Lesson Learned: Don't Jump Into a Marathon Without Training

At the beginning of the year I made it a goal to attempt to do, on average, a contest a week, or 52 contests in a year. 

Currently I have 16 entries I've posted - a handful still awaiting results, another few that I haven't posted, and maybe a couple to go yet this year.  Needless to say I'll be lucky to achieve 50% of my goal.

My excuse: I was over ambitious.  As this is my second full year taking writing seriously, I didn't realize how much work it takes to maintain a blog and enter contests on top of being a new parent and working a day job.  One contest a month would have been better. 

I still think a contest a week is doable, it's just important to work yourself up to it.  Start with 1 contest a month, then two, and so on.

On a side note, even though I won't likely meet my goal, I still feel like the year was a success.  I've been published online and in print, I finished the first draft of my novel, and I've honed my writing craft.