Enough dilly dally. It’s time I bit the bullet and said, “I’m making this website thing happen.”
Guys, you must understand: I am not tech savvy. I’m a creative, through and through, and understanding how websites function is not my forte. So, rather than sweating the details and graphics and cool buttons right now, I’m jumping in with some writing. That, at least, is something I know how to do. More website prettiness will come in the future (probably with the aid of my brothers, who know about such things).
So this is me, here at the end of May 2025. And while it’s easy for me to look at these first five months of the year and bemoan the fact that I haven’t finished everything I had in mind, I can remind myself of these facts:
- – In March, I had a short story published in PRINT – not just online – with Twenty Hills Publishing. Their anthology Amidst Fury and Valor includes my story “Icebound,” and 85% of the royalties from that anthology are going to the family of a young man named Ephraim who is fighting cancer. That’s a pretty cool way to remember my first piece in a physical book.
- – I had a publisher/editor/author graciously take me under her wing to learn the ins and outs of editing. I’ve learned the differences between developmental, line, and copy editing, and I’ve had opportunities to put that learning into practice. A loooot of practice. But I enjoy it! And I will offer editing services of my own in the near future.
- – I got my LLC paperwork squared away, talked business stuff with my CPA, and got the ball rolling on the website.
- – I did a little presentation on writing at my local library. Yes, only two people attended, but it’s a start!
- – I had a piece accepted to Project Red with Twenty Hills Publishing, even though the poor story isn’t quite finished. It was incredibly encouraging when I sent the publisher a note saying, “Here’s my sad, incomplete story. I understand if you reject it,” and she came back with, “Yes, we want this. It’s awesome.” That definitely put a smile on my face.
- – And finally…my book 53 has a home! Contracts need to be signed and things need to be made official, but I’ve been in talks with a publisher who wants my YA allegorical, God-made-me-write-it portal fantasy. This is so gratifying and exciting, especially considering the buckets of tears I cried – some from stubbornness, many from happiness – as I wrote this book. There’s still a LOT of work to be done, but maybe I’ll have 53 in my hands by early 2027.
So, yeah. Maybe I’ve accomplished more than I realize this year so far. True, I didn’t finish the first draft of Project Shepherd (more on that later), but that’s okay. Maybe I need to write this piece for Project Red first, seeing as how it takes place in the same world as Shepherd. Maybe I need to hone my editing skills a bit more, learn the business side of things a bit more, and get back to praying as I write a bit more. These are all good things, and changing direction if necessary is okay.
Sometimes, we all need to take a step back and recognize the accomplishments we’ve made instead of regretting the ones yet to be completed. Celebrate, regroup, and move forward with the next step.
Thank You, Lord, for all that I’ve been able to do so far this year. Guide me in my next steps and equip me for the tasks ahead.
Keep writing,
Megan
5/31/25