Happy New Year!

I’ve spent the first week of 2025 organsing and planning for the writing year ahead. I’ve had a muck out of my writing room, I’ve shredded a load of old papers and created a new system for completing smaller projects relating to writing groups. I’ve even scribbled on numerous white boards with colour pens and refreshed my bucket list. 
It was lovely getting back to my weekly routine after the Christmas holidays – the break leaves me feeling so disorientated, not even knowing what day it is!

Last Thursday, I attended the first of my virtual writers’ group – which was a gentle experience of listening while others read aloud and received vital feedback. I was inspired by one particular poem and began jotting down ideas for my own version – which has become a mini-project for the week. I woke early on Monday with a fragment of a line whirring around my mind – thankfully the language and imagery have continued since then. 
Last Saturday, I attended my first in-person writing group of the year which was a delight as only three of us attended but wow, did we have a cracking session! That probably sounds a little selfish but the three of us wrote, chatted all things bookish and unravelled lots of mini-issues that were niggling each of us – a seriously productive meet-up. It certainly boosted my resolution to ‘connect’ over this coming year. I left with a spring in my step eager to return home and crack on with my writing.

I’m hoping to have my current project finished by the 31st January – which needs to happen as my brain is already nagging me to start something brand-new and sparkly. Over the years, I’ve learnt to accept this as my natural creative process but one that can trip me up if I fall foul of my brain’s constant nagging to switch projects. The thoughts such as ‘it won’t hurt’ or ‘just an hour or two’ have fooled me in the past and have proven to be the undoing of the ‘current project’ as the deadline only drifts. I don’t want it to drift. I want focus. I want a finished project by 31st January hence, I’m ignoring my brain as it throws up small details to tempt my muse.

My final task of 2024 was to have my name engraved upon the large plaque belonging to a local writing group, as I’d won the annual short story competition. The plaque dates back to 1971 which is ironic, as so do I! On collection, I found a safe spot at home in which it can reside for the next twelve months, until the annual competition comes around. It makes me quite sentimental when I see the other writers’ names beside who I now sit. Sadly, many have passed on in life, some have given up writing or attending the local group. Though undoubtedly it was cracking start to my new year seeing my small contribution added to the history of this plaque. ​