So, we have come to the end of another year. It is another year in which I have not found myself an agent (they never did get back to me), but I am by no means sad about this. Slightly disappointed, maybe, but still full of ambition.
This year has brought lots of changes for me, the biggest being a new job. But while real life ticks on as it has always done, I have still found plenty of time for dreaming of writing! I have tried hard to commit time to my dream, although sometimes that has not been possible, and feel as though my first book, The Sillow Orb Book I: The World Beyond is finally in a finished state. I have also more-or-less completed my travel book on Route 66, but I fear it is one of those books I will always be changing as I remember different things about my experience.
The most exciting part of the year, though, is my tentative start on the planning for a new series of books. I don’t want to say too much at the moment, but I will reveal that they will take a lot of researching before I can even begin to put fingers to keyboard. That will be part of the fun, though! I have found a course that begins in a couple of weeks on exactly the subject I am researching; for Christmas I received a very useful book on the same and, thanks to the bibliography, have more in mind.
I took a trip today to a stationery shop (my favourite kind of shop!) and bought a big roll of poster paper, some markers and some very special Post-it notes that are adhesive all over except for a small bit at the bottom. This means they will stick flat to my poster paper and not flap about, which is just what I was looking for! So I made a start on putting my planning into writing; for once I have been thinking about the plot and characters for some weeks before jumping into any decisions. I feel it has paid off, and the beginnings of my new series are exciting!
So the new year beckons with its glimmering dream of an agent and publication. I feel more prepared: no longer am I walking into my writing blind, instead I am aware of the time and effort that is required.
My resolution is to communicate more – more texts, more emails and more handwritten letters. Of course, that includes more blogging! Sundays will no more be days full of work but instead will be dedicated to writing and communicating.
So you can expect to see more from me this year. And, who knows, maybe a published book in the pipeline?
A Happy New Year to you all!
