Good luck. I belong to a group of pattern designers and pattern testers on yahoo groups. They are very helpful.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quiltdesigners/
and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QuiltPatternTesters/
Both were going well until my computer died and the company repairing it took 4 months to fix it. But then my enthusiasm had waned to the point I couldn't get started again. The computer is on the fritz again two months later.
I tried and was just about there, but the Microsoft update for word destroyed my ability to see the pictures I inserted in the documents.
The point is don't get discouraged and back up everything so you don't lose it.
Good luck.