You can blame WordPress for this post. I wasn’t going to do a ‘year in review’ post and then I opened WordPress’s infographic of visits, views, and posts for this blog and, well, I thought it would be rude not to.
The WordPress review reminded me that this blog only began in July, which seems both a lifetime away and two minutes ago. It wouldn’t have happened at all if it wasn’t for the story-writing habit I seem to have fallen into. The first story was written in April, in response to a story prompt from Londonist. I loved doing it, and Londonist published it on their website. And I was hooked.
Eight months later, I’ve written 48 stories – mostly flash fiction – had quite a few published online and in ebooks (check my Writing page for details), and I have a book in draft – the hot potato I mentioned a while back in Up to something. Not a long book (it’s aimed at younger readers), but still a book. If you’d told me, even six months ago, that I’d have a book in draft by the end of the year, I would have fallen off my chair laughing. Next month, editing begins. I expect it to take a looooong time, but if I enjoy editing half as much as I do writing, I’ll still be having a pretty good time.
- Resolution 1: get the hot potato into shape.
I’ve found writing unexpectedly social. I’ve joined the awesome FlashDogs community (and if you haven’t picked up their flash fiction anthology yet, you should – it’s chock-full of great stories, a bargain at £1.53/$2.99, and all profits support children’s literacy charity IBBY), and also visited a local writing group or two.
But to fit that lot in, something’s had to give, and it’s been the running. Partly because of the writing, partly because of an extended commute. However, I am going to get myself back on the case in 2015.
- Resolution 2: back to regular running, and drop a few pounds.
- And Resolution 3 is to make time, somehow, for all of this and also my family, particularly my boys, who are 8 and 6 and shooting up alarmingly.
Happy New Year to you and yours, and the very best of luck with your resolutions, life goals, and endeavours in 2015. See you on the other side!
The featured image is PHOTO365 DAY 25 by Allan Donque, and is shared by permission of Creative Commons license 2.0. No changes were made.
Liz Hedgecock 
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