Merry Christmas and end of the year roundup! (p.1)

Wow. I can't believe it's under a week until Christmas day. I don't know where this month - and this year has gone. I've been rather absent from this blog in the last few weeks, and I apologise for that. I didn't mean for this to be my first post of December, but for various reasons I haven't felt like blogging, and I've been rather under the weather. But I'm feeling a lot better now and looking forward to Christmas!

Recently, I was wondering what have I actually achieved this year? (Yes, I've been feeling rather down). But, looking back at this blog and some of my writing projects, I realised that actually, yes, I have been rather productive, and on the whole had a good year. Sure, there have been really sucky things, but on the whole, it hasn't been a disaster!

First off, this blog - I've kept it up to date, and been able to get into a semi-good routine (that's slipped recently, oops!).  Among other things,

I've written about NaNo,
YALC, which took place in the summer and was amazing,
returning home to live in the countryside again,
a magical year with MuggleNet,
another trip to the Harry Potter studios,
A YA masterclass with Sarah Crossan and Julia Churchill,
Fowey,
and my beloved cat, Posie.

While I wasn't so good at blogging regularly at the beginning of the year, I've certainly got more into a routine this second half of the year - writing about countryside things and things to be grateful for! It's safe to say that it's certainly been a year full of twists and turns. It's funny isn't it, looking back on the year, and seeing what has and hasn't been achieved, unexpected things that have happened, and more. I suppose I have achieved more than I thought, and it's not all bad things.

Writing wise, I have revised Treading Water a couple of times, and got it up to a good standard. I've had good feedback on the story too. I've completed two full length first drafts (and a shorter one), and started at least two other things that I have since abandoned. I've written several short things and done lots of things for MuggleNet - plus I completed my MA.

And now, to celebrate Christmas and all that it brings. To eat lots of yummy food, spend time with people I love, do festive things, sing carols and catch up with friends.

I hope everyone reading this has a really wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year. Merry Christmas to you all - and thanks for reading over this past year!

One last post to come this year - what I'm looking forward to next year.

Anna RAL Discussions Questions #3

Firstly I must apologise for the lack of regular blogging recently. I've been at home, with a poor internet connection and have been caught up in this RAL, which is taking up all my posts! I am back in Exeter (yay!) and back to normal (sort of), so I will return to normal(ish) posting (is there such a thing?) next week! 

Here is the third set of discussion questions. If you've not read it, there are definitely spoilers here! 

St Clair knows he needs to make a decision about his relationship with Anna, but his hesitation only hurts her. Do you sympathize with him?

Yes. As someone who hates making decisions and changes and hates that sort of thing, I totally sympathise. But at the same time HE’S SO STUPID. I MEAN REALLY. HE HAS ANNA, COME ONNNNNNNN. *ahem* I mean….

Anna is hurt by St Clair, and makes some bad decisions, relationship wise. Do you sympathize with her, or not?

Yes. I do. What’s a girl to do? I mean, he’s stupid. He acknowledges that. But she has to do something, this has been going on like all year. She is stupid, but people do impulsive things when they’re mad or upset. And I do sympathise with her.

How would you have reacted in the park if you were Meredith? How do you think Anna handles the fall out with Meredith?

She has a very appropriate reaction! I think I probably would have done the same to be fair. Or more likely, just pretend I didn’t care when I really did. But running away seems a good option, especially as everyone knew how she felt. It wasn’t like it was a secret.

I think Anna should have listed to Rash and not spoken to her that night, and left her to wallow for a bit. Although it’s good of her to try. But when she does patch things up, I think she handles that well.

Anna has a meltdown in chapter 42 – do you think this was a break-through for her? St Clair tells her that he isn’t the only one who is afraid of being alone. Do you think Anna ever realized this before now?

No. That’s such a hard thing to realize – especially if you’re denying it as much as you can (like she is!). And she doesn’t see that her thing with Toph and her hopes were the same as Ellie and Etienne, because she was never in a relationship with him in the same way. And she kept holding onto him because of Ellie, and argh! It’s so confused. But no, she didn’t realize.

Were you proud of Anna for the steps she takes to repair the relationships in her life?

Yes. She does all the right things. And although maybe she could have seen it sooner and done it sooner, when she does do it, it’s right and I am proud because everything works out so well.

These questions were hard! I can't believe that's the end either. Posting the other two challenges hopefully today!

 

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