New Year's resolutions reflections

I like my symbolism

I am writing this post from Switzerland. Yes, Switzerland Switzerland. It's a work trip but to me it's still an opportunity to see the world. This post is pretty self-explanatory - last year on this date I posted my new year's resolutions for 2015 (here) then halfway through the year, I wrote an update post seeing how I got on with said resolutions (here).

This year has been kind to me - especially the second half ... which may have something to do with the reason why I have absolutely nothing left to contribute to my update post halfway through the year. I have a good reason though: I got better. In a nutshell, if you don't read my blog regularly, from June 2013-July/August 2015 I was housebound with a pretty tough skin condition. I knew it was only going to be temporary but it was still a wonderful surprise when I got better in August this year. Since then I have pretty much tried to make up for lost time and in the subsequent months, my life has changed drastically. I now live in London and have a job that suits my situation so perfectly that I can't believe my luck. For the last month I have been working long hours seven days a week but in the new year, because of my job, I have real time to dedicate to writing ... which brings me swiftly on to my one-word resolution for next year: CAREER. I want to make a living from things I am passionate about which primarily means my writing. This year I have worked so hard but before then, I never put it first which led to me doing jobs I never wanted to do on small wages. I am going to work harder than I ever have in my life and really achieve some wonderful things next year. I am excited and SO SO ready for the challenges that will present themselves. The only way I will fail this year is if I give up. *Cue Josh Groban's version of You Raise Me Up*

I am going to see in the new year breathing in clean Swiss air and gearing myself up for a year full of promise. *She's getting more corny and the situation is critical: cue Westlife's version of You Raise Me Up STAT*

Until next time.

What's the opposite of productive?

Are the covers finished yet? No (lol).

Have you tweeted more like you said you would? No.

Have you read or written anything recently? No.

Have you done any book marketing like you said you would? No.

Are you excited for Christmas? HELL YES!

As you can maybe tell from my answers above, it's not been the most productive of times but I feel I should mention that I have been working at 2 different jobs and there has literally been no time for anything else. Today, I only have the one job to do, hence the blog post. Now that I am well, I have made sure I am busy constantly - I think I am trying to make up for lost time. In the new year I will only have the one job and now that I have settled in, there is nothing holding me back. I have decided next year is all about my career so I will actually be making my writing, and everything that goes along with it, a priority.

This will be my last post before Christmas so to anyone who has read my blog, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Until next time.

Do you remember when I said…

…I had finished working on all my covers for good?

I LIED.


Yes, I have realised, after some soul searching, that the saga of my covers is not done and dusted like I originally thought. In the next few months I am looking to really start promoting and marketing my WEIGHTING TO LIVE series but I don't think the covers for CHANGES: A SHORT STORY and SIXTEEN MONTHS are good enough. They are ok but need some serious work before I am satisfied they are well and truly finished.

^^^ These are the covers as they stand at the moment. I will be looking to keep elements from both but when I look at them, the word that hits me first is 'Hmmmm...' followed directly by a slow sigh.

After the covers are done, whenever that magical day may be, I will be diving head-first into marketing: an area I have discussed before as not one of my favourite things. I know I have to promote my books if I ever stand a chance of making it but I still find the thought of it icky. I will keep you updated on how I get on as I am sure there will be a lot of challenges and pitfalls along the way - and of course, there will be post #50 all about my updated covers (I'm so sorry).

In other news, after living on my own properly for the first time, I have realised I am obsessed with budgeting and Sainsbury's basics all purpose cloths. I am happier than I think I have ever been in my life and am living as much as possible. It's thrilling, after being housebound for two years, to be able to walk around for hours at a time and still feel well. I don't think the simple pleasure of doing that will ever leave me - I hope not anyway.

I shall be back when I have finished my covers for good.

TRANSLATION: YOU WILL NEVER HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.

Until next time.

A well overdue life update

Life has been absolutely M-A-D for the past few weeks .... but in a wonderful way. I still can't get over the fact that this time last year I was housebound and had only written a first draft of WEIGHTING TO LIVE. So much has changed since then and I feel like my old self again - pre-illness and everything - but hopefully I am a better person for what I have been through.

I feel like I am finally settling in - it's been hard trying to balance everything but now I am getting into a routine, I can really get on. The job and place I am living in in London couldn't be more perfect and means I can dedicate a lot of my time from next week to writing and promoting my books. I will be back next week with plans for the foreseeable future - it's all looking rather awesome.

As I feel like this post has been immensely dull, I shall throw in the name Judith McNaught to cheer it up a bit.

Better?

Until next time.