music and every day obsessions in my previous blogs. Rather than listing more stuff, I thought it would be fun to share some moments.
So here are a few of my favorite writing-related events, which shaped the person (and writer) I’ve become.
1) Getting my MFA
Including the whole 2.5 years makes this one more a process than a ‘moment’ but I tend to think of it all together. Before I went back to school, I was working at a publishing company and fiddling with stories at night, but never making progress because I knew I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be. Going to Seton Hill turned out to be one of the best decisions I could’ve made. My writing improved 5000% and I know I never would’ve finished my first book without the structure the program gave me. I also got inducted into a great community of writers and absorbed their wisdom like a sponge. Plus I got to meet Aileen!
2) Selling my first story
I sold Temptress to Samhain Publishing in 2011. That first contract was so validating. I felt like I was finally proving that I had the chops to be in the business. I thought I could conquer the world. I’m still trying to!
3) Attending my first writing con
After the MFA, I ended up bopping around Asia. As much as I loved Taiwan then (and love Thailand now)… Have you ever heard of a writing conference being held here? Me neither.
I happened to be visiting family in Texas when Dreamin’ in Dallas was held in 2013, so I jumped at the chance to attend. It was so much fun finally getting to be an author at an event. I handed out bookmarks, hung out with my agent and mentor at the bar, and met Lilyelement in person. She gave me a cute little figurine that you can still see when I post shelfies, and it included an encouraging note that I always think of when I’m having a bad writing day/week/month. Little things like that mean so much to me as a writer!
4) First box of ARCs
Selling a story was great, but seeing it in print… I wish I would’ve filmed the moment I brought that box of books into the house. As much as I love ebooks, holding your book on a Kindle pales in comparison to holding your book in your hand. That was when my family finally went WOW—you’re really an author!
5) Seeing Quanta on iBooks
I work hard on my stories, but it’s equally hard for me to imagine them being successful My attitude is that I made this thing, I like it, and I’m putting it out there. I generally expect five or so people will read it (one of which is probably my mother) and that will be that. When I saw that Quanta banner on iBooks… My jaw almost unhinged. Like, that’s my book! Look, everyone! Open iTunes right now! It was a surreal thing and I totally owe Inky for all the love and pimpage.