Happy Birthday Pure Grace

My blog is a year old today. On June 16, 2004 I leapt into the blogging world and never looked back. It has evolved over time - from a parchment style template to the burgundy shades and to the template you see today.

Looking back over past posts, I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

On June 30, 2004 I wrote, "I am managing one of the best writing days I’ve had in a long time. I’ve finished a first draft of my Civil War short story – 3,998 words."

This became the basis of the serial and is now at 147,649 words and will become a Middle Grade 3 book series (I'm hoping anyway).

On July 16,2004 I wrote, "I registered my pen name as an internet domain and started work on my website."

Does anyone remember the undersea background or the puffy clouds? The website has evolved since it's inception and after a year, I'm finally happy with it!

On this day (7/16/04) I also wrote, "I HAVE heard something from one of my submissions. I got an email from the editor at Emerging Women Writers and my poem, Sanctuary, will be published in their July issue. I keep re-reading the note to make sure there is no mistake and I’m woozy from the adrenalin rush. I haven’t heard from any others, but I’m still hopeful and now, published."

My first poem published! Man what a rush that was.

On August 1, 2004 I wrote, "I received an offer today for a paid writing opportunity. Yes, paid."

It was the offer from KIC for the serial. Little did I know how this story would evolve but it has over the year and I am a little sad it is coming to an end.

My entire world changed on August 27, 2004 when I wrote, "Well, I’m officially unemployed. Eight weeks of severance. I should be depressed, anxious, and perhaps a little angry, but that’s not the nature of a writer. I’ll admit, some of my best poetry comes from those emotions and I hope I get of least one good poem out of the situation."

I never looked back and even though I toyed with another full-time job, it didn't last long.

On September 22, 2004 I wrote, "This sounds nice, doesn’t it? I clicked on Wildchild Publishing today and my jaw fell to the floor. A Soldier’s Story was awarded the Editors Choice Award. I’m so excited – today the Editors Choice Award, tomorrow the Pulitzer! Hey, it could happen."

I haven't won it since, but WCP has been good to me. In September I also created my PM Webpage and wrote my first press release.

October also saw a few more acceptances.

The New Year saw GDR's develop and change. I also had three book reviews published as well as a few more short stories and poems.

It's been a wild ride of highs, lows, rants and raves, but I must say I love the blogging world!

I did manage to tweak issue 89 to 2046 words. I sent issues 86,87,88 to the editor. I hope to draft issue 90 today. Only ten more issues to go!

BK