I opened this website and made my first blog post one year ago today. I have spent most of my “writing” time in the last year editing my first two novels, Under Shōko’s Bed and Neyuki. I had been working on both novels for a long time and thought they were in good shape. I never imagined it would be such a long and difficult process. They are much better novels today than they were a year ago. In fact, my editor persuaded me to try traditional publishing for Under Shōko’s Bed rather than self-publishing as I had planned.  The long editing process, though, has meant I have not sent it out yet. That should happen this month.

I did not spend all of my time editing, however. I wrote first drafts of two more novels. They both need major rewriting before I show them to anyone. I enjoyed the writing, but now that I see how involved editing is, I will approach future first drafts with much more deliberation. The project has to be something I am willing to sink years into, not just weeks or months. That is a sobering commitment.

The first year of the website also saw twenty-two blog posts. I slowed down late in the year as editing consumed more time. I didn’t feel I needed to document the editing with more posts.  The slowdown, however, may also have been because of my obsessive nature and how it impacts my work. It was difficult to concentrate on blog post topics when my mind was swimming in tightening a novel.

I hope the next year is even more productive, and I look forward to entering the publishing part of the authorship experience. I also hope to spend less time editing and more time reading.