I last published news in Autumn 2019. Yeah.
2019 was great. Writing wise. Mainly because I started to turn the corner on the Essence stories, put them into some perspecive, picked a starting place for all the stories, plotted the first one and put the rest in order.
At the end of 2019, I started discussing editing and development help with some writing friends\colleagues and I was filled with enthusiasm.
My wife bought me a mentorship for Christmas 2019, a complete surprise, and it temporarily changed my direction - but in a great way - and made me think different things and learn new things.
After about two months working on the next stage of Essence, I went on a writing weekend. My second one in two years and just as successful. They really work for me.
Since this one wasn't joined to seeing my Favourite band every night, I had much more time to write and managed to complete the first draft of the first of two parallel threads - up to and not including the finale.
The weekend began on Friday 13th March.
I didn't go back to work after. We were told to work from home.
Covid.
I was incredibly lucky. Our family was lucky in general, but a very strange year being pulled in many directions. My work has been brilliant and at the end of the year I became a full time Project Manager. If anything we've been busier and more productive at work.
But.
I didn't write a word until the end of 2020 and I didn't read a book!!
I read audio on my commute to work and when the commute stopped, so did my reading.
Home schooling, work and exercise took over from writing. Plus, the crazy psychology of coping with lockdowns turned out to be debilitating! That and Brexit and the Presidential Election: it all took it's toll. I wish so much I'd been better than that. Somehow.
But, since October 2020 I've replotted thread 2 of the first Essence novel and started rewriting it, plus I've written nearly 10,000 words of a Romance that I will publish under a pen name, and a 1000 word comedy time travel story - that I might try to get published in some of my favourite mags. Needs work though. :)
So, not too shoddy.
And I've just had my vaccine.
Are we headed for a new normal? What even is that? Can I keep writing and finish an Essence draft this year.
I hope so. That is certainly my intention.
Also, I just bought Scrivener 3 for Wndows and I've rediscovered some old stories and converted them into projects.
I think I'm ore comfortable writing may things at once.
of course at some stage I must focus and finish.
Let 2021 be the year of finishing!