A month late but Happy New Year and all the best for 2020. January was a busy one for me. I’m annoyed at myself for not setting aside two minutes to do this earlier but better late than never. I remember eating Christmas dinner, then after undergoing a minor operation and dealing with a mix of work and personal issues it’s already February. I’m used to how fast time goes, but still, this seems ridiculous. I’ve gone back and forth all day on how much to write and as I can’t decide I think that means I should keep it brief. I didn’t make my first draft deadline during 2019 but I’m not overly disappointed, I’m disappointed for sure, just not too much… I put some good hours in and let’s face it, I didn’t give up, so that’s something. I’m on track to get the first draft completed before the end of March but I am very aware that calling it a first draft is really a lie, it will have a complete block of text that stretches from the beginning of the story to the end, so perhaps technically I can get away with it, however there is a lot of work to do, and I’m not in any doubt that it may take me until the end of the year to polish it to the level required, and this being the 1st of February, that is more than a little frustrating, but like my last post a year ago, it’s all down to me, if I put the hours in it will get done, if I don’t then, well, you do the math. I’m sticking to my guns and will not be taking part in any social media stuff, this will be my only online activity until I finish the book, it’s the only thing that matters to me, and the only thing that should be taking up my time. I’m enjoying it, I’m learning a lot, and I’m itching to start my second novel, having gained huge insights into what-not-to-do while writing this one. My commitment is still there, and my realism is as pessimistic as it has always been, which I consider a good thing. I’m doing this for myself with zero expectations, the personal satisfaction of achieving this challenge is all I want and need. I don’t think this book will be any good, but I don’t regret it, I have taken a lot from the process and it’s made me think much clearer about how and why I write and, in that sense, it will be a success. It will have put me on my marks for starting the second book in a much more confident and disciplined manner. So, again, this post is to make sure I notch up a little (1) by the year 2020 tab and prove my existence, and the next time I write I really hope it is to say that I have finished my novel and not to wish you all a happy new year for 2021…
If anyone does read this then please do still follow me on my social media platforms as I’ve not gone full druid in the woods yet, that’s still a few years away (I realise my social media sites, and my websites, are as stale as any cheese you’ve kept from New Year’s but I will be refreshing them at some point) I’ll be back online once this has been completed and look forward to sharing my news, and of course, my book, with you.
Thank you for reading and for your support.
I wish you every success in this new decade.
R.G Rankine.
