Counting Blessings

When I reflect on what 2015 means to me I feel the need to count my blessings. I was fortunate to experience good times with family and friends, good health, and good times with writing.

In terms of my writing, at the start of the year I set a goal to submit my completed manuscript for BREAKDOWN to the publisher by year’s end. To accomplish that goal, I had to establish a list of objectives. These included completing a first draft of the manuscript in March; completing a round of self-editing in May; submitting the manuscript to an editor for a substantive edit in July; incorporating these substantive editing changes in mid November; and sending the manuscript for a copy-edit in late November. The final step in this phase of my writing journey occurred on December 28 when I submitted the manuscript to the publisher for consideration of future publication. Wow! When I think back to these experiences, I recall good times, hard times, and late, late nights! But I didn’t do it alone, which brings me to another blessing I must count: Family. I had a lot of support from family and friends.

The truth is, I am happiest when there is a harmonious balance between family and friends, health and writing. So as I look towards 2016 with optimism and nervous anticipation in terms of where the next phase of my writing journey will take me, success for me will mean keeping a healthy perspective, and counting my blessings of family, friends, and health. Here’s to 2016!