Thanks for your input everyone. Last year, I applied to 15 schools and was wait listed on only one. I was the next person to get into the program if anybody declined their admission, but shockingly NOBODY did, so I didn't make it in.
This year I will be reapplying to the school that I got wait listed for since the DGS encouraged me to, and am applying to 15 schools again. However, I am completely re-thinking the way that I choose the schools that I will apply to. Last year, I did not pay too much attention to fit because I didn't fully understand where I fit best. My specialty is 20th century British with a focus in war literature and trauma theory. Last year, I completely catered my SOP to British war literature, and I thought at the time that it would make me seem unique versus the many other people who are interested in 20th century British. However, I now realized that I pigeon-holed myself into something that not many people specialize in. This year, I am certainly re-thinking the way that I approach my SOP. I need them to know that I specialize in war literature, but I am thinking about expanding a bit to explain my interest from a trauma theory perspective and to explain how this fits in to my interest in the modernist period in general.
As far as improving my "fit," I am actually looking for faculty that lists "war literature" as an interest. As it turns out, it's a difficult thing to find, but it's something I wasn't looking for last time around; I was really focused on finding who specialized in 20th century British, and was hoping I peaked their interest.
I am also working hard to raise my GRE general and GRE lit scores from where I was last year. I had good scores, but I know that for a couple of programs that I applied to, I was a couple points below where I needed to be to look great compared with other applicants.
Last year, I feel that I put every ounce of time and effort into the application process that I could have, but it still wasn't enough and I really think that has a lot to do with how many things I had on my plate: teaching, school work, my MA thesis, my other job, and wedding planning. This year, I am working as an adjunct at my MA University and teaching 3 courses, which is going to be the only other thing I have to focus on besides studying to retake my GREs and the applications overall. I really hope that this means I will have a clearer mind and will be more motivation to give the second time around all that I've got!