Looking back at 2013

Wow. What a year. I realised the other day I hadn't posted in nearly a month, and although I meant to write a Christmas post, it seems to have passed me by and so instead I'll write a looking back post. When I first started to look back on the year, I thought, in many ways, well that sucked. But then, after reading the lovely Laura's post, and really thinking about this year, I began to think, well actually, a hell of a lot happened and SO much of it was good. I've had a wonderful year really.

In the more immediate past though, Christmas was certainly different this year. We woke up on Christmas Eve morning to find we had no power, and remained this way until Boxing Day evening. Luckily we have the wonderful AGA and we had a small generator so we weren't completely in the dark, but it certainly created tensions. I've never been more grateful for power.

But now heading back to the beginning of this year, there have been many wonderful things:

In Februrary, I met John and Hank Green, and my lovely wonderful CP Laura in London (FINALLY!!).

In March, I met JK Rowling (!) and joined SCBWI, which has been an awesome experience. There was another wonderful trip to Fowey too.

May, I saw Mcfly, ventured down to Fowey by myself for a camping trip and visit to the Fowey Festival, and tried Windsurfing. I also met Emilya Hall and other lovely authors at the festival. I also started Treading Water.

June, I saw Neil Gaiman talk about his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

July, Murray won Wimbledon, and I found out that one of my short stories, Tide, was going to be published in an ebook by Mardibooks and IdeasTap. It was also a wonderfully hot, perfect summer. Did a windsurfing course.

September, I spent a week in Fowey, which was perfect. I also went to Mcfly's 10th Anniversary Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

October, I joined the MuggleNet team as a News Intern.

December, I was promoted to a full staff member and News Writer (!), which has been one of the best and most awesome experiences I've ever had. I love it and am so grateful to be there! I also had a lovely day trip to Fowey.

I have also been very lucky to read lots of wonderful drafts by my amazing writer friends, and I've managed to write plenty of drafts and words myself.

I'm sure I've missed something out, but it's been an amazing year!

I never really like New Year - it always makes me nostalgic and strange, but this year I think I have plenty of good things to look back on! Bring on 2014.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone and thank you for reading my blog over the past year. It's been a strange year, and a good one, but also a hard one in many ways, and it has sped by so very quickly. I'm startled to find us at the beginning of a new year again. It's been a year full of sporting triumphs, a summer of sport, the jubilee, and more personally graduations, new courses, moving and many chances.

Here's to the new Year, and all the adventures that it will be bring, all the hopes and dreams and excitments and everything.

I am going to quote the oft quoted and much wiser Neil Gaiman:

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

Go here to read more.

Happy New Year everyone.

Goodbye 2012.

Hello 2013.

Camp Updates

Camp NaNo seems to be going well so far (famous last words....). It's strange though how the idea and story has changed so quickly within a couple of days. With, for example a slight change of cast. When I first conceived this plot idea, these two characters were not even in it. Now they're really important and central and the story seems to be going a completely different way to the way that I expected, which is also interesting.... I seemed to have been filled with an obsession for writing this story and I was scribbling away last night in my notebook, hit by sudden inspiration... only now I have to type it all up. Whoops. Oh well. Can't stop thinking about the characters, which has to be good. I'm writing this all out of order, which I never normally do, so it's interesting to see how this is going to work. I seem to be writing things that are going to happen later on, but I suppose if it's getting the words down, it's no bad thing. Better get on with some writing!

I also wanted to show you guys this, which you've probably already seen. Neil Gaiman posted this brilliant cartoon today, based on part of his brilliant and really inspiring speech at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, America. It is such a wonderful speech and if you haven't already watched I recommend that you do so! You won't regret it!