Thoughts and Wishes for 2010

I have started the year giving time each morning to making a "creative strategic planner". A friend of mine sent me this site: http://lisasonorabeam.com/2009/12/11/journal-peek-my-2010-strategic-planner—goal-setting-for-creatives/ and it seemed to offer the perfect way to plan out this busy, emotional, rich, full year ahead! 2010 is the year of balance and clarity for me, which means, I will be able to see my way clearly, if I can keep balance in my professional life as well as my family life. The two big events to balance are:

My daughter's graduation from high school and then a summer trip to take her to the college she chooses, and the publication and launch of my new picture book with Simon & Schuster in July.

I want to launch both book and daughter into the world with thoughtfulness and celebration, thus I am hoping my creative strategic planner will help with this endeavor.

2010 marks new beginnings as well... Between now and June, I am writing. I have several picture book stories in the works and have added a new element with the new year: my husband, Matthew Smith, composer, http://www.matthewsmithcomposes.com/HOME.html , is joining me in a picture book collaboration. We have met twice so far and have a very exciting manuscript in the works. (I will reveal more in the coming months... perhaps we could have a blog with the subject of collaboration?) I set June as my deadline for writing, because once the graduation is passed and my new book is launched, I have a new illustration contract with Beach Lane Books which I am very excited about, thus sketches, storyboards, and dummy books are in my 2010 future.

Travel is another wish for 2010. I loved my experience as a visiting author/illustrator in Mumbai and look forward to more such opportunities. At this point, nothing is on the calendar, but I want to do whatever I can to get some possibilities rolling.

And being inspired by Christy's post, I have signed up for a workshop through the Hamline Master's in Children's Literature program. And a poetry class at the Loft this year is something that could only add to my growth as a writer.

2010 is proving to be a full year. I did not even mention that I am writing the script for this year's Circus Juventas http://www.circusjuventas.com/ August show as well as designing and painting the sets. It is all... the writing, the painting, the parenting, and the planning... all stuff I love to do. I am looking forward to what this new year and new decade may bring!