WOW! Where DOES the time go? My apologies for almost missing November entirely (no featured author post and late check-in). Like many Americans, living through this last election and its aftermath has been exhausting and painful. I think that’s true regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum. I know I have found it difficult to concentrate and keep my spirits up.
But you know what DID make me feel better?
Writing.
I worked on revising two manuscripts to submission-ready status, and each time I shut down the computer after a session I felt better. This is the way I will change the world. Writing books, reading books, helping others write more books, and promoting great books. Perhaps that’s cliché and cheesy, but it’s also the truth. Books change lives. Books educate and inspire. Books provide proof we are not alone in the world. Books are the soul of humanity. What greater gift can we give than applying balm on the souls of children with our books?
You know what ELSE made me feel better?
The fact that you all helped us fully fund SIX 12 x 12 Scholarships for 2017 and that will include enrollment in The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.
Your generosity reminded me of the great love in this community. Our focus is to raise one another higher as we ourselves are raised. You’ve shown that this community is one giant safety pin, where all voices are welcome and appreciated.
At the end of this month, which is really now the beginning of the last month of 2016, I urge you all to continue to do what I am asking myself to do.
Be brave.
Write the book that’s the deepest in your heart. Take risks. Revise so hard that the only words left in your manuscripts are the ones that MUST remain. Submit your work so it can be sold. Let each rejection make you stronger and more determined. Celebrate acceptances without apology or restraint. Give back to other authors and artists. Help someone who is not as far along on the path. Rinse. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. THAT is what 12 x 12 is all about.
In the spirit of our dance parties, I felt this was the perfect anthem for this post, this month, this year.
As I ask this of you, I have a special treat for our giveaway this month. It has not escaped my notice that we are entering the final month of the fifth anniversary of this great challenge. I recently launched a new website where previous webinars are available for purchase. In the spirit of the great number 12, there will be 12 winners this month, and each winner will be able to select one webinar to keep forever for free. I’m hoping to have at least one more available before winners are announced. How’s that for incentive to check in?
Now tell us your progress. Did you complete a draft and/or revision in November? Let us know in the Rafflecopter and in the comments. This month we will have twelve winners! Twelve 12 x 12 members will win their choice of one webinar from our new Teachable site. (Check out available webinars on Teachable HERE.)
Here is what you need to do to check in for a chance to win:
- See the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post that says “Free Webinars” at the top.
- Click on the “I am a 12 x 12 member” button. Just being a member will get you an entry in this month’s drawing. Click ENTER.
- Click on the “Wrote a PB Draft” button. This will ask if you completed a PB draft in November. If you did, click ENTER, if you did not, move on to the next step.
- Click on the last “Revised a PB Draft” button. This will ask if you revised a PB in November. If you did, click ENTER. If not, move on to the next step.
- That’s it! Rafflecopter will track your points.
We’ve created a quick video to walk you through your monthly check-in. You can view it in the Video Tutorial section of the forum HERE.
You have until midnight Eastern on December 4th to enter your results. Rafflecopter will draw a winner and I’ll announce it on the blog on December 6th.
Celebrate the holidays with a brand new shiny draft! Finish strong!
50 Responses
Thank you for another great month. Happy to be part of this group to celebrate 5 years 🙂
You are welcome, Sara. Thanks for being here!
Thanks, Julie. Powerful words you put up there. So glad to be part of this group.
Glad you’re here too, Chris!
Still on track for the year!
Wahoo!
Thank you, Julie! I thought of you on Cyber Monday when I realized that my only purchase was a 12×12 webinar, and on Giving Tuesday when I realized that both of my donations involved 12×12. Generosity is contagious & community keeps us going. Love on!
Thank you so much, Patricia! Your generosity makes a big difference here.
Twas a busy November with getting my new draft done on the very last day. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Congratulations! Nice achievement.
You are a Gem Julie!!!
30 more days and I cross one more thing off the list. I am EXCITED!!!
ME TOO! 🙂
That is absolutely the best anthem for what we need to be. November was a rollercoaster for me for multiple reasons. Thanks so much for all that you do!
I needed that anthem too! 🙂
I had surgery in November, but the outcome added some time to my life. I’m thankful for my health, the beautiful people in the writing community, and 12 x 12! I completed a draft for November and revised. I look forward to next year with a grateful heart.
Charlotte, I am so glad your surgery went well. I’m thankful for your health and all that you contribute to 12 x 12!!
So excited to have completed 2 drafts this month and both early in the month instead of the 30th!
12 prizes – how generous! So excited the scholarship goal was reached and looking forward to next year!
Two in one month! You are a rockstar, Amanda!
I can’t believe the end of the year is upon us! I have to thank you, Julie, for helping me connect with the best critique partners ever!
Could not agree more!
You’re welcome, Sherry! Having great critique partners makes all the difference.
Thanks for everything. 12×12 has really helped me keep on track with my writing. I loved watching the webinars and it was nice to have them on re-play as I could often not watch them live. Thanks, Kristen
I LIVE for the webinars, too. For the inspiration we all need. 😉
Thanks for another year and all the webinars this year. So many good ones. And the wonderful
end of the month check ins and raffles.
You’re welcome, Sheri!
Completed my 11th PB draft this month. One more to go!
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Thank you to Julie, Kelli & everyone who makes 12×12 the amazing community it is!
You are so welcome!
Coming down to the wire of 2016, Julie…always grateful to have 12×12 in my life. Hope I will make better use of the Forum in 2017, especially the marketing and promotion features. Thank you so much for creating a community of excellence for all of us.
Always grateful to have YOU in my life, Vivian! 🙂
12 Reasons I am Thankful for 12×12:
1-monthly motivation
2-forum full of knowledge
3-fabulous Facebook friends
4-caring community and camaraderie
5-wonderful webinars
6-legitimate leadership
7-golden opportunities
8-silver linings
9-virtual dance parties
10-year-round elves and roving ninjas
11-networking fun IRL too
12-finding the best critique group EVER!!!
Thank you, Julie, Kelli, and the crew for all you do!!!
Love this list, MK! ❤️️❤️️❤️️
Aww, I LOVE this list so much! Thank you, MK!
Is it really December? Another trip around the sun with 12×12 . i feel great with the 12×12 community riding shotgun on my journey. I have no plans to stop. Each month I feel I reached another destination or two. And every month I wonder where I will end up next. Vamanos!
Getting to the end if the year. Butt in chair and 11 stories with a rewrite! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you so much for 12 X 12! Yes books do change hearts, minds and lives. Books matter! Thank you!
That video was just what I needed this morning, thanks! And thanks for 12×12, it’s been a great boost to my writing life.
Thank you, Julie! I especially love your challenge to us to be brave and WRITE!
Thank you so much Julie & Kelli for all that you do with 12×12. 12×12 has made such a positive difference in my writerly life. I have been a member of SCBWI for years, but I felt like the slowest writer in the world (my first PB manuscript, with 30 plus versions, took 3 years to write!) So in December last year I said, “I’m going to learn to be more prolific and join 12×12.” Thanks to you and the supportive 12×12 community – I’ve written 11 manuscripts this year! And revised – 7 of my manuscripts are now polished enough to submit. 🙂 I will try for a Gold membership in 2017… fingers crossed that I’ll get a spot! Thank you again 12×12 friends!
I wrote two new manuscripts, revised one completely and also participated in NaNoWriMo. Definitely my most productive month yet!
Couldn’t click the new ms button this month. I re-envisioned one, and got 3/4 of another that is completely new, but a completed new one? Nope. Happy holidays to everyone!
Perfect song for today, this past month, and the year to come. Thanks!
Thank you for your encouraging words. I am so thankful to be part of this community.
So much to say so I’ll just say thank you 12 x 12 !!!
Thank you for your bravery and inspiring the same in us, Julie!
I’ve felt guilty and way behind because I’ve been sort of a slacker around these parts but I’m pleased to say that I’m starting to realize that 12×12 is a *safe place* where I can share my stuff–the good, the bad and the crappy. ;)… FWIW, I’ve NOT been a slacker in getting my work done though. I’ve actually been writing a lot this year both in PB’s, MG’s and other works. And I will try to squeeze in time to update my account to include my PB activity. Thanks for all you do in 12×12–I also appreciate the great team spirit that people have around here!
Hugs ‘n Aloha from the SF Bay Area 🙂
Thank you for your leadership, Julie! When I first signed up for 12 x 12, I didn’t know how much inspiration and support it would bring to my life. Thanks to you and the whole 12 x 12 team, the 12 x 12 experience keeps getting better and better. Here’s to being brave!
I missed October’s check in and…I had a completed manuscript to boast about as well–darn it. This month I have checked in as a member but have no draft or revision and don’t have anything on the burner for December. What do people do when they don’t have ideas? I had so many ideas, I thought, when I started last January–and I did! So at least I can definitely thank 12×12 for getting those manuscripts onto paper and that for me was huge. Thank you Julie. <:*)
Almost on deadline to post….that’s me! (wait until I’m pushed!) Thanks for pushing me through every month. Two new stories going, and polishing, polishing, polishing others. Thank you!
Sorry to be late posting this, but November was another crazy month with one medical test after another. However I did manage to add a new rough draft to my list and revise one of my old picture book manuscripts as well as