I’ve immersed myself in writing over the last year, making connections and friends at conferences, retreats, and social media. My craft has improved along the way, as I have written three picture books and a novel. I’ve learned that revision can be painful but the finished product is better for it. I’ve described it as “performing surgery on a loved one.” It’s hard to tear apart a story that was lovingly created but it’s all part of the process. My first picture book has gone through more revisions than I can count and it’s unrecognizable from where it began. As much as I loved it in the beginning, it’s better now for 1000 reasons.
One benefit of being a writer – I consider reading part of my job. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but now its no longer a guilty pleasure as I’ve incorporated it into my daily routine. It’s a part of becoming a better writer. I’ve kept a list this year of all the books I’ve read or listened to. The list is over 40 books and I know my “voice” as a writer has grown after reading some great writing. 
This is my first time participating in NaNoWriMo and it’s been interesting to connect with other writers who are in different genres with different styles of writing. I’m on target to reach my word count goal but even if I don’t, the quality is the most important piece and I’m confident I’ll get there.
Laura Roettiger Books 